writer’s block

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.

Writer’s Wisdom 19

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The Inner Critic

We all know the inner critic;  it lives inside us.  It can sabotage our writing at any time – if we let it.  The inner critic creeps out when you least expect it, and takes over your brain, feelings and confidence.  Author Kate Jacobs said in an interview with Borders:  “the secret is being persistent and silencing this inner critic.”

You may be persistent and disciplined, but if you let the inner critic sabotage your writing, then it will paralyze you, and you will end up in a circle of procrastination, or over editing, because the critic says it is not good enough.  Although writing should never be “good enough,” there is a point when you should stop over editing.

Silencing the inner critic is critical if you want to move along with your writing.  Your main concern is to write the piece; once that’s accomplished move on to editing.

So, next time the inner critic shows up, give it a piece of chocolate and keep writing.

Writer’s Wisdom 18

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Read

Most writers love to read.  The written word becomes spellbinding.  Besides doing it for pleasure, reading will improve your writing.  Take note of author’s styles, use of language, dialog and description.  Notice the movement of the characters throughout the story. 

Author Maggie Stiefvater recommends to aspiring authors to read, read, read.  She did not take any creative writing classes, but she is a voracious reader (as told in a Borders interview).  Reading is like studying about writing, while enjoying a good story.  It is good to read various genres, to get a good idea of what works for your style. 

So, next time you pick up a book, think of its benefits to you as a writer, besides being pure entertainment.

Writer’s Wisdom 16

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Your Trademark

Many have compared writing a book with giving birth to a child.  When you write, you are pouring your self, your style, into a piece of writing.  The styles of well known authors are unmistakable.  Lisa Scottoline said, in an interview with Borders, “Try to write something that is inside you; you open your heart and readers open theirs.”

Mitch Albom weaves his own anecdotes into his books; he uses a song in every book, kind of his trademark.  Your trademark (the term is not being used here in its strict definition)  identifies you in a sea of writers, it is your personal mark, your print in the story.

However you decide to leave your mark embeded in the story, eventually, it will reflect your style, and identify you.   

 

Writer’s Wisdom 15

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“Outlines”

To outline or not to outline; that seems to be the question today.  To outline before you start writing can definitely be helpful; if anything, it keeps you organized.  However, outline is a matter of taste and type of personality, and of “what works for you.”

Some authors, like John Grisham, make an extensive outline, before writing.  He needs his outline (as told in an interview with Borders).  His style is very disciplined and structured.  He writes from 6-12 M, mostly 5-8+ pages a day. For others, outlines are shorter, or created along the way.

The important thing here is that outlines, extensive or short, are a good way to keep your thoughts organized, and helps in making the best of your writing time.  Outlines are not permanent, they are just a guide to move you right along, but can change at any time.  The story is alive, and sometimes it takes a path on its own.

Writer’s Wisdom 14

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“Self publishing”

I think it would be safe to say that most writers want to be published, although many will write for themselves and the love of writing.  Writing a book, editing, finding an agent, editing again … is a lot of hard work and takes great commitment.  However, there is another way of going about it – self publishing.  Despite, the arguments about if self publishing is a taboo or not, it is a practical method (budget permitting) to make your book known to the public.  Some known authors have taken this road, before becoming known.  Brunania Barry self published 2,000 copies, ( as told in a Borders interview) then hired a public relations company.  She did things a bit different from others; she took a leap of faith, quit her job, and wrote.  She knew she wanted to be a novelist, this book started as a dream.

So, we have a succesful story of a self published author (in the beginning); but this jumpstarted her dream, and now her career – her book, The lace reader.  Self publishing may not be for every writer, but it certainly presents a possibility to jumpstart a writer’s career –  when accompanied with a good PR firm.  It is up to you to decide which road to take, but most important, for the love of writing.

 

Writer’s Wisdom 11

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“The book inside your head”

“You have to live with the book in your head all the time, even when living your normal daily routine.”– Michael Chabon (on an interview with Borders)

When you are writing a book, besides living with your family, you are living with your characters – in another dimension.  “Your characters will pop up like mushrooms” (to quote Jody Picoult), and you better listen to what they have to say.  Daily living circumstances can give you ideas for your plot.  An interesting woman/man at the supermarket can become part of your book, a conversation, an incident …

Some writers go away for a week or two to write; Michael Chabon is an example.  If you have an extremely busy or complicated life, and going away is not an alternative, then be mindful of your book.  Be on the look, aware of what surrounds you, who and what you see, and the sounds you hear – engage your senses.  Live with your book, with your characters.  Talk to them, you’ll be surprised at how many times, they will come up with an answer – just the right one, when you were struggling with it.  Feel the magic all around you.  Be mindful of your writing!

Writer’s Wisdom 10

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“Have fun in the process.”

Best selling authors seem to agree on this one; you should enjoy the process of writing and have fun with it.  Some of them seem easy going, or go with the flow, others more uptight, with a more serious or solemn personality; but whatever their personal style might be, they all seem to have fun in the process.  They love writing and they have fun doing it.

Best selling authors are under the pressure of many deadlines, and deadlines can take the fun out of anything.  That is why having fun in the process is so important – it will lighten and refresh you, resulting in better writing and better use of time (since you don’t want to waste time stressing over the inevitable deadline).  It will contribute, in the end, to the flow of your pen (or your keyboard).

So, if writing is your passion, your dream, or your bread and butter, remember to have fun in the process.  No one wants a “crabby muse.”