Writers Go For The Gusto!

I often wonder why I sometimes hesitate when it comes to writing. I want to jump right in and go for the gold, but there is this little thing that creeps up inside me and screams HALT! I get jittery because I am not sure that I am ready even though I am achieving so many wonderful writing goals. So what is it? Are we waiting for a pat on the back or perhaps someones permission to dive into the writing pool? Well, maybe. I came across and article from Cathy Stucker that helped me feel uplifted and ready to jump right in and go for the gusto! Enjoy!

Stop Waiting for Permission

March 17th, 2011

How do successful people become successful? They do things. Instead of sitting around waiting for the Permission Fairy to whack them upside the head with her magic wand, they just go out and do what they need to do.

I get a lot of questions from clients, students and others about how to do various things. Sometimes these questions are about the technical details of how to do something, but often the question is about how they go about getting permission to publish a book, become a consultant, create a course, etc. They want to know what course they need to complete, what group they need to join or who needs to give them a title before they can do what they want to do. While that is necessary if you want to be a doctor, in the world of entrepreneurs you do not need a license to succeed.

When someone is waiting for permission it is often because they do not have confidence in their ability to do something. The way to get that confidence is not to look to someone else. The way to get confidence in your ability to do something is to do it.

In the corporate world there are people who hand out titles and job duties. As an entrepreneur, you are the one who decides what your title is (if any) and what responsibilities you have. Want to be a published author? Write a book and get it published. Want to be a professional speaker? Get to the front of the room and start talking. Want to be a consultant? Start lining up clients you can help. It’s up to you.

There are people and educational resources to help with the things you do not know how to do or that you do not want to do on your own. However, there is no one who can give you permission. No one but you. Read more here.

Do Writers Need Rules?

In this world there are rules. Plain and simple. When we are born we learn to crawl, walk and speak. Doctors learn procedures, ditch diggers learn to hold shovels and writers learn how to tell stories. If there were no rules or methods of learning we would all be sitting around with our thumbs up our rears. Harsh, but true. Larry Brooks wrote a wonderful article on the subject of writing fundamentals. Check it out and let me know your thoughts.

The Learning Curve That Keeps On Curving

Larry Brooks has written 434 posts on Storyfix.com.You can follow Larry on Twitter, or Google+.

 Email the author

by LARRY BROOKS on MARCH 19, 2012

In all my years as a writer, writing teacher and blogger, I’ve never run into anybody who claims to knoweverything there is to know about storytelling.

That’s because the more you know, the more you realize how complex and deep it all can be.  Stories are like people, no two are completely alike, and therefore each needs to be regarded, analyzed, appreciated and repaired separately.

That said, certain fundamental principles and physics apply. 

Just like they do to people.  And they can be learned.

And yet, while nobody is claiming to know it all, I have run into writers who claim they don’t need to pay attention to those pesky fundamental principles and storytelling physics.  They say something like this:

“Don’t over-think it, just sit down and do it, let the story flow, trust your instinct, do whatever the hell you want, keep working on it and it’ll turn out like it’s supposed to. There are no rules.”

Not long ago I flew into Salt Lake to give a keynote and writing workshop at a major conference.  The young writer who picked me up at the airport was curious about my book (which is all about writing fundamentals and storytelling physics), and in the course of our conversation told me that one of writers who would be attending the conference – an older guy who had been writing for years – said my book was ridiculous, that there are only three things a writer needs to ultimately know, the rest is just hot air: the beginning, the middle and the end.

That’s it?  Who knew.  All these years, I’ve missed that one on the writing shelf.  This is the same guy who claims all he needs in life is “three hots and a cot.”

I asked now many books this guy had published.  The answer was none.

Interesting.  While I have run into writers who line up behind this simplistic belief system, none of them – zero – have been published.

Coincidence?  I think not.

And when it does happen – and I’m sure it does – it isn’t proof of the theory.  Rather, it’s the writer not understanding what just happened.

There are a few Big Names out there who claim to be listening to some muse, that they simply sit down and channel it.  But the truth (IMO) is one of three things: this is a transparent stab at modesty, they have a great editor, or they’re truly clueless and therefore just lucky to be where they are.

I don’t think the last two are it.  Such writers probably write organically, on instinct… but what is instinct if not the expression of something that has been learned?

In essence these writers are saying that they’re some kind of genius.

Diana Gabaldon comes to mind.  As does Stephen King, who is a genius, but in talking about “how to write” laughably discounts the fact he’s published hundreds of stories over many decades, which by definition means he’s learned something along the way, which again by definition means if something can be learned, it can be sought-out and it can be taught, if nothing else through acknowledgement.

Just because you haven’t filed a flight plan, it doesn’t mean you don’t know how to fly the airplane.  No,that part you have to learn. Read more here.

The Opening Scene: Tips for Writers

Image via Wikipedia

What’s one of the toughest challenges for writers? Is it deciding what the cover should look like? How about  the marketing process? How about the outline for your project? If you answered yes to any of these perhaps some or all of these are tough for writers. But what will the reader think? That’s what you should be asking yourself. Can I, the writer, hook  you the reader at the very beginning?

C.S. Lakin has some tips that will get you thinking about your action packed opening scene.

The Crucial Question You Must Ask in Your Opening Scene

The True Definition of a Scene

One of the main points discussed in previous posts involved picking just the right starting place to begin your book. This means the story starts in present action, in the middle of something happening, with your POV character right in the situation and revealing her (or his) fears, dreams, needs, or goals and the obstacle that is in the way and presenting a problem. I like the way Jordan Rosenfeld in the book Make a Scene defines what a scene is: “Scenes are capsules in which compelling characters undertake significant actions in a vivid and memorable ay that allows the events to feel as though they are happening in real time.” I talked before about eliminating back story and starting right in with your protagonist and hinting at her visible goal.

Mind Your MDQs

You’ve now learned why the visible “goal” of your protagonist needs to be revealed in some measure in the first few pages, and what we’ll explore today is the need to establish both the plot question and the spiritual question your book is raising. For the plot question is tied up in the visible goal (they are pretty much the same thing), but the spiritual question is a little different but just as crucial, if not more.

You may not have a deeply themed book, but there must be some reason you are writing this story. We talked about this in an earlier post. What is your story about? If you were asked, “Why did you write this book?” (and spend months, maybe years of your life doing so!) how would you answer? Hopefully, there is a specific thing you want to say to your readers. It doesn’t have to be a “message” or sermon on life, but every story deals with themes on one level or another, and your views as a writer will come through the story, sometimes whether you intend it or not. Better to begin a book with intention—intending to say something and leave your readers with that “take-home” thought when they read the last line and close the book.

This ties in with your MDQ or major dramatic query (or question). I think the most important, mind-blowing material I learned in recent years that helped me in my writing craft was to learn about the MDQ. And I hope after you read this you will feel similarly. Now, with every novel I write, I begin with this. And don’t worry, you can learn about MDQ PDQ (pretty darn quickly). Read more here.

Related articles

• On Writing (bonniedottoewsdotcom.wordpress.com)
• How Do You Create Your Characters? (sallyjenkins.wordpress.com)

Shana Gammon Author Exposed

Shana Gammon is an author who loves cats so much she has written a really funny book about one. But that’s not all she does, she is also an artist. Shana has stopped by to share her writing experience and some tips too.

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Neophyte Writer Interview:

How long have you been writing?

I started writing when I was in the fifth grade. That year I had a teacher who encouraged students to do a lot of creative writing. I really enjoyed it.

Have you always written for children?

Children’s literature is a genre I’m very comfortable with. I think that writing children’s literature allows the writer a certain freedom – almost an ability to be a child again.

What drives and motivates you?

My children have been a source of motivation for me. They were one of the main reasons why I wrote Marie’s Nine Lives.

What advice do you have for new writers?

I would encourage new writers to write for the fun of it and take time to determine what type(s) of writing they enjoy. If you enjoy writing it will reflect in what you write and you can truly connect with your audience.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I’m sure I’ll still be writing. What I’ll be writing – I have no idea. That’s the fun of it though.

Shana Gammon is the author and illustrator of Marie’s Nine Lives. She based the book on her cat Marie; a cat that she and her family rescued from an animal shelter. This is Shana’s second book for children. Her first children’s book, The Great State Cookbook, was published in 2003.

For more information about Marie’s Nine Lives, please visit the book’s website at: www.mariesninelives.blogspot.com. All booking inquiries should be sent to the publisher at: willowtreebooks@yahoo.com 

Thanks so much for stopping by Shana. For a chance to win a copy of Marie’s Nine Lives visit Kristi’s Book Nook.

Karen E. M. Johnston Author Exposed

Learning from other writers is always an excellent way to hone in on your skills. I love it when authors share their experiences and me become a better writer. Visiting this week is Karen Johnston author of two wonderful books for middle grade readers. She is sharing with us the craft of writing and some great tips too.

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Neophyte Writer Interview:

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing for about ten years.

Have you always written for children?

I started writing freelance by writing articles for magazines. My background was advertising back in the UK (London, Covent Garden) where I would sometimes be required to write copy, so the natural progression was to write non-fiction. I’ve published a wide variety of articles from in publications from Metro Kids, Kid Zone Magazine to Succeed. Then after having my three children, and spending every evening reading children’s books aloud to them at bedtime, I decided to have a go at writing one myself. So I wrote my first children’s book, The Witness Tree and the Shadow of the Noose, a civil war ghost mystery.

What drives and motivates you?

At the risk of sounding batty, I’d have to say the characters in my head, who are constantly partying, have so many things to tell me. And whenever I get an invite, I write their stories down as quick as I can. I have no choice, I have to write their stories.

What advice do you have for new writers?

Persevere. All published writers were unpublished first. Write every day. And eat lots of chocolate.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I’d like to continue adding to my middle grade children’s collection, and I would like to branch out into young adult and women’s fiction.

What’s your next project?

I just started a young adult novel about a teenage girl who finds out her crush has a short list for invites to the upcoming prom–she’s fourth on the list. Not a happy chappy. I’m at the early stages of the novel, my favorite part, when I start to get to know the teenagers I’m about to spend the next nine months with. I love the drama, the passion, the raw excitement, the hope, the utter despair and the incredible depth of emotion my characters share with me. Give me a teenager any day.

Karen E. M. Johnston, a British author, was born in Gibraltar, studied Business and International Marketing in the UK, and worked in advertising and marketing in London’s Covent Garden before moving to the US. She is widely published in children’s, parent, and business magazines.

Karen’s debut children’s middle grade novel THE WITNESS TREE AND THE SHADOW OF THE NOOSE, a Civil War ghost mystery, came out in 2009, and her second children’s novel BIG BOYS DON’T SPY hit the shelves November 2010.

Karen also writes Women’s Fiction and Young Adult novels.

Ms. Johnston lives in Chantilly, Virginia, on the outskirts of Washington D.C. with her British husband and three American sons who have not the slightest trace of a British accent.

Thanks so much Karen for stopping by and sharing your story. To learn more about Karen visit her at:

www.kemjohnston.com

Facebook: Karen E. M. Johnston

Twitter: KemJohnston

She is also featured at Kristi’s Book Nook. Be sure to stop by for a chance to win her novel “Big Boys Don’t Spy.”