Today I am visiting Wendy Ewurum over at Fabulosity Reads, talking about writing characters who come alive.
Wendy's blog is a real treasure for both writers and readers. She does guest posts, interviews with authors, book reviews, and more. She is so willing to help out with a book release. Her reviews are thoughtful, in-depth and always contain quotable blurb gems.
If you're looking for someone to help with an upcoming release-- or to review your book that's already out-- please consider asking Wendy. Her Fabulosity Reads blog is truly fabulous!
See you over there!
Showing posts with label writing a novel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing a novel. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Friday, November 11, 2011
11/11/11 -- Today is the Day!
GET YOUR COPY TODAY!
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/
Paperback:Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/
And if you purchase today you get the soundtrack for FREE!!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Writers Write
Today I am thinking about my older sister Julie. Today is her birthday, and she is someone I really look up to. We weren't that close during most of our adult life. She and her husband lived in Europe and I was busy with my large family. But after she came back to the States and went through a divorce, and my kids were older, we had time to bond again.
That's when she made a statement that changed my life.
One day on the phone I was moaning about my career or lack of one. Should I go for a master's degree? Should I teach?
"What do you want to do, Karen?" she asked me. Without a moment's hesitation, I said, "To be a writer. I only want to write. It's what I've always wanted." And she said, "Then why go back to school? Writers write. They don't keep going back for degrees. They write. If you want to be a writer, you have to write."
At that time, I'd finished Farm Girl and felt there was hope for me completing a novel. After my conversation with Julie, I resolved that I would finish the novel I'd been working on for ten years and I'd get other projects lined up as well. Whenever I wavered and worried about money, thinking I should be supplementing the family income with a guaranteed paycheck instead of spending time writing with no guarantees, I thought of Julie's words.
Writers write.
There's really no other way, is there?
Like all my family Julie's a really good sport about seeing herself show up in my stories. She is who I based Marcie's older sister Linda on. One reader said this about Linda-- "I especially loved Linda, Marcie and Cindy's sister-- I do wish we got to see more of her. She was fun!"
Happy birthday to my wonderful sister, Julie! Who I'm sure won't mind if one day Linda gets to be a main character in her own book.
That's when she made a statement that changed my life.
One day on the phone I was moaning about my career or lack of one. Should I go for a master's degree? Should I teach?
"What do you want to do, Karen?" she asked me. Without a moment's hesitation, I said, "To be a writer. I only want to write. It's what I've always wanted." And she said, "Then why go back to school? Writers write. They don't keep going back for degrees. They write. If you want to be a writer, you have to write."
At that time, I'd finished Farm Girl and felt there was hope for me completing a novel. After my conversation with Julie, I resolved that I would finish the novel I'd been working on for ten years and I'd get other projects lined up as well. Whenever I wavered and worried about money, thinking I should be supplementing the family income with a guaranteed paycheck instead of spending time writing with no guarantees, I thought of Julie's words.
Writers write.
There's really no other way, is there?
Like all my family Julie's a really good sport about seeing herself show up in my stories. She is who I based Marcie's older sister Linda on. One reader said this about Linda-- "I especially loved Linda, Marcie and Cindy's sister-- I do wish we got to see more of her. She was fun!"
Happy birthday to my wonderful sister, Julie! Who I'm sure won't mind if one day Linda gets to be a main character in her own book.
 |
| Julie has always loved laying out by the pool to work on her tan. (She's the one sitting on the edge.) |
Monday, October 3, 2011
Elliot Grace: SOUTH OF CHARM
Today I am two places at once. Here interviewing Elliot Grace, to kick off his blog tour-- and I'm over at Jennifer Lane's blog being interviewed by her. Because I am awesome at multi-tasking!
Since this blog deals mainly with writing, editing and publishing issues, I asked Elliot about his process of getting South of Charm published.
Elliot, How did you happen to write South of Charm?
-I'd certainly prefer to respond with a distinguished answer, something to the effect of dreaming up the entire story one evening while basking under an expiring sunset along Siesta Key, the skies ablaze with color as the wheels in my head start churning out words by the dozen. "South of Charm" was actually inspired from a series of childhood events. I added to my notes over the years, created a few interesting characters, dramatized things a bit, and thought perhaps it could someday make for an enjoyable story. The project collected dust for a while as other stories took precedence. But "Charm" was persistent, never allowing itself too much distance from my thoughts. Eventually I committed to the project, and three years later had a decent manuscript that I felt was ready to share with potential suitors.
Since this blog deals mainly with writing, editing and publishing issues, I asked Elliot about his process of getting South of Charm published.
Elliot, How did you happen to write South of Charm?
-I'd certainly prefer to respond with a distinguished answer, something to the effect of dreaming up the entire story one evening while basking under an expiring sunset along Siesta Key, the skies ablaze with color as the wheels in my head start churning out words by the dozen. "South of Charm" was actually inspired from a series of childhood events. I added to my notes over the years, created a few interesting characters, dramatized things a bit, and thought perhaps it could someday make for an enjoyable story. The project collected dust for a while as other stories took precedence. But "Charm" was persistent, never allowing itself too much distance from my thoughts. Eventually I committed to the project, and three years later had a decent manuscript that I felt was ready to share with potential suitors.
How did you find your publisher?
Following the usual gauntlet of rejections, I found myself at a local book fair, conversing with one of several featured writers on display, when by chance, I met up with David Wiesenberg, an editor representing Wooster Books Publishing. Upon his request, I pitched to him my idea, basically just the highlights off the top of my head. A few days later he sent me an email, this time requesting a full read. Several weeks later I was signed.
What was the editing process like?
The editing process became an exhaustive commitment lasting nearly a year and a half, with David, ever the perfectionist, leading me in the right direction, while never overstepping his authority. The hands on approach of an indie publisher played out just as I'd read on many websites and tutorials. A personable staff who were always available to lend advice, be it a major conflict with the cover design, or simply an ear to lend to a writer's concern's.
"South of Charm" was released in May, and while making a fighting effort at keeping pace with the big shots of the publishing industry, has done well locally. Enough so, that I'm considering a return to Wooster Books for the second release, whenever that day may come ;)
From South of Charm by Elliot Grace:
"She's coming," she whispers. "She's broken."
To purchase on the Kindle
To purchase print copy
Elliot, I am honored that I got to kick off your blog tour, and thrilled that you answered all my nosy questions. I wish you every success for South of Charm!
To purchase on the Kindle
To purchase print copy
Elliot, I am honored that I got to kick off your blog tour, and thrilled that you answered all my nosy questions. I wish you every success for South of Charm!
EEl
Monday, April 26, 2010
Writing a Novel in Thirty Days
I used to think that NaNoWriMo was a bad idea. Who can write anything of worth in such a short time? Okay, it won't be ready to submit professionally, but there are reasons why a quick start is helpful.
* Writing that fast will help you keep your tone and voice consistent.
* An outline and/or clear structure diagram is a must to stay on track.
* When your mind and pen wanders and drifts, time will force you to rein things in and return to the story.
* The forced discipline will stimulate your imagination.
* In preparation, you'll take time off work, prepare meals ahead, stay home weekends--whatever will free up time for the writing frenzy.
* Once the thing is written-- first draft done, story and characters in there somewhere-- you can take your time revising. All year if necessary.
Robert Penn Warren said, "Some people pour it out and it is fine; some people pour it out and it's awful. And some people grind it out very hard, and it is awful; and some people grind it out very hard, and it's good."
But after the writing, whether you pour it out or grind it out, comes the critical thinking, the analyzing and revising. Not during. After. Then you go back to it, take your time and create something real out of that hectic, mad thirty day rush of awful words strung together. That's when you go back and find the story and the people, like a sculptor with his clay. That's when you create art.
Almost makes you wish for November, doesn't it?
* Writing that fast will help you keep your tone and voice consistent.
* An outline and/or clear structure diagram is a must to stay on track.
* When your mind and pen wanders and drifts, time will force you to rein things in and return to the story.
* The forced discipline will stimulate your imagination.
* In preparation, you'll take time off work, prepare meals ahead, stay home weekends--whatever will free up time for the writing frenzy.
* Once the thing is written-- first draft done, story and characters in there somewhere-- you can take your time revising. All year if necessary.
Robert Penn Warren said, "Some people pour it out and it is fine; some people pour it out and it's awful. And some people grind it out very hard, and it is awful; and some people grind it out very hard, and it's good."
But after the writing, whether you pour it out or grind it out, comes the critical thinking, the analyzing and revising. Not during. After. Then you go back to it, take your time and create something real out of that hectic, mad thirty day rush of awful words strung together. That's when you go back and find the story and the people, like a sculptor with his clay. That's when you create art.
Almost makes you wish for November, doesn't it?
Friday, April 23, 2010
Here's what makes it all worthwhile....
So I wake up this morning and see this on my sidebar-- BOOK REVIEW-- UNCUT DIAMONDS. Barbara Scully, my 100th follower who won a copy of my novel, has read and reviewed it and liked it! Not only that but in a comment on one of my previous blog posts, she said that her mom read and loved it as well.
Please go to Barbara's lovely blog, From My Kitchen Table, and tell her thank you from me! (After reading the review of course, lol!)
I'm pretty sure neither of my two books currently out will ever make a bestseller list. (Although Farm Girl was the best selling title for several months in the local Red Cloud, NE book store. Does that count?) I'm pretty sure that I won't be making mortgage payments from my royalty checks. But what matters to me more than money is to hear from a reader like Barbara who says it's the kind of book she can wrap herself in and "I just love the main character Marcie McGill."
This kind of response makes it all worthwhile to me-- all the writing, revising, editing and rewriting, until finally miracle of miracles, I hold a book in my hands that scares me to death. What if people don't like it? What if they don't get it? What if, like one publisher who rejected it said, they think "the Seventies are boring. No one wants to read about them."
And who knew that my demographic would be Irish women lol? Or as Barbara herself said when she chose this as her prize, "I'm a child of the Seventies who loved the Osmonds, so of course Uncut Diamonds is my choice!"
Thanks, Barbara! You made my day!
Please go to Barbara's lovely blog, From My Kitchen Table, and tell her thank you from me! (After reading the review of course, lol!)
I'm pretty sure neither of my two books currently out will ever make a bestseller list. (Although Farm Girl was the best selling title for several months in the local Red Cloud, NE book store. Does that count?) I'm pretty sure that I won't be making mortgage payments from my royalty checks. But what matters to me more than money is to hear from a reader like Barbara who says it's the kind of book she can wrap herself in and "I just love the main character Marcie McGill."
This kind of response makes it all worthwhile to me-- all the writing, revising, editing and rewriting, until finally miracle of miracles, I hold a book in my hands that scares me to death. What if people don't like it? What if they don't get it? What if, like one publisher who rejected it said, they think "the Seventies are boring. No one wants to read about them."
And who knew that my demographic would be Irish women lol? Or as Barbara herself said when she chose this as her prize, "I'm a child of the Seventies who loved the Osmonds, so of course Uncut Diamonds is my choice!"
Thanks, Barbara! You made my day!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Just Finish Already
This came up in the comments of a previous post. Ann from Inkpots and Quills said she needed to finish something, and I replied with this comment: "Ann, funny you should mention that little detail about actually finishing something. When I finished Farm Girl, I realized it was the first time I had a complete ms. in my hands, after all my years of writing. Even then, it was only 35,000 words! Embarrassing, huh?"
Without giving away my age, let me say that I've been writing for a long time. Finally, I complete a book-length manuscript, and it's under 35,000 freakin' words! My favorite rejection letter came after a week, from the University of Nebraska: "It's too short for us, but have you tried the Nebraska regional magazines?" Aaargh!! I finish my so-called book and find out it's not a book after all? It's an article for a magazine!
Well, fortunately, someone thought Farm Girl would make a delightful small book and was willing to invest in it as the first release of a new press. Short as it is, no one has complained. Not a single reviewer said it was too short. Still, needing to redeem myself as a "serious writer", my novel, Uncut Diamonds, is divided into two parts and comes to approximately 100,000 well-edited words, (including the Glossary of Mormon Terminology). Aha! Now that's a book.
This is what drives me to finish my next book. I spent too many years writing and not finishing. I know from reading your blogs that this isn't common to all writers. I see where many of you are prolific writers, churning out one full-length ms. after another. I admire you. I wish I were more like that-- more disciplined, more bursting with story ideas, more determined to spend the required time to write and to finish. More passionate about all of it.
Hats off to you finishers! You inspire me. And do you know the secret to getting published? Two words-- finish already!
Without giving away my age, let me say that I've been writing for a long time. Finally, I complete a book-length manuscript, and it's under 35,000 freakin' words! My favorite rejection letter came after a week, from the University of Nebraska: "It's too short for us, but have you tried the Nebraska regional magazines?" Aaargh!! I finish my so-called book and find out it's not a book after all? It's an article for a magazine!
Well, fortunately, someone thought Farm Girl would make a delightful small book and was willing to invest in it as the first release of a new press. Short as it is, no one has complained. Not a single reviewer said it was too short. Still, needing to redeem myself as a "serious writer", my novel, Uncut Diamonds, is divided into two parts and comes to approximately 100,000 well-edited words, (including the Glossary of Mormon Terminology). Aha! Now that's a book.
This is what drives me to finish my next book. I spent too many years writing and not finishing. I know from reading your blogs that this isn't common to all writers. I see where many of you are prolific writers, churning out one full-length ms. after another. I admire you. I wish I were more like that-- more disciplined, more bursting with story ideas, more determined to spend the required time to write and to finish. More passionate about all of it.
Hats off to you finishers! You inspire me. And do you know the secret to getting published? Two words-- finish already!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Finding that elusive mid-point milestone
Last night my husband and I saw Leap Year. He's now sucked into my little game-- identifying the first plot point, the mid point milestone and the second plot point in the movies. Leap Year, besides being a wonderful romance flick (btw the chemistry between Amy Adams and the Irish dude is incredible!), the three points were a bit more challenging to identify. I won't go into it here, don't want to give away the film if you've not seen it yet! But if you do, try to figure them out. It's kinda tricky!
In my wip, I can easily identify the first plot points for both Marcie (main plot) and Cindy (sub plot). I think I even have the second plot points figured out. But I'm still confused on where the mid point milestones are. I have no clue where Cindy's is. In fact, I'm not sure there is one. I think I know what Marcie's is, but it needs further examining. I didn't get to it during this writing session.
I have a feeling it's there and I'm simply overlooking it. Brooks says that it's obvious, flexible, and easily overlooked by inexperienced writers, or those not accustomed to writing according to story structure. (ha ha, that's me)
He also says, "Before the Mid-Point both the hero and the reader experience the story with limited awareness of the real truth behind what’s going on. Because it reveals significant new information, everything after the Mid-Point carries new weight and dramatic tension."
Okay, this is good. I'm going back in for another look. But first, back to bed for my three hour morning nap lol! Meanwhile, something to ponder: What's the mid-point milestone in a story you're reading or writing? Did you catch it? Not sure? Me neither!
In my wip, I can easily identify the first plot points for both Marcie (main plot) and Cindy (sub plot). I think I even have the second plot points figured out. But I'm still confused on where the mid point milestones are. I have no clue where Cindy's is. In fact, I'm not sure there is one. I think I know what Marcie's is, but it needs further examining. I didn't get to it during this writing session.
I have a feeling it's there and I'm simply overlooking it. Brooks says that it's obvious, flexible, and easily overlooked by inexperienced writers, or those not accustomed to writing according to story structure. (ha ha, that's me)
He also says, "Before the Mid-Point both the hero and the reader experience the story with limited awareness of the real truth behind what’s going on. Because it reveals significant new information, everything after the Mid-Point carries new weight and dramatic tension."
Okay, this is good. I'm going back in for another look. But first, back to bed for my three hour morning nap lol! Meanwhile, something to ponder: What's the mid-point milestone in a story you're reading or writing? Did you catch it? Not sure? Me neither!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
"the seduction that is part 1"
We keep hearing over and over about the short attention span of the reader, that we have to get to the action right away. After all, we aren't writing 19th century Jane Austen or Henry James, where we have the luxury of spending copious chapters describing the character's homes, families, clothing styles, friends, hobbies, mealtime conversation, etc etc. The modern reader won't stand for it. Still, we need to be "properly introduced," as Lynn Price (Behler Blog) says in her post, Have We Been Properly Introduced?
Larry Brooks refers to it as setting up your story, acquainting us with the main character-- where they live, what they do, what their hopes and dreams are. This allows the reader to empathize, to care, and to want to know what comes next. The set up needs to happen before any plot twists, or before the "first Plot Point".
Brooks calls this set up "the seduction that is Part 1." (I love that phrase.) Your intriguing hook in the first few paragraphs captures interest. The set up does the rest, leading readers happily into the first Plot Point which takes them the rest of the way, securely entrenched in the story. Hooray! Mission accomplished!
There are 5 missions to be accomplished in Part 1, the Set-Up. First is the hook. I shared mine last post--thank you for your feedback! Second is introducing your hero.
Here's how I do it in my current WIP. It comprises two chapters:
Marcie McGill goes with all her kids to visit her sister Cindy who lives 2 hours away. They eat dinner and they talk-- about baby Jakob, about Cindy's husband Karl, a school teacher on strike. They interact with each other and with the children. In two chapters, here's what we learn about these two families during the course of this visit (above and beyond the fact that something is wrong with Cindy's baby):
1. That the teacher strike is bitterly adversarial, pitting teachers on strike against those who cross picket lines.
2. That Cindy is conflicted about using food stamps to help get by. She would like to, but Karl's against it. What does Marcie think?
3. That the McGill family has no tv in their home, because Marcie wants her kids to read and be creative instead of watching tv, but her children figure out ways to learn about their favorite shows regardless.
4. That Elizabeth McGill, the 10-year-old daughter, hates compliments because she feels singled out. "Nobody tells the boys they have pretty eyes and a pouty mouth! I hate it!"
5. That Cindy doesn't like where they live and wants to move back to Jacksonville near Marcie.
6. That Cindy had problems nursing her two-year-old when he was an infant and, due to La Leche League counsel, refused to give him formula thus almost starving him.
7. That while Cindy and Karl have serious problems to contend with, Marcie and Shawn on the other hand, are doing quite well.
These are a few of the issues, elements and background revealed in my first two chapters. Is it enough to engage the reader in the lives of these two sisters? Is it enough to keep reading on to Chapters 3 and 4 and beyond? Let's hope so. Next post-- Illuminating What is at Stake.
How do you handle set up? How do you like to introduce your characters? I prefer dialogue, because it's more engaging than blocks of explanatory paragraphs.
What techniques of set up and introduction of characters do you like to use in writing, or enjoy seeing in the books you read?
Larry Brooks refers to it as setting up your story, acquainting us with the main character-- where they live, what they do, what their hopes and dreams are. This allows the reader to empathize, to care, and to want to know what comes next. The set up needs to happen before any plot twists, or before the "first Plot Point".
Brooks calls this set up "the seduction that is Part 1." (I love that phrase.) Your intriguing hook in the first few paragraphs captures interest. The set up does the rest, leading readers happily into the first Plot Point which takes them the rest of the way, securely entrenched in the story. Hooray! Mission accomplished!
There are 5 missions to be accomplished in Part 1, the Set-Up. First is the hook. I shared mine last post--thank you for your feedback! Second is introducing your hero.
Here's how I do it in my current WIP. It comprises two chapters:
Marcie McGill goes with all her kids to visit her sister Cindy who lives 2 hours away. They eat dinner and they talk-- about baby Jakob, about Cindy's husband Karl, a school teacher on strike. They interact with each other and with the children. In two chapters, here's what we learn about these two families during the course of this visit (above and beyond the fact that something is wrong with Cindy's baby):
1. That the teacher strike is bitterly adversarial, pitting teachers on strike against those who cross picket lines.
2. That Cindy is conflicted about using food stamps to help get by. She would like to, but Karl's against it. What does Marcie think?
3. That the McGill family has no tv in their home, because Marcie wants her kids to read and be creative instead of watching tv, but her children figure out ways to learn about their favorite shows regardless.
4. That Elizabeth McGill, the 10-year-old daughter, hates compliments because she feels singled out. "Nobody tells the boys they have pretty eyes and a pouty mouth! I hate it!"
5. That Cindy doesn't like where they live and wants to move back to Jacksonville near Marcie.
6. That Cindy had problems nursing her two-year-old when he was an infant and, due to La Leche League counsel, refused to give him formula thus almost starving him.
7. That while Cindy and Karl have serious problems to contend with, Marcie and Shawn on the other hand, are doing quite well.
These are a few of the issues, elements and background revealed in my first two chapters. Is it enough to engage the reader in the lives of these two sisters? Is it enough to keep reading on to Chapters 3 and 4 and beyond? Let's hope so. Next post-- Illuminating What is at Stake.
How do you handle set up? How do you like to introduce your characters? I prefer dialogue, because it's more engaging than blocks of explanatory paragraphs.
What techniques of set up and introduction of characters do you like to use in writing, or enjoy seeing in the books you read?
Friday, February 5, 2010
Interview with an author's spouse
(author and spouse will remain anonymous to protect their secret identities)
Author: What's it like being married to me-- I mean--an author?
Spouse: Rollercoaster, because at first she wants conversation to get the idea formulated, and there's lots of frustration for the writer because it takes time to get the ideas flowing. Sometimes irritability. So I'm dealing with many different emotions, lots of ups and downs.
(Hahaha, and you thought my pregnancies were rough on you!)
Then you have the first draft which involves a great push of
The NaNoWriMo was a good thing, because it jump started you and you forced yourself to write regardless. Rather than writing a page or two and getting frustrated, you just forged ahead.
Author: (Don't say you, we're trying to be anonymous here.) And? What else?
Spouse: Once the first draft is done, there's even more anxiety because now the story has to be elaborated on and filled out. Lack of sleep, periods of reclusiveness and isolation, the thrill of ideas and characters coming to life alternating with "this is crap, who will read it?" and "get me out of this stupid house."
Author: (Awww, he really has been paying attention.) Go on, tell me more
Spouse: Eventually comes a draft worth submitting, and more anxiety waiting to hear from publishers. Haunting the mailbox, wondering what took so long, wondering how the submission will be received. And no distraction seems to relieve the pressure of wondering, "Was it any good? Should I have waited? Should I have worked on it further?"
(This author sounds like a basket case with no self-confidence whatsoever!)
Finally a letter comes, the great day of reckoning, another rejection. Despair, anguish seem limitless. Self-worth plummets. "What was I thinking? What made me think I had anything to say that would interest anyone?" A week for recovery, mail it off again, and the cycle continues.
Author: (Oh, my poor long-suffering husband. He thinks this is bad, wait til menopause.) How do you feel about all this?
Spouse: It's exciting to see this work developed, honed, refined to where it can be accepted by a publisher. It's just like training up a child, you train up your little creation, your story, your book, and watch it go through all these steps. And I don't do laundry no matter what. I'm not much help there. Don't know why, I just can't bring myself to it. I should be willing to do that. (Clearly a guilty conscience at work here.)
Author: What about after it's published?
Spouse: To finally see the book in print is like the birth of a baby. It's new and wonderful and you want everyone to love it as much as you do. Your author/spouse is totally consumed by it, by the interest in its welfare, will it sell, will people like it? Wanting to tell people about it. Feeling like it's a personal affront when a bad review shows up, even by some illiterate no-nothing on Amazon. I feel like a new father.
Author: Thank you, Spouse, for an insightful interview into what it's like living with a writer in the house. You deserve a medal.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Blogging vs. Writing
I find blogging addictive. Anyone else have that problem? You get online to check your email, check your favorite blog, respond to comments, maybe write a new post, and before you know it, it's been THREE HOURS!!!
This week I started my new schedule. Turn on computer early, check emails and blogs, then move to my wip. Write two hours. Period. Rest of day, whatever. Who cares as long as I get my two hours of real writing in.
But I've run into a problem with switching gears from writing on blogs to writing creatively. They seem to use different brain cells or something. Especially when the blogging goes on too long, then I switch over to my novel and huh??? I can't focus on the words, I don't remember what it's about, I keep thinking of switching back to the internet and checking blogs. But I can't, I can't.
Blogging doesn't get you a finished novel, I remind myself. Working on your chapters is what gets you a finished novel.
I'm here now, writing this post, because I DID put in my two hours on my chapters. I am feeling GOOD!! So I'm rewarding myself by writing just a simple little blog post. Now, computer off, go do my normal Saturday stuff, and peace, out! See you on Monday!
This week I started my new schedule. Turn on computer early, check emails and blogs, then move to my wip. Write two hours. Period. Rest of day, whatever. Who cares as long as I get my two hours of real writing in.
But I've run into a problem with switching gears from writing on blogs to writing creatively. They seem to use different brain cells or something. Especially when the blogging goes on too long, then I switch over to my novel and huh??? I can't focus on the words, I don't remember what it's about, I keep thinking of switching back to the internet and checking blogs. But I can't, I can't.
Blogging doesn't get you a finished novel, I remind myself. Working on your chapters is what gets you a finished novel.
I'm here now, writing this post, because I DID put in my two hours on my chapters. I am feeling GOOD!! So I'm rewarding myself by writing just a simple little blog post. Now, computer off, go do my normal Saturday stuff, and peace, out! See you on Monday!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Becoming a Writer
I am currently reading the biography of Truman Capote, Capote by Gerald Clarke. Along with interesting details, like an inside look at the post-WW II publishing industry, and disturbing details like how widespread homosexuality was even back then, is the story of how Truman Capote developed as a writer. Like many authors, he knew what he wanted at a young age and he stayed focused on that despite his unhappy childhood and adolescence, his problems at school, and his physical handicaps. (He was barely 5', had a high voice, and looked like a child even in his twenties. A beautiful child, but still...how to be taken seriously when you are 22 and look 10?) Capote filled notebooks with his writing. He was never seen without one of his notebooks.
In his book On Writing , Stephen King shares his story of becoming a writer. As a teenager, he churned out short stories and sent them off to his favorite magazines. He collected rejection slips in his attic room, tacking them up to the ceiling near his bed. His first novel Carrie became a bestseller in the 1970's, and he has been writing ever since. Because he loves it and it's what he does. Referring to authors who only publish one or two books in their lifetime, he states: "If God gives you something to do, then why the hell aren't you doing it?" (Or something like that...this is pretty close to how I remember the quote, and I have since taken the book back to the library so I can't look it up, sorry.)
I'll bet most of us writers have similar stories. It's our early career dream, we have collected a lot of rejection slips, we do it for love not money, and we all have obstacles to overcome along the way. The obstacles (I call them excuses when they keep me from writing) are countless. They don't matter. They are real, but they don't count as reasons to not write. As my mother in law used to say, "Excuses are like armpits. Everybody has them, and they all stink."
Even if you can't work on that novel you've been planning for years, you can still write. Take a notebook with you everywhere. Write daily in a journal. Write letters. Blog. Whatever form your writing takes, you must write something to practice your craft. It's an essential part of becoming a writer. Anything worth doing takes effort, practice, work and due diligence. Why should writing be any different?
My obstacles/excuses were many. When I was a child I wrote stories that always ended with the main character waking up and realizing it was all a dream. I hated that but didn't know how else to resolve the conflict. I stopped writing stories and wrote letters and diaries instead. And I read every book in my small town library.
In college, I took creative writing classes so I could learn "how to write." A college professor said I was brilliant. So I knew I had some talent. (Either that or he had a crush on me, I was never sure which.) But when I tried writing outside of class assignments, I realized I had no life experience, nothing to write about. That was my excuse. I needed to live and get experience before I could do any more with it. I gave up the fiction attempts and went back to the journal and letter writing. Back to reading every book in the world.
I set out on my life-- marriage and children. Lots of children. My life experience began to add up. I tried writing again, and sold a few stories to The Friend. (Only one got published that I know of, the rest must be in a file cabinet somewhere.) I took a mail order course on writing and loved it. It taught me more than any of my college writing classes had. By then I had eight kids. Lots of excuses. Lots of life experience, not much writing. Except in journals. Stacks and stacks of journals and notebooks. It's a family joke about "mom's journals." I used to buy those nicely bound, elegant journals, but that got expensive when I went through one every two or three months. I decided to punch paper that's good on one side and fill fat, three- ring binders. I write on the blank pages. One of those lasts me about 6 months.
During those busy decades of home and family when I wrote very little for publication, I still wrote. I was a secretive, reclusive writer. Three hours a day in the 3-ring binders, an essential part of becoming a writer. No one knew the intensity and depth of my obsession. No one knew my dream. When Farm Girl was published, friends were amazed-- "I didn't know you wrote" was the common refrain.
Whatever you do, however you do it--your writing counts. Just so the thoughts get put into words. Publication can come later, when you have practiced your craft well enough and long enough that people will actually pay to read something you wrote. And those of you with publishing contracts know how great that feels!
In his book On Writing , Stephen King shares his story of becoming a writer. As a teenager, he churned out short stories and sent them off to his favorite magazines. He collected rejection slips in his attic room, tacking them up to the ceiling near his bed. His first novel Carrie became a bestseller in the 1970's, and he has been writing ever since. Because he loves it and it's what he does. Referring to authors who only publish one or two books in their lifetime, he states: "If God gives you something to do, then why the hell aren't you doing it?" (Or something like that...this is pretty close to how I remember the quote, and I have since taken the book back to the library so I can't look it up, sorry.)
I'll bet most of us writers have similar stories. It's our early career dream, we have collected a lot of rejection slips, we do it for love not money, and we all have obstacles to overcome along the way. The obstacles (I call them excuses when they keep me from writing) are countless. They don't matter. They are real, but they don't count as reasons to not write. As my mother in law used to say, "Excuses are like armpits. Everybody has them, and they all stink."
Even if you can't work on that novel you've been planning for years, you can still write. Take a notebook with you everywhere. Write daily in a journal. Write letters. Blog. Whatever form your writing takes, you must write something to practice your craft. It's an essential part of becoming a writer. Anything worth doing takes effort, practice, work and due diligence. Why should writing be any different?
My obstacles/excuses were many. When I was a child I wrote stories that always ended with the main character waking up and realizing it was all a dream. I hated that but didn't know how else to resolve the conflict. I stopped writing stories and wrote letters and diaries instead. And I read every book in my small town library.
In college, I took creative writing classes so I could learn "how to write." A college professor said I was brilliant. So I knew I had some talent. (Either that or he had a crush on me, I was never sure which.) But when I tried writing outside of class assignments, I realized I had no life experience, nothing to write about. That was my excuse. I needed to live and get experience before I could do any more with it. I gave up the fiction attempts and went back to the journal and letter writing. Back to reading every book in the world.
I set out on my life-- marriage and children. Lots of children. My life experience began to add up. I tried writing again, and sold a few stories to The Friend. (Only one got published that I know of, the rest must be in a file cabinet somewhere.) I took a mail order course on writing and loved it. It taught me more than any of my college writing classes had. By then I had eight kids. Lots of excuses. Lots of life experience, not much writing. Except in journals. Stacks and stacks of journals and notebooks. It's a family joke about "mom's journals." I used to buy those nicely bound, elegant journals, but that got expensive when I went through one every two or three months. I decided to punch paper that's good on one side and fill fat, three- ring binders. I write on the blank pages. One of those lasts me about 6 months.
During those busy decades of home and family when I wrote very little for publication, I still wrote. I was a secretive, reclusive writer. Three hours a day in the 3-ring binders, an essential part of becoming a writer. No one knew the intensity and depth of my obsession. No one knew my dream. When Farm Girl was published, friends were amazed-- "I didn't know you wrote" was the common refrain.
Whatever you do, however you do it--your writing counts. Just so the thoughts get put into words. Publication can come later, when you have practiced your craft well enough and long enough that people will actually pay to read something you wrote. And those of you with publishing contracts know how great that feels!
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