Jessica Russell's Blog - Posts Tagged "write"
There is NO Easy Way, it Gets Harder Every Day
Unlike a lot of novelists, my “day job” is actually writing as well. I’m a professional web content writer. I guess that career is not quite as glamorous as writing books, because my advisors who have come out of the woodwork since my novel’s been published were never around to advise me about my traditional writing career. Nevertheless, they are here now, and I’m learning how to deal with them and thought I would pass my tips on to everyone else.
I admit I kind of stole that title from a song. It’s an old Air Supply love song, but I think it says "there’s no easy way it gets harder EACH day." Okay so I changed it a little and I’m technically not plagiarizing. Kidding aside, what gets harder each day for writers is unsolicited advice. For some reason, the minute you publish a book, everyone's an expert. Absolutely everyone.
They want to tell you how to market your book, how to set up at your book signings, what to put in your next book, what to have printed on your sign, and even what clothes to wear at your events. Trust me, you’ll find yourself sitting there wondering why you didn’t know you were surrounded by so many experts BEFORE you published your book. I even had one person ask for my password so she could go rearrange this page for me. And silly me, I offended her by turning down her offer to save me from myself.
The first tip I’ve already given… There’s no easy way. Unfortunately, there’s no pat line or specific phrase you can use to back people off when they come stomping into your life like Bigfoot to rearrange your entire career for you ( because of course you can’t be left to run an amateur career of your own, you must have their guidance!)
There is no one-size-fits-all in dealing with it. If it’s something ridiculous, like someone telling you to rewrite scenes in the book or change the title or redesign the cover, you just kind of have to chuckle and go on. If it’s something you may wish to consider, then do so.
However, do NOT fall into the trap of thinking that you have to go along with everything everyone says just to be “nice.” It is possible to say no in a polite way!
And that’s the big secret. Be polite, but the FIRM. If it’s something you know you would never consider in a million years, say that IMMEDIATELY. Don’t leave anyone with the impression that you’re giving thought to something that you wouldn’t touch with a 10 foot pole. Just keep smiling and saying no. You didn’t get a book published because you don’t know what you’re doing! Always remember that. Write on!
I admit I kind of stole that title from a song. It’s an old Air Supply love song, but I think it says "there’s no easy way it gets harder EACH day." Okay so I changed it a little and I’m technically not plagiarizing. Kidding aside, what gets harder each day for writers is unsolicited advice. For some reason, the minute you publish a book, everyone's an expert. Absolutely everyone.
They want to tell you how to market your book, how to set up at your book signings, what to put in your next book, what to have printed on your sign, and even what clothes to wear at your events. Trust me, you’ll find yourself sitting there wondering why you didn’t know you were surrounded by so many experts BEFORE you published your book. I even had one person ask for my password so she could go rearrange this page for me. And silly me, I offended her by turning down her offer to save me from myself.
The first tip I’ve already given… There’s no easy way. Unfortunately, there’s no pat line or specific phrase you can use to back people off when they come stomping into your life like Bigfoot to rearrange your entire career for you ( because of course you can’t be left to run an amateur career of your own, you must have their guidance!)
There is no one-size-fits-all in dealing with it. If it’s something ridiculous, like someone telling you to rewrite scenes in the book or change the title or redesign the cover, you just kind of have to chuckle and go on. If it’s something you may wish to consider, then do so.
However, do NOT fall into the trap of thinking that you have to go along with everything everyone says just to be “nice.” It is possible to say no in a polite way!
And that’s the big secret. Be polite, but the FIRM. If it’s something you know you would never consider in a million years, say that IMMEDIATELY. Don’t leave anyone with the impression that you’re giving thought to something that you wouldn’t touch with a 10 foot pole. Just keep smiling and saying no. You didn’t get a book published because you don’t know what you’re doing! Always remember that. Write on!
If You Confuse Them, You Lose Them
A common mistake made by many writers is allowing characters to step OUT of character. Whether it’s a book, a film, a play, or any other creative work, if it involves characters, they need to be consistent.
A well-known author who wrote many good books in the past has recently begun irritating her readers by turning out novels in which the characters start out one way, but along the line morph into something completely different.
I won’t say the author’s name, but the pattern has been quite repetitive of late: the leading character starts out as a strong, independent, intelligent woman who knows her own mind, but after meeting a man– a man who is not even all that likable – she becomes…well…a ditz. She becomes a woman who has no self-confidence, who is emotionally lost and unable to make up her mind about the smallest things and does not seem to realize that if a man is abusive, she should probably leave the relationship. WHAT?
In real life, people don’t suddenly lose IQ points or undergo a complete metamorphosis of personality after a few dates with a new man. When you change characters that radically, you greatly annoy your readers, and your book is at risk for the dreaded DNF. (Did Not Finish…as in did not finish the book.)
Character development is one of the most important aspects of writing a good novel, so pay very close attention to exactly who your character is and what is in line with his or her personality. It’s not that you can’t make someone in your novel do something that’s uncharacteristic for him or her, but you need to explain why it happened in some kind of way.
However, if you confuse your readers with too much uncharacteristic behavior, and they don’t know who the person is anymore, they probably won’t care what happens to him or her, and that is the kiss of death when you want them to continue with the story.
Ask yourself this as you go along: “is that what (fill in your character’s name) would really say or do?” If it seems out of line with the personality you've given him or her, scrap that part and start over. Consistency is key where characters are concerned! Write on!
A well-known author who wrote many good books in the past has recently begun irritating her readers by turning out novels in which the characters start out one way, but along the line morph into something completely different.
I won’t say the author’s name, but the pattern has been quite repetitive of late: the leading character starts out as a strong, independent, intelligent woman who knows her own mind, but after meeting a man– a man who is not even all that likable – she becomes…well…a ditz. She becomes a woman who has no self-confidence, who is emotionally lost and unable to make up her mind about the smallest things and does not seem to realize that if a man is abusive, she should probably leave the relationship. WHAT?
In real life, people don’t suddenly lose IQ points or undergo a complete metamorphosis of personality after a few dates with a new man. When you change characters that radically, you greatly annoy your readers, and your book is at risk for the dreaded DNF. (Did Not Finish…as in did not finish the book.)
Character development is one of the most important aspects of writing a good novel, so pay very close attention to exactly who your character is and what is in line with his or her personality. It’s not that you can’t make someone in your novel do something that’s uncharacteristic for him or her, but you need to explain why it happened in some kind of way.
However, if you confuse your readers with too much uncharacteristic behavior, and they don’t know who the person is anymore, they probably won’t care what happens to him or her, and that is the kiss of death when you want them to continue with the story.
Ask yourself this as you go along: “is that what (fill in your character’s name) would really say or do?” If it seems out of line with the personality you've given him or her, scrap that part and start over. Consistency is key where characters are concerned! Write on!
What do You Know?
An old saying that's been around probably longer than I've been alive is "Write About What You Know."
It was always regarded as good advice for new authors who may not have traveled the world, lived in a city for 10 years, or even graduated college yet. In a way, it's very true and definitely has some merit. After all, it's difficult to write about things with which you are entirely unfamiliar.
However, there is another argument to consider. These days, we're not fond of hearing both sides of a story regardless of what the subject is, because we're fixated on a "right way" and a "wrong way," and convince ourselves there's nothing in between. This isn't true.
Writing about what you know is definitely a good approach in many cases, but what about those who only know things that won't interest many people? Okay, so that's politically incorrect, but it's the truth. If the main things you are an expert on are cooking pea soup or making lace tatting, you may find there's no broad range market for your specialty.
And please, all the fans of pea soup and lace tatting, don't come after me now, I happen to like both. I've just never seen anyone write a bestseller about either one.
This is where writing only about what you know can be a double-edged sword. Sometimes, in order to gather a broad, general market, you have to research what you DON'T know and write about IT.
That might be why people have difficulty selling memoirs. You're certainly writing about what you are most familiar with. (Yourself.) But, how many people are going to stand in line at a bookstore to read the life story/thoughts/feelings of someone they never heard of and don't know?
I'm certainly not saying there isn't a market for memoirs. That was not my point, before I get in trouble for THAT! I'm just saying that the person who wrote a great science fiction story, historical fiction novel, or rockin' children's book, etc. etc., simply has a wider audience to play to, and therefore a higher chance of success.
So, yes, write about what you know, but don't be afraid to learn what you DON'T know, and by doing so, open up your potential market exponentially. Just something to think about. Write on!
It was always regarded as good advice for new authors who may not have traveled the world, lived in a city for 10 years, or even graduated college yet. In a way, it's very true and definitely has some merit. After all, it's difficult to write about things with which you are entirely unfamiliar.
However, there is another argument to consider. These days, we're not fond of hearing both sides of a story regardless of what the subject is, because we're fixated on a "right way" and a "wrong way," and convince ourselves there's nothing in between. This isn't true.
Writing about what you know is definitely a good approach in many cases, but what about those who only know things that won't interest many people? Okay, so that's politically incorrect, but it's the truth. If the main things you are an expert on are cooking pea soup or making lace tatting, you may find there's no broad range market for your specialty.
And please, all the fans of pea soup and lace tatting, don't come after me now, I happen to like both. I've just never seen anyone write a bestseller about either one.
This is where writing only about what you know can be a double-edged sword. Sometimes, in order to gather a broad, general market, you have to research what you DON'T know and write about IT.
That might be why people have difficulty selling memoirs. You're certainly writing about what you are most familiar with. (Yourself.) But, how many people are going to stand in line at a bookstore to read the life story/thoughts/feelings of someone they never heard of and don't know?
I'm certainly not saying there isn't a market for memoirs. That was not my point, before I get in trouble for THAT! I'm just saying that the person who wrote a great science fiction story, historical fiction novel, or rockin' children's book, etc. etc., simply has a wider audience to play to, and therefore a higher chance of success.
So, yes, write about what you know, but don't be afraid to learn what you DON'T know, and by doing so, open up your potential market exponentially. Just something to think about. Write on!
Be Ready for the Monster
Here’s today’s fast fact: There is an old saying that doesn’t get nearly the appreciation it should, and it goes like this: “familiarity breeds contempt.” Of course, that certainly does not apply to OUR relatives or OUR friends. Except that it does. Fortunately, not ALL of them, so I’ll rephrase that: it applies to MANY of them. But we’re never ready for it. I have relatives and friends who are stalwart supporters of all my endeavors, and probably most of you do too. Sadly, I also have had a few that allowed the green-eyed monster to take over every time a few more book sales are added to my tally or I schedule another event.
It’s beyond me why we can’t just support each other in ALL of our successes, but the warning here is: DON’T allow individuals like that to negatively affect your emotions. Those types of people will ALWAYS be there. They will be the one constant thing in your life for the duration of your career: those who sit there making snarky remarks or wearing sarcastic little smiles because you’re celebrating your success. Ghost them away.
I’m not saying literally cut a relative or friend out of your life completely over something like that but ghost the negative vibe away. Pretend you didn’t hear it, pretend it was a stranger who said it, pretend it doesn’t exist, do whatever you have to do to get that stuff out of your mind, because otherwise it will drag you down every time. Don’t let naysayers live rent free in your head. Stop them immediately and remind yourself how successful you truly are and just how far you’ve come. Once you do that, you’ll realize how little what they have to say actually means. Write on!
It’s beyond me why we can’t just support each other in ALL of our successes, but the warning here is: DON’T allow individuals like that to negatively affect your emotions. Those types of people will ALWAYS be there. They will be the one constant thing in your life for the duration of your career: those who sit there making snarky remarks or wearing sarcastic little smiles because you’re celebrating your success. Ghost them away.
I’m not saying literally cut a relative or friend out of your life completely over something like that but ghost the negative vibe away. Pretend you didn’t hear it, pretend it was a stranger who said it, pretend it doesn’t exist, do whatever you have to do to get that stuff out of your mind, because otherwise it will drag you down every time. Don’t let naysayers live rent free in your head. Stop them immediately and remind yourself how successful you truly are and just how far you’ve come. Once you do that, you’ll realize how little what they have to say actually means. Write on!
