Marley Brant's Blog: There's a first time for everything!

Whenever someone asks me advice about beginning a career as a writer, I always tell them what I believe to be the fundamental truth: write what you know. Write what you know doesn't mean you have to write a workplace novel if you work in an office or a biography about an educator if you are a teacher. To me, write what you know means write something about which you have interest and knowledge; be it your passion, your hobby or your unique exposure. I was working in the entertainment industry when I began my career as an author. Being a professional writer wasn't something I planned. I had taken a vacation trip to Missouri with a friend and through a strange set of circumstances, and over a period of time, I had met some fascinating people and collected a vast amount of knowledge about the outlaw Younger brothers. One day I realized that I had so much unique research that I owed it to these men to tell their story. A second career was born. Some years later, after the non-fiction trilogy of the James-Younger Gang was completed and published, I returned to my first career, and always my passion, rock music. Several books came from my experience there, with a book thrown in from time I spent working at Paramount Television and the people and shows I had worked with there. I am lucky. Writing what I know is pretty interesting stuff. I've had a lot of opportunities that most people don't have. But what I READ isn't necessarily the same subject about which I write. I enjoy stories about people in their everyday lives - their joys, their struggles, their challenges, their complicated relationships - maybe a little psychological intrigue, maybe a little fantasy or supernatural improbability - you know, a story that allows you to live someone else's life for a few hours and forget about your own. So after eight non-fiction books, I decided to write a novel myself. I didn't know if I could be successful as a fiction writer and I think there was some concern among people who knew me as a non-fiction writer. (Years ago when I first considered it, my then-agent said I likely couldn't and I should stick to what I was doing.) Last year I decided phooey on that. I wanted to write a novel and I was going to give it a try. My security blanket was that I was going to adapt a real-life character in my first non-fiction book and tell his story in depth. He was one of the minor players and although I had learned a lot about him, I couldn't publish much about his life because I didn't have "the proof" to back it up. Let me tell you, I had a fantastic time. Once I stepped out of the box of cite-based writing, I got to experience a world of writing that was so much fun, so challenging, so different than anything that I had ever attempted. I was able to build characters, put words in their mouths, voice opinions, explain why I thought certain people reacted as they did...it was liberating and I loved it. If I had listened to others and stayed inside the box of my success, I would never have enjoyed the hours alone with those characters; sharing their deep pain and their love for one another, laughing with them, traveling their unique path. I don't know how successful my venture will be in the scope of my career but I really don't care. I'm just glad I did it. So I think when I tell aspiring writers to write what they know, I'll add, be fearless. You probably know in your heart what you want to write for that first book. At least you have an idea. And I bet it's based on something you know. So don't listen to others. Just go for it. You'll ultimately be happy you did.

Everybody has a New Year resolution, whether or not they own up to it. There's something within our psyche that has us looking to make a change, start something new or just freshen up as we enter the month of January. There's nothing wrong with that, even if it is cliche. If the start of a year is what we need to self-motivate, so be it. Writers depend on self-motivation. They don't always start a new project at the beginning of the year but sometimes they do. Or try to. Yet the Muse follows no calender year and allows no such gentle pushing and shoving. The Muse moves as the Muse moves. So unless a writer is well into the continuation of a project come January 1st, he or she cannot depend on a great inspiration to be delivered through the fog of a post-celebration New Year morning. Oh, there may have been discussion the night before of the novel that has been swirling around their head or the approach to researching that non-fiction they've always wanted to undertake, especially if the Eve has been spent with other writers or those interested enough to have questioned their next work. But if the Muse isn't on board with any of that, they've probably already forgotten what sounded so eloquent as they waxed poetic in an impromptu speculation. It's more likely that they'll be sitting, staring at their computer screen without a clue as to their next move. For days, for weeks, maybe a month. They will be frustrated; they will grab at their hair and bang their fists against their head. They might cry. They will question whether they will ever write again. They will wonder why they ever thought to be a writer in the first place. And all that's okay. Because when the Muse makes her appearance, she will be glorious. She will be more than they expected and she will sweep them away on a wonderful journey that will immerse them into a world that will become their reality for an extraordinary period of their life. In the end, firing up the Muse is impossible. If you want to write, all you need is the patience to wait and the time will eventually come. Allow her to find you and she will carry you into the exploration of a new realm of ideas and expression on her magnificent expanse of golden wings.

Christmas is first and foremost a time of reflection and praise for me. There is no Christmas without Jesus, at least I don't believe so. But I understand the "holiday" spirit and that's just fine. I like the way people take the time to wish each other well and smile at one another,even if it may not last. For this few weeks it's nice to feel that brotherhood. It used to bug me that people who are not Christians had Christmas Trees. I'm happy now calling them Holiday Trees and letting those folks in on the celebration. After all, Jesus didn't have a Christmas Tree and Santa Claus has nothing whatsoever to do with His birth or His ministry; kind of like there not being a Cake in the delivery room when a baby is born. There are traditions that become attached to the celebration of a birthday and they're fun, as long as they don't overshadow the person who is being celebrated. People are happy honoring someone on their special day and that's a good thing. And if non-Christians want to get in on Christmas just to come together as friends and families, have fun and spread the cheer, I think Jesus would like that. There is a lot of horror and ugliness in this world; this year we're seeing it close to home, right in the middle of the Christmas season. We need as many people as possible wanting peace, love and goodwill for others. And, regardless of denomination, wishes of a simple and heartfelt "Merry Christmas" may be the sweetest sound you'll hear all year.

I don't know what motivates writers to write. It certainly isn't money. If it is, they need a serious reality check. A glance at the balance of their bank account should evaporate that little fantasy. Meeting people can't be the reason. That comes only after you're out there promoting the book you've spent long and lonely hours creating, holed up in a little room with only the company of a clacking keyboard and a blinding white screen that stares back at you, silently but effectively taunting and jeering. A lot of people like to share their thoughts...whether or not they're boring or making any sense at all. No one listens to them so they write. There is a lot of self-satisfaction in creating a world where your opinion counts for something. Many non-fiction writers like the research; getting to the bottom of the story, finding facts that have been hidden or separating the folklore from the fact. Talking to people who were actually involved in the story being told; getting their perspective on how things went down. I've had a lot of fun with that. Switching to historical fiction for this last book was a big move for me and I had to ask myself why I wanted to do that after so many years on the other side of the fence. True that In the Shadow was based in fact, my first non-fiction book was based on the story. But I had to admit to myself that the over-riding reason I wanted to write this book was because it was just going to be a heck of a lot of fun to have the opportunity to put words in the mouths of the bigger-than-life personalities that I had been living with over thirty years. When it came down to it, who wouldn't want to do that? Maybe it was just that simple....

I've never been one for blogging. I never figured I had that much to say that was interesting. At least not about myself. Hopefully all the good stuff that runs around my brain finds a way to channel down into my fingertips and taps out on my keyboard into a book. I've never felt in control of it...it just happens. When I stop to think of anything witty or intellectual to say, I sound like an idiot. So I refrain..or try to anyway. Not nearly hard enough. I'm pretty good at making people cringe. So the thought of writing a blog and interacting with the people who read my books, people who I actually respect and want to please, has been rather daunting all of these years and I have successfully avoided it. But as I'm so fond of saying, and enjoying the rolling of the eyes that I get back in return when I do, that was then and this is now. I must emerge from The Hermitage and...blog. I'll give it a try and you can read or not. I won't be offended if you won't. As John Younger says to the Pinkertons in my latest book, "We're all friends here." Of course we know how THAT turned out...
Cheers,
Marley