Hey, gang! I wanted to jump on here and thank all of you who pitched in for my W4WS efforts this week. It was an amazing few days of excitement, and was a good reminder for me that no matter what kind of ugliness the world demonstrates, the beauty of simple kindness always overshadows it.
It also once again left me wondering what I'd done to deserve the kind of support y'all continue to show me. You're fantastic, and if I had to do this writing 'thing' tomorrow without you or not at all, I think I'd choose 'not at all'.
Enough of my sappiness--how about some news?
First, blogger-writer-publicspeaking wizard, L. Diane Wolf, gave me a shout out on her blog--for being helpful to others, no less. I was thrilled to be mentioned with some of MY sharing role rolemodels in this writing-blogging scene, but was mostly just like, "You think I'm a helpful guy? You should see my friends!" *see above sappiness* You can read it HERE. (And follow LD if you don't already--she rocks.)
Second, one of my personal author heroes, Brinda Berry, shared me on her blog, not once, but twice this week! I think Brinda is awesome, but a little crazy for talking about me on multiple days. (We're trying to INCREASE traffic by blogging, B, not frighten folks off with talk of crazy, bearded people :D)
The first post mentioned my W4WS shenanigans. The second was for her A to Z 'N' day.
She chose 'New Adult Literature' (NA). As you all know, I'm fairly crazy about the subject, so I suppose it was fitting she threw my name/work out. But honestly, it mostly just surprised (and honored) the heck out of me.
Apparently, Brinda read my little story, Blood Fugue, on a recent vacation (yes, we're ALL jealous of you now, B) and reviewed it on Goodreads. In short, she enjoyed it, and was pleased to find a New Adult story that wasn't Contemporary Romance. (Note: The Moonsongs books are definitely NOT Contemporary Romance.)
Anyway, it was fitting, because my first post as an official member of the NA Alley Blog was also this week, and I basically blogged about the EXACT same thing.
NA is evolving into so much more than some kind of sexified, sub-genre of YA, and I hope I can reflect that a little with my writing and actions.
You can read my inaugural NAAB post HERE. (And I'd love for y'all to follow me over there, too.)
FINALLY, and also on the NA front, if you're at all interested in checking out what all the fuss is about, or generally want to pick some brains about the category, tonight is the night for you!
The first ever 'NA Super-Chat' is going down, and it's a coordinated effort to bring three of the larger online NA communities together: The New Adult Authors G+ Community, The NA Lit Chat Twitter group (yes, I'm still doing that thing, too lol), and NA Alley.
It'll involve a combination of a live G+ Hangout (with yours truly on air with others) AND the usual #NALitChat Twitter chat. If you take part and follow the Twitter discussion, you'll be able to ask questions and comment to the G+ panel in real time, and we'll be responding on air.
Cool, right? You'll find all the details HERE. But basically, just be free at 9 PM EST tonight, log onto Twitter and follow the #NALitChat convo, then hop over to the New Adult Authors G+ Community. (There'll be a link up there to watch/listen to the hangout.)
Would love to 'see' you all there if you have some free time. (Quit laughing... we all remember what free time was like. *scrunches brow pondering* It was fun... oh yes, we likes it, Precious.)
~EJW~
Showing posts with label A-Z Blog Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A-Z Blog Challenge. Show all posts
Blog Science: Blogging Less and Saying More
Hey gang! I know many, many of you are hip deep in A-Z madness, and I hope to make it to each of your blogs at least a few times over the course of the event. Really amazed by the creativity of everyone I've read so far.
Seriously, it's staggering to see how creative minds can use such an open premise to such great effect. Sure, there are plenty of 'My Favorite Cat Names' and other frivolous topics (still fun), but I'm mostly reading great poetry, clever short stories and genius writing tips.
So why am I not doing A-Z this year? Glad you didn't ask! I'll answer anyway: I had nothing to say. Yup, that's the dirty of it. And let's not kid ourselves, that is a
D (dumb)
I (irrational)
R (risky)
T (terrible)
Y (yucky)
thing for a blogger/writer to say.
It's our BUSINESS to have something to say. If we don't, we make it up. If we can't make it up we go find something, or poke someone until THEY say something, we can talk about. Why do we need to talk so much? Simply put, it's expected and it's part of the "formula" for success.
Do a quick Google search for top blogging tips. You'll find 'blog daily', 'blog frequently', or 'blog often' in the top ten of just about every list on the subject. While there is debate on the actual impact of post frequency on blog traffic, you'll certainly see a general consensus. If you're not posting, you're not getting hits. If you're not getting hits, you're not showing up in search engines.
Here's a nice rundown on the subject.
That doesn't even speak to the desires of those fickle followers out there. (Not you! Those other guys...) Some folks get a little antsy if you don't post often enough. How often is enough? Heck if I know, but I think it has something to do with Jupiter and Venus aligning, full moons, hormone imbalances and--suffice to say, it's important to some.
Important enough they'll drop you like a Bieber paternity suit if you cross that imaginary line. (I'm here all week! Sorry, hadn't done a Bieber joke in a while.)
Yeah, so, I'm ignoring all that.
BAD BLOGGER! *sticks out wrist--or bum--for chastising*
Seriously, it's staggering to see how creative minds can use such an open premise to such great effect. Sure, there are plenty of 'My Favorite Cat Names' and other frivolous topics (still fun), but I'm mostly reading great poetry, clever short stories and genius writing tips.
So why am I not doing A-Z this year? Glad you didn't ask! I'll answer anyway: I had nothing to say. Yup, that's the dirty of it. And let's not kid ourselves, that is a
D (dumb)
I (irrational)
R (risky)
T (terrible)
Y (yucky)
thing for a blogger/writer to say.
Do a quick Google search for top blogging tips. You'll find 'blog daily', 'blog frequently', or 'blog often' in the top ten of just about every list on the subject. While there is debate on the actual impact of post frequency on blog traffic, you'll certainly see a general consensus. If you're not posting, you're not getting hits. If you're not getting hits, you're not showing up in search engines.
Here's a nice rundown on the subject.
That doesn't even speak to the desires of those fickle followers out there. (Not you! Those other guys...) Some folks get a little antsy if you don't post often enough. How often is enough? Heck if I know, but I think it has something to do with Jupiter and Venus aligning, full moons, hormone imbalances and--suffice to say, it's important to some.
Important enough they'll drop you like a Bieber paternity suit if you cross that imaginary line. (I'm here all week! Sorry, hadn't done a Bieber joke in a while.)
Yeah, so, I'm ignoring all that.
BAD BLOGGER! *sticks out wrist--or bum--for chastising*
 |
Yes, that's me being paddled by a leather-clad nun at a roller derby. Hey, it was in Austin, TX! If you've been to Austin this all makes perfect sense... My wife took the photo, so it was all above board. Mostly.
I'm ignoring all that for a good reason. It's for you. Honest.
There was time when I blogged when I had nothing to say. The book said you were supposed to blog on a schedule and blog often. That's what I did. You can go read those posts if you'd like, but your time would be better spent flossing the cat or thinking about the color blue. Those posts were that empty.
At some point in the last year (or so) that changed. I made the decision to post only when I wanted to say something. Revelatory, I know. Sometimes it's once a week, other times it might be four or five. My reasoning was pretty straightforward: I didn't want to bore you. Even if it meant turning my back on the blogging gods and turning off a few followers.
Sure, there were extenuating factors. Like me wanting to write more and blog less (they were beginning to cannibalize each other) and a shift in my perspectives regarding writing and publishing as a career endeavor. Basically, the game kind of changed for me, so I set about learning to play it in a new way. That impacted the things I wanted to blog about, and it impacted what I had to say.
I know this might come of as a little uppity or highhanded, but it really isn't about me thinking I'm bigger than the game or anything. Last I checked that follower count on the right said 300-somehting, not 3,000-something, so I more than realize I'm no bigger than a minute.
In the end, I guess I just respect time. The time you give me, the time I spend doing this--just time, really. Yes, I've lost followers, and I hate that. Yes, I do wish I was more connected with a lot of the other bloggers out there, doing all those fun blogfests and whatnot. I fully realize that's cost me more followers.
Still, I'm having more fun and feeling more in tune with blogging now then I ever did when I was trying to do everything right. A wise follower once told me it was called "slow blogging" and it really stuck with me. It also made me realize that I love bloggers who have something to say, even if they don't say it often.
What about you? Are you a stickler for the blogging 'rules', or do you go at your own pace?
~EJW~
|
A-Z Writer's Toolbox: Yoga & Zen
GOING ON BLOGCATION:
A-Z is finished! Thank you all so much for sticking with me this month (and thanks to all of the new followers as well)! This was truly a challenge, and I really feel a sense of accomplishment having pulled it off. I'll confess that when I started I never thought I would be able to keep up with posting daily for an entire month. I guess you never know what you can do until you try? I hope I've provided you with at least a few helpful bits of information, inspiration or entertainment in the process.
Taking part in the challenge has put me way behind in keeping up with all of the wonderful blogs I follow (you all), responding to all of the people who've taken the time to follow and comment on my A-Z posts, and various other blog community tasks. I greatly apologize for that. Consequently, I'm going to be taking a blog vacation for the next few weeks in an attempt to read all of the great stuff I've undoubtedly missed. I'm also going to work on finishing a couple of writing projects that have taken a backseat. I'll apologize in advance for the silence, but I hope to come back energized with loads of great stuff to talk about. Until then, take care and keep writing.
~EJW~
Y and Z are for yoga and zen
Let me put this out there right from the start: I'm not suggesting writers need to take up yoga. Undoubtedly, we'd all be a little more healthy for it, but I'm not sure it's in the cards for everyone. Personally, I'm about as flexible as petrified tree dowsed in cement, and spandex and I have never been the best of friends. I digress ...
As a discipline there is a ton that writers can learn from yoga. There's a saying that yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory, and I think that applies to writing as well. Although some may have a natural ability, most of the folks who truly excel at writing had to learn how. They learned how through repetition.
In yoga, concentration is king. To hold an excruciating pose you must block out your discomfort, you must block out distractions, and you must above all focus on the act itself.
Writing is no different. It's often intensely uncomfortable and infinitely difficult to sustain. Much like yoga, writing takes an incredible amount of discipline and patience. Very little in writing can be learned quickly, and mastery can take a lifetime--if it comes at all. It is a daily grind that requires strength and endurance.
Like yoga, progress in writing is often hard to measure, and almost solely gauged on an individual basis. Forget comparing yourself to others in yoga, it's an internal and subjective act. You're only going to best yourself. I think the same SHOULD apply to writing. Forget comparisons, just try to be better than you were the day before.
Yoga and the Zen philosophy go hand in hand, as do writing and Zen. Zen is all about attaining wisdom and enlightenment through study and self-reflection. Yoga teaches Zen by forcing you to explore your limits (both physical and mental). If you attempt to write your flaws and limits will flash like a neon sign from day one. Zen emphasizes slowing down mentally, as does yoga. Writing a novel forces you to slow down and examine the parts of a whole.
There are so many other commonalities we could discuss, but I think I'll leave you with a few Zen quotes and sayings to let you ponder how it might apply to your writing life.
Lao Tzu ~
"The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."
Do not speak - unless it improves on silence.
The path of the enlightened one leaves no track- it is like the path of birds in the sky.
All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.
We cannot see our reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.
Student says " I am very discouraged. What should I do?" Master says, "encourage others."
To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.
A jug fills drop by drop.
A-Z is finished! Thank you all so much for sticking with me this month (and thanks to all of the new followers as well)! This was truly a challenge, and I really feel a sense of accomplishment having pulled it off. I'll confess that when I started I never thought I would be able to keep up with posting daily for an entire month. I guess you never know what you can do until you try? I hope I've provided you with at least a few helpful bits of information, inspiration or entertainment in the process.
Taking part in the challenge has put me way behind in keeping up with all of the wonderful blogs I follow (you all), responding to all of the people who've taken the time to follow and comment on my A-Z posts, and various other blog community tasks. I greatly apologize for that. Consequently, I'm going to be taking a blog vacation for the next few weeks in an attempt to read all of the great stuff I've undoubtedly missed. I'm also going to work on finishing a couple of writing projects that have taken a backseat. I'll apologize in advance for the silence, but I hope to come back energized with loads of great stuff to talk about. Until then, take care and keep writing.
~EJW~
Y and Z are for yoga and zen
Let me put this out there right from the start: I'm not suggesting writers need to take up yoga. Undoubtedly, we'd all be a little more healthy for it, but I'm not sure it's in the cards for everyone. Personally, I'm about as flexible as petrified tree dowsed in cement, and spandex and I have never been the best of friends. I digress ...
As a discipline there is a ton that writers can learn from yoga. There's a saying that yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory, and I think that applies to writing as well. Although some may have a natural ability, most of the folks who truly excel at writing had to learn how. They learned how through repetition.
In yoga, concentration is king. To hold an excruciating pose you must block out your discomfort, you must block out distractions, and you must above all focus on the act itself.
Writing is no different. It's often intensely uncomfortable and infinitely difficult to sustain. Much like yoga, writing takes an incredible amount of discipline and patience. Very little in writing can be learned quickly, and mastery can take a lifetime--if it comes at all. It is a daily grind that requires strength and endurance.
Like yoga, progress in writing is often hard to measure, and almost solely gauged on an individual basis. Forget comparing yourself to others in yoga, it's an internal and subjective act. You're only going to best yourself. I think the same SHOULD apply to writing. Forget comparisons, just try to be better than you were the day before.
Yoga and the Zen philosophy go hand in hand, as do writing and Zen. Zen is all about attaining wisdom and enlightenment through study and self-reflection. Yoga teaches Zen by forcing you to explore your limits (both physical and mental). If you attempt to write your flaws and limits will flash like a neon sign from day one. Zen emphasizes slowing down mentally, as does yoga. Writing a novel forces you to slow down and examine the parts of a whole.
There are so many other commonalities we could discuss, but I think I'll leave you with a few Zen quotes and sayings to let you ponder how it might apply to your writing life.
Lao Tzu ~
"The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."
Do not speak - unless it improves on silence.
The path of the enlightened one leaves no track- it is like the path of birds in the sky.
All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.
We cannot see our reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.
Student says " I am very discouraged. What should I do?" Master says, "encourage others."
To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.
A jug fills drop by drop.
A-Z Writer's Toolbox: X-Ray Vision
Like all craftspeople, writers need to keep a bag of tricks handy. A set of tools for the job (writing), if you will. Some of these traits or tools are obvious--like the need to have a hide as thick as a brick, for instance. Some are not. This month, I've been challenged to do a post every day of the week (excluding Sunday) that begins with a letter of the alphabet. I'm going to use this challenge to examine some of those necessary writing tools, both conventional and not. Hold on to your #2 pencil, here we go!
NOTE: I've added a page dedicated to my A to Z Writer's Toolbox posts. I figured I'd soon have a bunch of these things and it'll make it easier for you to browse any of the letters you might have missed. You can find a link to the page under the, "MORE STUFF" heading at the top of the right-hand column of this page.
X is for x-ray vision
Creative writing isn't about re-telling life as it happens on the surface. That's the stuff that anyone can see. Creative writing is about digging deeper, and examining the internal conflicts and circumstances that truly define humanity.
We don't tell the reader 'this is the bad guy', but rather show them why that's the bad guy. We let their intent speak through their actions. To do that we have to understand what is going on beneath the surface. What life circumstances drove the person to the brink of destroying the world? What's his biggest fear? His grandest hope? We have to know all of those things in order to write convincing and compelling stories, and we have to know them for every character.
The best way to learn to convey those layers of complexity in writing is to learn to see them in the everyday life around you. We need to develop an acute form of x-ray vision that allows us to see the story within a story, so to speak.
For example: You overhear a couple arguing at the store. From their words, it appears to be a simple argument over the husband picking out the wrong kind of cheese. Now put on your writerly x-ray glasses. Maybe the wife views this as yet another sign of the husband's disinterest in the day-to-day life of the family, or perhaps the husband purposefully defied her because he found out she has been cheating and doesn't have the courage to confront her with words yet. Either way, there's clearly much more going on than a debate over cheese.
That's the kind of examination we need to use in our writing. The ability to see beyond the surface will take an ordinary story and change it into something compelling.
~EJW~
NOTE: I've added a page dedicated to my A to Z Writer's Toolbox posts. I figured I'd soon have a bunch of these things and it'll make it easier for you to browse any of the letters you might have missed. You can find a link to the page under the, "MORE STUFF" heading at the top of the right-hand column of this page.
X is for x-ray vision
Creative writing isn't about re-telling life as it happens on the surface. That's the stuff that anyone can see. Creative writing is about digging deeper, and examining the internal conflicts and circumstances that truly define humanity.
We don't tell the reader 'this is the bad guy', but rather show them why that's the bad guy. We let their intent speak through their actions. To do that we have to understand what is going on beneath the surface. What life circumstances drove the person to the brink of destroying the world? What's his biggest fear? His grandest hope? We have to know all of those things in order to write convincing and compelling stories, and we have to know them for every character.
The best way to learn to convey those layers of complexity in writing is to learn to see them in the everyday life around you. We need to develop an acute form of x-ray vision that allows us to see the story within a story, so to speak.
For example: You overhear a couple arguing at the store. From their words, it appears to be a simple argument over the husband picking out the wrong kind of cheese. Now put on your writerly x-ray glasses. Maybe the wife views this as yet another sign of the husband's disinterest in the day-to-day life of the family, or perhaps the husband purposefully defied her because he found out she has been cheating and doesn't have the courage to confront her with words yet. Either way, there's clearly much more going on than a debate over cheese.
That's the kind of examination we need to use in our writing. The ability to see beyond the surface will take an ordinary story and change it into something compelling.
~EJW~
A-Z Writer's Toolbox: Verve & Wile
A to Z Disclaimer:
Like all craftspeople, writers need to keep a bag of tricks handy. A set of tools for the job (writing), if you will. Some of these traits or tools are obvious--like the need to have a hide as thick as a brick, for instance. Some are not. This month, I've been challenged to do a post every day of the week (excluding Sunday) that begins with a letter of the alphabet. I'm going to use this challenge to examine some of those necessary writing tools, both conventional and not. Hold on to your #2 pencil, here we go!
NOTE: I've added a page dedicated to my A to Z Writer's Toolbox posts. I figured I'd soon have a bunch of these things and it'll make it easier for you to browse any of the letters you might have missed. You can find a link to the page under the, "MORE STUFF" heading at the top of the right-hand column of this page.
V is for verve
Do your characters share the very air you breathe? When they whisper, does it tickle your ear? Are readers thrust into the air with every upswing in your story, or crushed beneath the weight of the mighty circumstances you've set forth?
What I'm really asking is does your writing have verve--a life or spirit that makes it more than words on paper or screen?
We've all read a story that so completely comes alive in our minds that we can scarcely distinguish between reality and fiction when we are trapped inside its pages. In our minds the hero becomes our friend, the villain our worst enemy and the quest our own soul-churning journey. We cry with the losses and cheer the victories as if we were watching it all unfold live in some gigantic sports arena.
Anyone who has ever attempted to write a fictitious paragraph, much less a novel, can tell you that the 'verve factor' is nothing short of magic. Some writers seem to be born with the ability to infuse their prose with a sort of crackling energy that leaps from the pages and grabs hold of anyone who strays to close. Their words are like the literary equivalent of potato chips or chocolate; you'll devour them even when you're too full to sensibly want more. It seems the rest of us can only marvel at the show and hope that some of the magic rubs off on our own writing.
However, after considering some of my favorite crack reads (the ones I can't give up or put down), I think that maybe we can (to an extent) manufacture verve. I believe that there are some common traits shared among the most lively story tellers that we can put in our toolboxes. Here are four ways to bring spirit to your story:
1) Real Characters: Great characters suck me into a story quicker than anything, but it isn't the "greatness" of a character that really makes the story come alive. More often than not it's the normal aspects of a character, or the parts I can directly identify with, that keep me turning the pages. Moreover, it's when those characters act in ways that I could see myself acting that things really get interesting. Whether it's a hero who gets frustrated with his best friend and says something awful, or a villain who loves his mother yet plans to destroy the world with a zombie virus--keep it real. (Not that I plan on destroying the world with a zombie virus, but I do love my mom!)
2) A+ Dialogue: Nothing puts my mind into a scene like a great conversation between characters. Humans are highly social creatures, and unique for our ability to communicate with words. Lively stories have vivacious characters, and those characters have meaningful and engaging conversations.
3) Exceptional Settings: We're all familiar with the concept of making a setting so detailed and full of life that it becomes a character in our stories. While I'm not certain that the setting needs to be a star, I've found that the most gripping stories have fantastic settings and description. For a story to truly come to life, the setting needs to have an impact on the characters and the reader. If the damp night air of an enchanted forest sends a shiver down the spine of our hero, it'll most likely do the same to our readers.
4) Conflict: When things get messy our minds tend to shift into overdrive. If there's a problem, we immediately jump to possible solutions. It's human nature, and it's something we can use in our writing. Every scene should have a conflict. Every. Scene. That doesn't mean we have to have a gun fight on every page, but it does mean we should be actively engaging our readers by having our characters face frequent mental and/or physical obstacles.
W is for wile
Are you a trickster in your writing? Like the Coyote in the cartoon above, do you set traps for the reader, hoping that this is the time you snare them? Here's why you should ...
I read for the unexpected, not the expected. I WANT to be baited and switched. In fact, I get a little upset when an author gets predictable. How entertaining would it be if your friend told you a story about their trip to the grocery store and all that happened was a trip to the grocery store? Not very. Throw in a purse snatching and a car chase, however, and now you've got a story!
My point is that readers are smart, and they're always on to our schemes. We have to be tireless in our efforts to pull the rug out from under them. To do that we have to utilize all of our wile and wit. Every character should have layers of complexity, and every plot a potential twist.
~EJW~
A-Z Writer's Toolbox: Hacksaw
A to Z Disclaimer:
Like all craftspeople, writers need to keep a bag of tricks handy. A set of tools for the job (writing), if you will. Some of these traits or tools are obvious--like the need to have a hide as thick as a brick, for instance. Some are not. This month, I've been challenged to do a post every day of the week (excluding Sunday) that begins with a letter of the alphabet. I'm going to use this challenge to examine some of those necessary writing tools, both conventional and not. Hold on to your #2 pencil, here we go!
NOTE: I've added a page dedicated to my A to Z Writer's Toolbox posts. I figured I'd soon have a bunch of these things and it'll make it easier for you to browse any of the letters you might have missed. You can find a link to the page under the, "MORE STUFF" heading at the top of the right-hand column of this page.
I'm convinced that every writer who has ever attempted a novel has experienced some version of the following:
The first draft is finished! Victory horns sound in the distance, confetti falls and unicorns do a merry prance about your living room. Then you re-read it cover-to-cover for the first time and realize all you've really accomplished is that you've somehow compiled every writing mistake possible into a 350 page magnum opus of disjointed plots and bland characters. Plus, you've got a splitting headache (did they have to blow those damned horns so loudly?), confetti sticking to you in unmentionable places and unicorn poo on the good rug. Great ...
Thankfully, those drafts are usually never as bad as they seem. (Sadly, neither are they as good as they felt during the writing.) We're left with something that, if it were a house, would be considered a fixer-upper. It has good bones, and a nice floor-plan. However, if we're going to make it livable it's going to need some creativity and truckloads of polish. Heck, we may even need to take down a wall or three or add an addition.
That's why the hacksaw is such an important tool for writers. When it comes to editing and rewrites, we often need to dissect the novel piece by piece and place it under a microscope for critical examination. If something doesn't work, we cut it out. We might need to do some rearranging; after all, chapter 1 sometimes makes a better chapter 4, or maybe no chapter at all. You wouldn't try to fix a rundown home all at once. You'd take it room-by-room or project-by-project. Nor should you try to tackle a novel as whole.
It's going to take some elbow grease and you're going to get dirty, but when it comes to editing, the ability to hack your work into more manageable pieces is vital.
The first draft is finished! Victory horns sound in the distance, confetti falls and unicorns do a merry prance about your living room. Then you re-read it cover-to-cover for the first time and realize all you've really accomplished is that you've somehow compiled every writing mistake possible into a 350 page magnum opus of disjointed plots and bland characters. Plus, you've got a splitting headache (did they have to blow those damned horns so loudly?), confetti sticking to you in unmentionable places and unicorn poo on the good rug. Great ...
Thankfully, those drafts are usually never as bad as they seem. (Sadly, neither are they as good as they felt during the writing.) We're left with something that, if it were a house, would be considered a fixer-upper. It has good bones, and a nice floor-plan. However, if we're going to make it livable it's going to need some creativity and truckloads of polish. Heck, we may even need to take down a wall or three or add an addition.
That's why the hacksaw is such an important tool for writers. When it comes to editing and rewrites, we often need to dissect the novel piece by piece and place it under a microscope for critical examination. If something doesn't work, we cut it out. We might need to do some rearranging; after all, chapter 1 sometimes makes a better chapter 4, or maybe no chapter at all. You wouldn't try to fix a rundown home all at once. You'd take it room-by-room or project-by-project. Nor should you try to tackle a novel as whole.
It's going to take some elbow grease and you're going to get dirty, but when it comes to editing, the ability to hack your work into more manageable pieces is vital.
So the next time you're staring down a completed, if slightly shabby, manuscript reach for your trusty saw. It'll make editing easier, and we all know how much fun playing with tools can be!
~EJW~
A-Z Writer's Toolbox: Finish & Gamble
A to Z Disclaimer:
Like all craftspeople, writers need to keep a bag of tricks handy. A set of tools for the job (writing), if you will. Some of these traits or tools are obvious--like the need to have a hide as thick as a brick, for instance. Some are not. This month, I've been challenged to do a post every day of the week (excluding Sunday) that begins with a letter of the alphabet. I'm going to use this challenge to examine some of those necessary writing tools, both conventional and not. Hold on to your #2 pencil, here we go!
NOTE: I've added a page dedicated to my A to Z Writer's Toolbox posts. I figured I'd soon have a bunch of these things and it'll make it easier for you to browse any of the letters you might have missed. You can find a link to the page under the, "MORE STUFF" heading at the top of the right-hand column of this page.
Today is a double-toolbox day as I missed yesterday (the letter F). I'm going to talk about Finish and Gamble (which kind of sounds like a law firm) and why they're essential aspects of every writer's skill set. I'll also be getting around to read more of my fellow A-Z peeps over the weekend, so don't be shy about leaving your link in the comments!
F is for finish
Like all craftspeople, writers need to keep a bag of tricks handy. A set of tools for the job (writing), if you will. Some of these traits or tools are obvious--like the need to have a hide as thick as a brick, for instance. Some are not. This month, I've been challenged to do a post every day of the week (excluding Sunday) that begins with a letter of the alphabet. I'm going to use this challenge to examine some of those necessary writing tools, both conventional and not. Hold on to your #2 pencil, here we go!
NOTE: I've added a page dedicated to my A to Z Writer's Toolbox posts. I figured I'd soon have a bunch of these things and it'll make it easier for you to browse any of the letters you might have missed. You can find a link to the page under the, "MORE STUFF" heading at the top of the right-hand column of this page.
F is for finish
Be honest, how many dead projects do you have stashed in a drawer or tucked away in a folder on your computer? Two? Four? Ten? Are you and your never published and/or half-finished manuscripts responsible for the destruction of our rainforests? I'm not judging you, honest. In fact, the "project that never was" is kind of like a writer's battle scar. They serve as badges of honor--as testaments--to our tireless quest to perfect the craft.
How many interviews with famous authors have you read where they confess to having several failed projects collecting dust?
Just how many battle wounds you've collected probably depends on how long you've been writing, but I'd wager if you've been at it any amount of time at all you've had at least a couple of false starts. The point is, having a project fizzle or die on the vine is part of the process. It's normal and accepted.
That's most likely why actually finishing something is usually the final--and highest--hurdle for an aspiring author to overcome on their path to print.
So here's the challenge: can you finish? Can you not only draft a story, but also spend the time and misery of having it raked over the coals by countless critique partners? Can you then re-write it and edit it still again after that? Can you query agents, get rejected, revise and then query again? Can you make the changes recommended by an editor even after you've already changed every character's name in the story twice? Can you be gracious in the face of bad reviews? Can you start the process all over again?
The answer to all is yes. How do I know? Because thousands of authors before us have done all of those things and more. The good news is that it seems that the 'FINISH' tool is one that we can learn to master over time and trial. The bad news is that until we learn to use it, our dreams may have to wait a bit. So why not dig out that old project and start practicing?
G is gamble
Vegas baby! City of Sin, a playground for adults, what happens there may take months to cure, etc., etc. We've heard all of the lines before, but what can writers learn from the gambling Mecca of the U.S.? (Other than "you never walk away from the table when you're on a heater"...)
Risk taking behavior, in writing at least, is a must. You can't simply write what you're comfortable with. That's a formula for snooze-worthy prose. If characters are going to surprise the reader, they must first surprise you. If you aren't shocked by a plot-turn, neither will your readers be. Great stories are usually the result of great risks taken by an author.
Orson Scott Card's classic, Ender's Game, is full of shocking moments. Children literally kill each other. Do you think O.S.C. lost a few nights of sleep wondering if it was too much? I do! I'm sure J.K. Rowling had to think twice before killing off any of the beloved characters that met a sad end in her stories. I can't imagine the hate mail she garnered for snuffing some of them, but her stories were better for it.
So if you've been toying with including a drastic POV shift, an iffy character choice or maybe something socially risky in your stories, I say let it ride. Unlike Vegas, if you lose the gamble, you can always fix it later and it won't cost you your home or your marriage. And who knows, it might just be the gamble that pays off.
~EJW~
A-Z Writer's Toolbox: Denial
A to Z Disclaimer:
Like all craftspeople, writers need to keep a bag of tricks handy. A set of tools for the job m (writing), if you will. Some of these traits or tools are obvious--like the need to have a hide as thick as a brick, for instance. Some are not. This month, I've been challenged to do a post every day of the week (excluding Sunday) that begins with a letter of the alphabet. I'm going to use this challenge to examine some of those necessary writing tools, both conventional and not. Hold on to your #2 pencil, here we go!
NOTE: I've added a page dedicated to my A to Z Writer's Toolbox posts. I figured I'd soon have a bunch of these things and it'll make it easier for you to browse any of the letters you might have missed. You can find a link to the page under the, "MORE STUFF" heading at the top of the right-hand column of this page.
D is for denial
When faced with great odds, great people routinely ignore them. Like a dog will seek out a sliver of sunlight on the floor to warm in, survivors and thrivers will find the slimmest bits of hope to cling to in times of trial. As unusual as it sounds, denial is the stuff of success and champions.
"Never tell me the odds!" ~ Han Solo, The Empire Strikes Back
Why Writers Need to Burry Their Heads in the Sand:
Writing has always been a game for dreamers and explorers. History has taught us that players in those types of games don't always succeed. The Spanish explorers never found that city of gold, and most of the people who moved to California for the "Gold Rush" were poorer for their efforts.
Perhaps the most vexing question facing all writers is: Will the hours you devote to mining for creative gold yield anything but eyestrain, sore fingers and a caffeine addiction?
If you write long enough, there'll be loads of people who will try to convince you that it's an ultimately fruitless activity. A hobby to be done between more serious pursuits. After all, who would devote weeks, months and maybe even years to something that could potentially earn them not a dime? Children and crazy people, that's who.
"Denial ain't just a river in Egypt." ~ Mark Twain
And those are just the people who know nothing about publishing! The outlook isn't much rosier coming from people who've actually been there, done that. If you follow agent blogs and listen to the chatter of other writers, you know the immeasurable odds of getting the attention of professional eyes, much less their endorsement. Sadly, it seems the opportunities for traditional publishing are diminishing. Bookstores are closing, and the publishing giants are feeling the financial squeeze of a new world economy, simply struggling to find their place in the modern reading world. Increasingly, new authors are often seen as a risk, not an investment.
So why do we continue to write when logic, time and finances are against us? For me, it's because I still believe that my next word will be the profound one. That my next sentence will be the one that an entire story is built upon. That my next paragraph will be the one that no one else could craft. That my next story will be the one that people will clamor to read.
Maybe that's denial, or maybe I'm just blissfully unaware. Either way, not regularly staring down the odds has allowed me to write with more confidence and purpose. So the next time someone asks me about how difficult it is to get published, I think I'll just tell them I'm not sure and keep writing.
"I have a very highly developed sense of denial." ~ Gwyneth Paltrow
~EJW~
P.S. ~ I quoted Han Solo, Mark Twain AND Gwyneth Paltrow today ... did I mention I'm really enjoying this A-Z thing? :-)
A-Z Writer's Toolbox: Camaraderie
UPDATE:
This post made the Publishing Daily TwitterZine. Lots of great articles, be sure to check it out!
A to Z Disclaimer:
Like all craftspeople, writers need to keep a bag of tricks handy. A set of tools for the job at hand (writing), if you will. Some of these traits or tools are obvious--like the need to have a hide as thick as a brick, for instance. Some are not. This month, I've been challenged to do a post every day of the week (excluding Sunday) that begins with a letter of the alphabet. I'm going to use this challenge to examine some of those necessary writing tools, both conventional and not. Hold on to your #2 pencil, here we go!
NOTE: I've added a page dedicated to my A to Z Writer's Toolbox posts. I figured I'd soon have a bunch of these things and it'll make it easier for you to browse any of the letters you might have missed. You can find a link to the page under the, "MORE STUFF" heading at the top of the right-hand column of this page.
C is for camaraderie
Writing is a solitary business. It is a process of cajoling, teasing and forcing things that--taken individually--are nothing but shapeless vapors wafting in our minds, and forming them into a cohesive substance that can be handled by all. If a medium is a material with which an artist works to make her creations, then I might argue that writing is the only form of art with no true medium.
A painter cannot color with language. A sculptor cannot chisel memories. A composer cannot sound notes with mental images. Yet, given enough time and study, a writer can use those things to construct entire worlds. Not surprisingly, this process doesn't lend itself to teamwork.
Isaac Asimov once said, "Writing is a lonely job. Even if a writer socializes regularly, when he gets down to the real business of his life, it is he and his type writer or word processor. No one else is or can be involved in the matter."
So why am I suggesting that you can't do it alone?
Camaraderie, as defined by Webster's, is a spirit of friendly good-fellowship. Only a dog knows the joys of chasing one's own tail, and the sadness of seeing an owner walk out the door alone. Similarly, only another writer will understand how a single story can devour 4 years of your life, or how soul-destroying a simple 'no thanks' can be when it comes from THE agent.
Like a tornado needs a trailer park, we need each other, if for no other reason than to provide some form of focus to a seemingly chaotic act. Writer friends will be there to commiserate your disappointments, to celebrate your accomplishments, to cheer your progress and jeer when your writing sags. All the while, they'll be pushing you to dig deeper and to express more by saying less.
If you don't have any writer friends, make some. (I'd recommend Meetup.com or any of the popular writing community websites. Heck, you could even start a writing blog! :-) No tool will be more valuable to your writing abilities, or your sanity.
~EJW~
A-Z Writer's Toolbox: Boggart
A-Z DISCLAIMER:
Like all craftspeople, writers need to keep a bag of tricks handy. A set of tools for the job at hand (writing), if you will. Some of these traits or tools are obvious--like the need to have a hide as thick as a brick, for instance. Some are not. This month, I've been challenged to do a post every day of the week (excluding Sunday) that begins with a letter of the alphabet. I'm going to use this challenge to examine some of those necessary writing tools, both conventional and not. Hold on to your #2 pencil, here we go!
B is for boggart
A boggart is a supernatural creature of English origins that is closely associated with poltergeist or other ruckus causing ghost entities. The legend of the boggart has been around forever, but it wasn't until J.K. Rowling/Harry Potter came around that the term entered the pop-culture lexicon.
For our discussion, I'm going to use the Harry Potter version of the creature. Here's the basic idea, courtesy of Wiki:
"A boggart is a shape-shifter that takes on the form of its intended victim's worst fear. It likes to hide in dark, enclosed places, such as closets and cabinets."
The writer's boggart...
I'm not suggesting that we all start writing spooky stories, or that every story needs to include supernatural creatures. (Although I know many a teen who might argue that ...) I'm suggesting that every story needs emotion, and not the 'happy', 'sad' or 'upset' kind, either. I'm talking about the elated, hopeless and pissed kinds of emotion. The emotion that sweeps us up and consumes us, or threatens to burn us out if we hold it in. That kind of emotion only comes around ever so often in real life, but it needs to flow through our stories like a river--persistent, unwavering and always there. Sometimes with a roar, and other times with the gentle trickle of water over rock, but always there.
In many ways, fear is the root of all other emotions. I could argue that love, happiness and anger all have their beginnings in fear. Fear of being alone. Fear of being sad. Fear of the unknown, or being afraid of things that don't fit our own ideas. Fear is the ultimate motivator. It drives us, and it should similarly drive our characters.
"He who is not every day conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
The ability to harness fear is an essential writer's tool. The most successful horror authors have said time again that they write about things that make them afraid. J.K. Rowling said that many of the horrible things done by the bad guys in her stories were a manifestation of the real atrocities she had learned about during her time working for Amnesty International.
Oddly enough, the essence of creating a false reality (fiction) is the writer's ability to bind the story to reality.
So how do we do it? I'm suggesting you use a boggart. When you need something to motivate your characters, or if your story falls flat, close your eyes and imagine what you fear most. Now open your eyes and imagine having to face down that fear in the next moment. Write down the emotions you feel, the actions you would take and the possible outcomes. Now put yourself in your character's shoes and do the same thing for them. You can also do this with people you know well (parents, children, spouse, friends, etc.) and come up with some really brilliant character traits and motivations.
It can be extremely difficult to fabricate emotion, so why not use the real thing?
"Fear makes us feel our humanity." ~ Disraeli
Hope to see you back Monday for the essential tool that begins with the letter C. Have a great weekend!
~EJW~
Like all craftspeople, writers need to keep a bag of tricks handy. A set of tools for the job at hand (writing), if you will. Some of these traits or tools are obvious--like the need to have a hide as thick as a brick, for instance. Some are not. This month, I've been challenged to do a post every day of the week (excluding Sunday) that begins with a letter of the alphabet. I'm going to use this challenge to examine some of those necessary writing tools, both conventional and not. Hold on to your #2 pencil, here we go!
B is for boggart
A boggart is a supernatural creature of English origins that is closely associated with poltergeist or other ruckus causing ghost entities. The legend of the boggart has been around forever, but it wasn't until J.K. Rowling/Harry Potter came around that the term entered the pop-culture lexicon.
For our discussion, I'm going to use the Harry Potter version of the creature. Here's the basic idea, courtesy of Wiki:
"A boggart is a shape-shifter that takes on the form of its intended victim's worst fear. It likes to hide in dark, enclosed places, such as closets and cabinets."
The writer's boggart...
I'm not suggesting that we all start writing spooky stories, or that every story needs to include supernatural creatures. (Although I know many a teen who might argue that ...) I'm suggesting that every story needs emotion, and not the 'happy', 'sad' or 'upset' kind, either. I'm talking about the elated, hopeless and pissed kinds of emotion. The emotion that sweeps us up and consumes us, or threatens to burn us out if we hold it in. That kind of emotion only comes around ever so often in real life, but it needs to flow through our stories like a river--persistent, unwavering and always there. Sometimes with a roar, and other times with the gentle trickle of water over rock, but always there.
In many ways, fear is the root of all other emotions. I could argue that love, happiness and anger all have their beginnings in fear. Fear of being alone. Fear of being sad. Fear of the unknown, or being afraid of things that don't fit our own ideas. Fear is the ultimate motivator. It drives us, and it should similarly drive our characters.
"He who is not every day conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
The ability to harness fear is an essential writer's tool. The most successful horror authors have said time again that they write about things that make them afraid. J.K. Rowling said that many of the horrible things done by the bad guys in her stories were a manifestation of the real atrocities she had learned about during her time working for Amnesty International.
Oddly enough, the essence of creating a false reality (fiction) is the writer's ability to bind the story to reality.
So how do we do it? I'm suggesting you use a boggart. When you need something to motivate your characters, or if your story falls flat, close your eyes and imagine what you fear most. Now open your eyes and imagine having to face down that fear in the next moment. Write down the emotions you feel, the actions you would take and the possible outcomes. Now put yourself in your character's shoes and do the same thing for them. You can also do this with people you know well (parents, children, spouse, friends, etc.) and come up with some really brilliant character traits and motivations.
It can be extremely difficult to fabricate emotion, so why not use the real thing?
"Fear makes us feel our humanity." ~ Disraeli
Hope to see you back Monday for the essential tool that begins with the letter C. Have a great weekend!
~EJW~
A-Z Writer's Toolbox: Alcohol
It's April! Not only is this the month of my birth *hooray me!*, it's also the month when droves of insane bloggers attempt to post an alphabet themed post every single day of the week minus Sunday. It's called the A-Z Blog Challenge, and frankly it's nuts.
However, being a little off-tilt myself, I've decided to take this challenge and spank it on its hind-parts. All other regular blog features may take a backseat over the next few weeks, but I promise to keep it fun and informative. Here's my plan to keep us entertained throughout this process:
Like all craftspeople, writers need to keep a bag of tricks handy. A set of tools for the job at hand (writing), if you will. Some of these traits or tools are obvious--like the need to have a hide as thick as a brick, for instance. Some are not. I'm going to use this challenge to examine some of those necessary tools, and hopefully find something for each letter of the alphabet in the process. Hold on to your #2 pencil, here we go!
 |
| Click Here To Read More A-Z |
We all know of the dubious link between alcohol and writers. Some of the most revered scribes of all time liked to partake of the Devil's Cool-Aid before (and during) the jotting down of their most important thoughts. From Hemingway to Stephen King and Capote to Dorothy Parker--liquor has had a vexing role in many an author's creative process.
Here's a list of the 15 most notable drunken scribblers.
This isn't to glorify substance abuse in any way. Stephen King is on record as saying his alcoholism did more harm for his writing than good, and many an author has met an early end to their brilliance due to over-indulgence. (Jack Kerouac died of alcoholism related illness at the age of 47.)
In fact, the real tool that writers need isn't the alcohol at all. It's the psychological symptoms of alcoholism.
Perhaps the single most valuable tool in a writer's toolbox is the ability to create dynamic characters. Characters with problems, mood swings and emotional baggage are the lifeblood of a good story. Furthermore, it's the unexpected that make characters really come to life. Like brothers who don't act like brothers, or a good guy who doesn't always think or do the right thing. Unfortunately, great characters are easier to read about than they are to create. Creating a hero who isn't always good, or a villain who isn't always insidious takes a lot of work.
Here's where alcohol can help. The following are a few of the psychological symptoms of alcoholism:
- Loss of control
- Sleep problems
- The collapse of the alibi system
- An increase in failed promises and resolutions to one's self and to others
- Anxiety
- Obsession
- Loss of interests
- Unreasonable resentments
- Loss of willpower
- Aggression
- Cloudy thinking
- Poor concentration
- Depression
- Stress
- Denial
Vanilla Character Twist
1 - Normal Character
1/2 Tbs - Motivation
2 tsp - Description
1 Shot - Any of the above alcoholism related symptoms
Mix all ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously, strain and pour. Garnish with fruit and zest of plot. Enjoy!
Come back tomorrow to see what you can do with the letter B!
~EJW~
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
FEED ME
Posts
All Comments