Tag: Writing
Happy, & Now You Know It
“Maybe being oneself is an acquired taste. For a writer it’s a big deal to bow–or kneel or get knocked down–to the fact that you are going to write your own books and not somebody else’s. Not even those books of the somebody else you thought it was your express business to spruce yourself up to be.”
― Patricia Hampl
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To contest? Or not to contest?
[found on blog.nathanbransford.com]
“What should writers know about contests?
The absolute most important advice I can give you is this: read and understand the fine print.
Know what you’re entering. Know what happens to your work in the event you win (or even/especially if you don’t win). Make sure you’re completely comfortable with it.”
For more information on writing contests from Nathan, click HERE.
[found on http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2009/12/all-about-writing-contests.html]
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What Goes In…Is What Comes Out
“To have output you must have input. It helps to go on a period of creative nourishment, or dolce far niente, clearing the brain. Go to bed with the cat, some flouffy pillows, tea and a book which could not in any sense be called improving. Read for fun for a change: superior Chicklit is good, or children’s classics. You are not allowed to try and analyse what the author is doing. After a good sleep, go and do something new, or that you haven’t done for a while….”
― Lucy Sussex
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In The Beginning…No, Now.
“They say everything that can be written has been written. I say we are just getting started.”
― Andrew Barger, Mailboxes – Mansions – Memphistopheles: A Collection of Dark Tales
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Genre? GENRE?! Don’t panic.
[found on fictionwriting.about.com]
“The most obvious way to pick a genre is to write what you like to read. If you mostly read romance, then write romance. Most of us read in several genres, and that can make it tricky though. Do you choose the one that seems the most marketable? The one you think is the most fun? Flip a coin?
This is ultimately a personal choice, but there are a few techniques that can help you choose:
- Make a pros and cons list. The classic decision-making tool. Write down the good and bad reasons to write in each genre and see how it shakes out.
- Go with your gut. After thinking about your options for a while, sit quietly for a while and listen to your intuition. Forget about marketing, or what your friends will think, what does your heart tell you to write?
- Pick the most marketable genre. This is tricky since it’s almost impossible to guess where the market is going. That said, you may be choosing between writing in a super-niche, micro-market, and something more mainstream. If you truly feel that they are equally-weighted in every other way, then maybe go with the one you think you can sell.
As you examine potential genres pay attention to the ones that attract you, but scare you at the same time. If you’re excited to write in a certain area, but afraid that you won’t be able to do it, then seriously consider choosing that genre. Often what you fear doing is what you need most to grow as an artist.”
[found on http://fictionwriting.about.com/od/genrefiction/a/How-To-Choose-A-Genre-For-Your-Novels.htm]
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One Word to Rule Them All
“If you wanted to go on from the end of The Hobbit I think the ring would be your inevitable choice as the link. If then you wanted a large tale, the Ring would at once acquire a capital letter; and the Dark Lord would immediately appear. As he did, unasked, on the hearth at Bag End as soon as I came to that point. So the essential Quest started at once. But I met a lot of things along the way that astonished me. Tom Bombadil I knew already; but I had never been to Bree. Strider sitting in the corner of the inn was a shock, and I had no more idea who he was than Frodo did. The Mines of Moria had been a mere name; and of Lothlorien no word had reached my mortal ears till I came there.
— (J.R.R. Tolkien to W.H. Auden, June 7, 1955.)” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
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Reality Need Not Apply
“Writing fiction feels like an adventurous act, nudging aside reality a word at a time.”
― James Van Pelt
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How to Not Write a Book in 5 Easy Steps
[found on theveryworstmissionary.com; by Jamie]
“Step One:
Tell everyone you are definitely for sure going to write a book.
Don’t leave anyone out! Include your friends and your family and your neighbors and the people who work at Starbucks (And maybe Target. But, like, only if it comes up organically, otherwise you sound like a douche). Oh. And don’t forget to tell your literary agent. She’ll probably want to know. And if some fancy publishers buy you lunch and give you presents? Tell them, too.
Don’t leave anyone out! Include your friends and your family and your neighbors and the people who work at Starbucks (And maybe Target. But, like, only if it comes up organically, otherwise you sound like a douche). Oh. And don’t forget to tell your literary agent. She’ll probably want to know. And if some fancy publishers buy you lunch and give you presents? Tell them, too.
Step Two:
Stare at your computer for a while. Like, at least two years.
Step Three:
Make a list of why you should definitely for sure NOT write a book. It doesn’t need to be long.
- Books are permanent. You cannot delete a book. (i.e. If your book sucks, you’re screwed.)
- Book writing is hard. Blogs are easy to write because you just take an idea, pare it down to the bare essentials, and – BOOM! – you’ve got a nifty little blog post. But blog posts for books are hard to write because they need a lot more words and stuff. Also? I think they’re called chapters.
- You don’t have time. (Ha. I could write fiction!)
- The people who promise they’d read your book are all in on the same huge practical joke. But you love jokes! So if you write a book and no one reads it, it’ll be hilarious! And sad.
- You’re too… Lazy? Scared? Stupid? Bad at writing? ADD? Tired? Chubby? Silly? Unworthy? Choose one or more, or write in your own ____________________________ .
- If you’re distracted by a book project, who will post pictures of the cat on Instagram?!
Step Four:
Lie. Tell yourself you never wanted to write a book anyway. Sip your coffee and feel satisfied. I mean, this wasn’t even your idea...
Step five:
Repeat steps One thru Four. Until you die.
It’s that easy, friends! I hope you find this guide useful on your journey toward not writing a book. Ever.
Good luck and God bless!
….. ……… …..
So. How do you not write a book? Do share. (I’ll be right over here… staring at my computer. *heavy sigh*)”
Editing Addict, LLC 