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Writer’s Wisdom 39

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Learning from the best

As aspiring authors it is important to learn as much as we can about the craft.  There are many books about writing, genres, and writing tips.  The best source is to learn from best-selling authors who have walked the path.  With the technology these days, this is easy to do.  There are many interviews of best-selling authors in You tube and in book stores.  These interviews are full of great real tips and ideas from these authors.

Another way is to visit their websites, which are full of insights to the craft and many interesting and useful tips.  Many authors have frequently asked questions sections on their sites, which are a big help for an aspiring writer.  Many have written books on the subject, according to their own writing experience and journey.  A book that I recommend is:  How I write, by Janet Evanovich.  It is full of very important and useful information – worth every penny.

If you are serious about your writing, start learning from the best.  Take it a step further and not only read their books, but visit their sites and listen to interviews; or if you have the opportunity, go to their book signings.

Writer’s Wisdom 38

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Writing your heart out

A writer’s journey is a long and lonely one.  Lonely, because of the long hours in solitary writing.  Most best-selling authors love the time they spend at book signings because they crave the social aspect of it.  Alone with your pen or computer, your mind starts running in many directions, and many times, you end up pondering your writing skills – more like questioning your writing skills.

Doubt will creep out, especially when you spend so many hours by yourself, writing.  And if you top it with handling rejections and the slow process of making money with the craft, your writer’s confidence can take a dip.  When you end up on the valley of doubt, don’t entertain those thoughts; instead, focus on the task at hand and repeat to yourself:  “I am a writer for the long run.”

A question that helps take the pressure off is:  “Who do I write for?”  When you answer the question honestly you may end up feeling relief.  For example, first, I write for my Creator, and the giver of all good things and talents.  Second, I write from the heart out, and for myself.  Third, I share my writing with readers, and appreciate any interest that they might have.

Taking this approach has helped me be less critical, patient, and a bit more focus with my writing.  I am a writer for the long run.

Writer’s Wisdom 36

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“Own your emotions.”

Our writing gets permeated by our feelings and emotions, no matter how impartial we attempt to be while writing a piece.  It is important to take a look at our emotions when we are writing, to see if we are not sabotaging our writing. 

Author Sue Grafton believes in writing down her emotions so she does not sabotage her work – as told in a Borders interview.  When writing a novel, she keeps a journal where she writes important details about the novel, and also about her feelings at the time.  She keeps her emotions in place with this technique. 

Our moods can affect our writing, and a way to release any negative moods is by keeping a writing  journal.  By releasing those bottled up feelings, you free your creative energy, and allow it to flow.  Own your emotions, and your Muse will love you for it!

Writer’s Wisdom 35

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“Mind your own writing – put a lid on it.”

Many writers fall into the trap of airing their dirty laundry on their blog or articles; their writing turns into wining.  Many writing sites allow the publishing of these types of writing – turning more into social sites, than writing sites.  If you are serious about a career in writing, mind your own writing, put a lid on it, and filter it so it doesn’t become too personal or trashy.

A simple rule to go by is – If it doesn’t help the writing or your image as a serious writer, as a professional, then trash it.”  Once it is written and published, might as well be on stone.  Down the road, if you are fortunate to land a serious writing assignment or a book contract, you don’t want those writing skeletons to come out.

If writing is your passion, take it serious, mind it and give your best.

Writer’s Wisdom 34

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Stepping out of your comfort zone

There is always a genre or style where you feel “at home.”  Let’s call it your comfort zone.  Sometimes, we get too complacent and comfortable with our writing at the expense of new material, or fresh inspiration.  When our writing starts lacking freshness or feels dormant, it is time to wake it up by stepping out of our comfort zone.

By trying a different approach to a story, a different genre, or simply by reading a totally opposed subject, we give a jolt to our pen, and the gates of inspiration open.  It is easy to fall in a writing rut, but as with any routine, change it, and it will start flowing.  If you don’t, you may be opening the door to writer’s block.

Writer’s Wisdom 29

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Character Strength

The story line is important, but characters have to drive it; they have to make it alive, real – the pages have to keep turning.  If you have watched the popular TV series 24, you understand what I mean.  In the series, the basic premise is pretty much the same – Jack Bauer has to prevent a terrorist attack, which is usually a nuke or bio threat; and a big part of the government is corrupted, making the task almost impossible.  This is basically it, but how is it that we  want to keep watching, over and over, can’t get enough of 24 and Jack Bauer, or can’t wait for the next season to come?  Why is it that this simple story that repeats itself in every season, manages to capture us with such force? 

It is because of the characters.  The characters in these series are strong, unpredictable, forceful, and full of mystery and deceit.  The characters drive the series, and keep us in our seat – watching and wanting more.  If you notice, every season new characters appear, old ones die or disappear for a while; sometimes they are brought back.  This is how the series is kept fresh, no matter if the story line is almost the same – the terrorist attack and the corrupted government.

No better example than this one to show you how important character strength is in any story.  Weak characters make for a boring read.

Writer’s Wisdom 24

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How do you write?

Best selling author Nora Roberts shared her method to writing in an interview with Borders.

Quote:  “Well, first: There ain’t no muse. If you sit around and wait to channel the muse, you can sit around and wait a long time.” 

She believes that writing is hard work; she works really hard to make her writing “as fluid as possible, as readable and entertaining as possible.”  She writes the first draft, without editing, because according to her, she doesn’t know yet what will happen next.  Once she has down her story, she starts editing, page by page, chapter by chapter.  She pays attention to how it sounds, mistakes, emotion, and adds anything that she needs to.  Once she’s done, she goes back one more time and pays attention to language, rhythm, and that all loose ends are tied.  She makes sure that she has “been true to the story.” 

This is how magic happens to best selling author Nora Roberts.  But there is a method to her magic.  

Today my question to you is:  Are you following your own magic?   

Writer’s Wisdom 22

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The World(s) in your story

When you are writing a story, immediately, you are confronted with –  where is it taking place?  Time and place are essential to a story, especially in historical novels.  If you are writing about a place in reality, then you have to research its history and what it looks like, and many other details.  When you are writing fantasy or just making up the setting, you are free to give range to your imagination.  The world or worlds that you create are entirely up to you.

Best selling author Gregory Maguire puts it this way: “Your inventive culture/world should be convincing.  Work this world in your mind, even if you do not write all the details in the story.”  (Borders interview)

The important issue here is that you have a clear picture of what your world looks like, feels like, and works like.  When the vision of your world is clear, the characters will move more freely in it, and their interactions will flow easier.  Just because a world is fantasy, it doesn’t mean that it won’t be convincing.  The reader will step inside that world, and navigate around it through its characters.  If you want your reader to keep visiting that world, and exploring it, it is your job as a writer to make it alive for the reader – to make it convincing.  Character creation follow the same rules, your characters should be believable, but where they are interacting should be as well.

Fantasy or reality, the setting of your story will capture the reader or turn him/her away.

Writer’s Wisdom 21

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Writing with Heart

Writing a piece is more than telling a story.  If you are passionate about writing, you write with your heart.  You give something in you, to the story.  Author Harlan Coben expressed in a Borders interview:  “I like to write with heart, otherwise it is not going to work for me.”  I agree with his comment; to make a piece that captures the readers, there has to be passion in it.

Author Wally Lamb expressed:  “Write a book for yourself, and let the readers that have to find it, find it.” 

Another author that follows the same rule is Jamie Lee Curtis.  She told Borders:  “I don’t do it for achievement; it is pure expression for me.”  Another good example of this is best selling author John Grisham.  He writes legal thrillers, mostly, but he says that he writes whatever he wants; he has fun with the genre.  He says he does not know where he is going as far as sticking with a genre.  Some of his books have been made into movies (The Firm, The Appeal).  In his own words to Borders:  “You can’t get too serious, the pages have to turn.”

And perhaps, the best example we have about a best selling author who writes with heart is Stephenie Meyer.  Her first book, Twilight, she wrote for herself – at the kitchen table.  The very successful series followed, and captured the heart of fans all over.

So, next time you pick up your pen (or your mouse), ask yourself this question:  “Am I putting my heart to it?” 

Writer’s Wisdom 20

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Age in writing

Age is an important factor in your character’s development.  As you write, you have to address age appropriate dilemmas for your characters.  If you are writing a series, you are presented with the issue of aging your character or keeping it  the same age throughout the series.  The interactions of your characters should be age appropriate, around issues that affect that particular age group.  Marriage dilemmas, teen issues, younger kid’s points of view, all of that is taken into consideration when writing your characters.  In a historical novel, some of this issues differ with modern times, since women got married much younger (in their teens).  Periods in history affect the age issues in a particular piece of writing, so does cultural backgrounds and regional customs.

Although age is not something that has to be mentioned in the story, behavior and setting of the characters should be congruent with it.