As I spend time developing this blog and dreaming up content (I've got some I-hope-they're-as-cool-as-I-think-they-are ideas cooking), I'm going to jump right in and test a few things.
"Friday Fricassee" is all about my readers. Of course, this is a brand new blog, so pickin's may be a bit slim for a while. Basically, I'm opening up the comments box for a fricassee of ideas, input, amazing insight, etc., from those of you who feel so inclined to share.
And since this is our first official Friday Fricassee, the conversation starter is:
So, what do you write? Why do you write? And what are your goals and dreams?
Chat away! Reading comments is by far the best part of blogging.
Miss Snark's First Victim
Friday, April 4, 2008
For the Newbie: How To Be a Writer
This isn't a Writing 101 post. It's a bare-bones, how-do-I-get-started post for folks who wonder how they're actually going to do this thing.
Actually, I'm about to impart Common Sense to you.
I can't tell you how many folks have written to me, "Do you think I should go back to school to be a writer?" Or, "Should I take some writing courses first?"
"School" and "Writing Courses" and "Sundry Investments of Time and Money Loosely Related to the Art of Writing" aren't going to guarantee anyone publication. Yes, there are times when a good brush-up course on English Grammar is a good idea. Especially if you don't know when to use "lie" and "lay," or if you can't tell me what a gerund is.
But really, the best advice is to write -- a lot. And to read -- a lot. Read good writers. Read a variety of writers.
Now for the Common Sense part:
1. Make writing a priority. Do you have an idea for a novel? An outline scribbled on a few sheets of notebook paper? If you don't act on it, it will never happen. Write.
2. Your "personal computer time" is probably limited. So don't sit there for an hour reading your favorite blogs, answering email, and dancing around on Myspace before cracking open your latest Word document. Sure, there's a lot of good stuff out there. I've linked to a bunch of it, and I'll be adding more. But don't let the "good stuff" take the place of actually writing. Write.
3. Don't even think about agents and publishers and the Best Seller list while you're writing your first draft. Or your second, or your third, or however many drafts you're going to end up with. You're going to need a polished, edited, re-edited, re-re-edited manuscript before you move on to the next big step. Focus. Write.
4. Don't hand your story to your parents, your spouse, your neighbors, your Bunko buddies, your mailman, your fifth grade English teacher, or your barber, and take their reactions as Gospel. If you think for a moment that anyone is going to say something like, "Well, this is a great start, but you have some work ahead of you," you are mistaken. Instead, you're going to hear praises unlike anything heard before. "You are so talented!" "This is fabulous! Simply fabulous!" "Oh my gosh, you mean this isn't published yet?" "Wow! This is Best Seller material!" Right. They'll say it, and you'll believe it. And it won't be true. Especially if it's your first novel. So keep friends and relatives away from your work. Just write.
5. The real input is going to come from like-minded writers who are willing to swap work with you, or from a critique group that you trust. (Disclaimer: Not all crit groups are created equal. A group of poor writers is going to give out poor advice. Choose wisely.) Be willing to rip your work to bits. Be willing to delete, delete, and delete some more. Don't fall in love with your words. Be fickle. Be flexible. And when someone tells you that something isn't working, and you know it isn't working, get rid of it. And then write it better.
So, the distillation of my Common Sense points is as follows:
1. Write.
2. Write.
3. Write.
4. Write.
5. Write.
And you know, this advice isn't just for "newbies." Those of us who are on our second or third or fifteenth novels need the same reminders. Life is short. WRITE.
Feel free to add your own "Common Sense" advice in the comments box!
Actually, I'm about to impart Common Sense to you.
I can't tell you how many folks have written to me, "Do you think I should go back to school to be a writer?" Or, "Should I take some writing courses first?"
"School" and "Writing Courses" and "Sundry Investments of Time and Money Loosely Related to the Art of Writing" aren't going to guarantee anyone publication. Yes, there are times when a good brush-up course on English Grammar is a good idea. Especially if you don't know when to use "lie" and "lay," or if you can't tell me what a gerund is.
But really, the best advice is to write -- a lot. And to read -- a lot. Read good writers. Read a variety of writers.
Now for the Common Sense part:
1. Make writing a priority. Do you have an idea for a novel? An outline scribbled on a few sheets of notebook paper? If you don't act on it, it will never happen. Write.
2. Your "personal computer time" is probably limited. So don't sit there for an hour reading your favorite blogs, answering email, and dancing around on Myspace before cracking open your latest Word document. Sure, there's a lot of good stuff out there. I've linked to a bunch of it, and I'll be adding more. But don't let the "good stuff" take the place of actually writing. Write.
3. Don't even think about agents and publishers and the Best Seller list while you're writing your first draft. Or your second, or your third, or however many drafts you're going to end up with. You're going to need a polished, edited, re-edited, re-re-edited manuscript before you move on to the next big step. Focus. Write.
4. Don't hand your story to your parents, your spouse, your neighbors, your Bunko buddies, your mailman, your fifth grade English teacher, or your barber, and take their reactions as Gospel. If you think for a moment that anyone is going to say something like, "Well, this is a great start, but you have some work ahead of you," you are mistaken. Instead, you're going to hear praises unlike anything heard before. "You are so talented!" "This is fabulous! Simply fabulous!" "Oh my gosh, you mean this isn't published yet?" "Wow! This is Best Seller material!" Right. They'll say it, and you'll believe it. And it won't be true. Especially if it's your first novel. So keep friends and relatives away from your work. Just write.
5. The real input is going to come from like-minded writers who are willing to swap work with you, or from a critique group that you trust. (Disclaimer: Not all crit groups are created equal. A group of poor writers is going to give out poor advice. Choose wisely.) Be willing to rip your work to bits. Be willing to delete, delete, and delete some more. Don't fall in love with your words. Be fickle. Be flexible. And when someone tells you that something isn't working, and you know it isn't working, get rid of it. And then write it better.
So, the distillation of my Common Sense points is as follows:
1. Write.
2. Write.
3. Write.
4. Write.
5. Write.
And you know, this advice isn't just for "newbies." Those of us who are on our second or third or fifteenth novels need the same reminders. Life is short. WRITE.
Feel free to add your own "Common Sense" advice in the comments box!
Play Nice
This will (hopefully) be an interactive blog; a lively, give-and-take hangout for the scadzillion writers who, like me, want to be connected, ask questions, give feedback, help each other, laugh a little.
Please: No snarkies. When you leave comments -- especially comments about other people's writing -- be nice. A little tact goes a long way.
No spam. You will be annihilated without warning.
No disgusting language. We all have our limits.
"Disgusting," by the way, is subject to my opinion as the author of this blog.
When it comes to posting your submissions for critiques and contests, please understand that any language in your excerpt that I deem "unacceptable" for a PG audience will be edited with ***'s.
And please don't post the emails, phone numbers, or other personal information of agents or editors. They already receive a plentiful amount of unwanted correspondence; let's not encourage it here.
That's about it for now.
Oh, one more thing. Suggestions are good! Don't hesitate to send yours to facelesswords (at) gmail.com.
Please: No snarkies. When you leave comments -- especially comments about other people's writing -- be nice. A little tact goes a long way.
No spam. You will be annihilated without warning.
No disgusting language. We all have our limits.
"Disgusting," by the way, is subject to my opinion as the author of this blog.
When it comes to posting your submissions for critiques and contests, please understand that any language in your excerpt that I deem "unacceptable" for a PG audience will be edited with ***'s.
And please don't post the emails, phone numbers, or other personal information of agents or editors. They already receive a plentiful amount of unwanted correspondence; let's not encourage it here.
That's about it for now.
Oh, one more thing. Suggestions are good! Don't hesitate to send yours to facelesswords (at) gmail.com.
Who Am I, Anyway?
I'm obviously not going to say a whole lot about myself, since I'm choosing to remain anonymous.
In honor of Miss Snark, and all that.
But here's a little background so that you know I'm "for real":
I'm female. (Obviously.)
I am an aspiring author, on the angst-ridden road toward publication.
I have written and self-published one NF book.
I am seeking representation and/or publication for my current works of fiction.
I write for children. That's picture books to young adult.
My NF book is not for children.
I am married.
I hate dogs.
And everything I am and ever will be, I owe to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.
Please take me as I am. I will do the same for you
In honor of Miss Snark, and all that.
But here's a little background so that you know I'm "for real":
I'm female. (Obviously.)
I am an aspiring author, on the angst-ridden road toward publication.
I have written and self-published one NF book.
I am seeking representation and/or publication for my current works of fiction.
I write for children. That's picture books to young adult.
My NF book is not for children.
I am married.
I hate dogs.
And everything I am and ever will be, I owe to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.
Please take me as I am. I will do the same for you
The History
In July, 2005, then-active Miss Snark issued the first invitation to her hapless readers: Send me your first page!
She said it in passing, sort of. Nobody seemed to be responding.
So I took it upon myself to send the illustrious Miss Snark an email that read, "OK, I'll bite." And, amidst great trembling and fear, I sent her the first page of my current WIP.
Miss Snark may have been caught a bit off guard by my email. She wrote back asking if it was okay to post my page and her comments on the blog.
Being a silly, novice writer, I said it would be fine if she changed the names of the characters. (Did I think somebody was going to steal them?) She agreed, and chose the most ridiculous character names I'd ever read.
She then proceeded to tear my writing to gentle shreds.
At first, it stung ("How dare she!"). Then it brought a dull sense of "I guess my writing sucks."
But then something even better happened. I realized that Miss Snark's comments were dead on. I ended up doing some of the best rewriting I'd ever done.
Ultimately, the work ended up "on the shelf" bearing the label, "Practice Novel." But you know what? My work has never been the same.
I'm actually writing well now. Well, as in getting requests for partials and fulls. Well, as in getting positive personal feedback (albeit attached to rejections).
Still growing. Still improving. Never finished learning.
And here's the original post to prove I haven't hallucinated the whole thing: C-rap Rations For The Hippest of Snarklings, Part 1".
And now you know.
She said it in passing, sort of. Nobody seemed to be responding.
So I took it upon myself to send the illustrious Miss Snark an email that read, "OK, I'll bite." And, amidst great trembling and fear, I sent her the first page of my current WIP.
Miss Snark may have been caught a bit off guard by my email. She wrote back asking if it was okay to post my page and her comments on the blog.
Being a silly, novice writer, I said it would be fine if she changed the names of the characters. (Did I think somebody was going to steal them?) She agreed, and chose the most ridiculous character names I'd ever read.
She then proceeded to tear my writing to gentle shreds.
At first, it stung ("How dare she!"). Then it brought a dull sense of "I guess my writing sucks."
But then something even better happened. I realized that Miss Snark's comments were dead on. I ended up doing some of the best rewriting I'd ever done.
Ultimately, the work ended up "on the shelf" bearing the label, "Practice Novel." But you know what? My work has never been the same.
I'm actually writing well now. Well, as in getting requests for partials and fulls. Well, as in getting positive personal feedback (albeit attached to rejections).
Still growing. Still improving. Never finished learning.
And here's the original post to prove I haven't hallucinated the whole thing: C-rap Rations For The Hippest of Snarklings, Part 1".
And now you know.
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