Jennifer Wilson's Blog - Posts Tagged "advice"
Fending off Writer’s Doubt…
Ah the dreaded writer’s doubt. Every writer would love to say that he or she is above it, that there was never a doubt in his or her mind about their book, their writing or their characters, but that would be a lie. It seems it is in our human nature to have moments of doubt. There are always the dreaded moments when an agent whispers no in your ear or a reader blasts that he hated your book online. Those minuscule moments in time are all it takes for that tiny seed of doubt to take root. So how do we overcome those thoughts of self-doubt, those moments that make you want to give up and condemn your literary works to the digital bookshelf of shame?
While it is easy to fall into that self-pitying sea of doubt, your confidence in your own book is your best advocate. No one will ever be as loving or as passionate about your book as you are. Readers can fall in love with your characters, hate your villains and dream of being a part of your manifested worlds, but ultimately it was your passion, your need to feed your own soul that brought that literary world to life. If you don’t love your characters, why should anyone else?
Even though all writers should pour their hearts and souls into their works, it is also important to be able to detach yourself a little bit. The market can be fickle thing and not everyone is going to like your work and that’s okay. Don’t take it personally. Agents are often looking for the next trend and just because your book doesn’t fit into that category doesn’t make you a bad writer. Horror books have been around long before Edgar Allen Poe, wizards were wielding magic long before Harry Potter and forbidden romances were being read and whispered about long before Fifty Shades of Grey. In short, don’t write to emulate the newest trend, write about what makes you passionate. It doesn’t matter if it’s trendy or not. If you are ardent about what you’re writing, people will read your book. Not because someone in an office told them it was trendy but because their best friend recommended it. Your current work may not be a best seller, but that does not make it a bad book. Not everyone is going to love your book, but many others will.
When it comes to the book world, no doesn’t really mean no anymore. Thanks to the digital world, authors don’t have to give up when agents say no. If you are really passionate about your work, self-publish. Just because ten agents told you no, doesn’t mean hundreds of readers won’t say yes. But remember to listen to your fans. While sometimes brutally honest, their points are often be valid. Take that feedback and use it to grow. The day a writer stops growing is the day he or she should put down the allegorical pen. If you aren’t developing, then your characters aren’t either.
I am not saying it’s easy to have self-confidence at every turn. Like most things in life, writing is a bit of a roller coaster. There will always be highs and lows. The key is to look up in those low moments and remember it’s the only place to go from there. If that is not enough of encouragement for you, take a look at a list some of this last century’s most popular authors. J.K. Rowling, Stephanie Meyer, Dan Brown, Dr Seuss, C.S. Lewis, Margaret Mitchell, and Stephen King were all repeatedly rejected before their books exploded onto best sellers list. What if they had just given up?
Doubt is literally betting against yourself. So try and stack the odds in your favor. When in doubt, keep writing. You can only grow with experience, and while you may edit that part out later, or get another rejection letter, at least you’re still wading forward through that dreaded sea of doubt instead of drowning in it.
While it is easy to fall into that self-pitying sea of doubt, your confidence in your own book is your best advocate. No one will ever be as loving or as passionate about your book as you are. Readers can fall in love with your characters, hate your villains and dream of being a part of your manifested worlds, but ultimately it was your passion, your need to feed your own soul that brought that literary world to life. If you don’t love your characters, why should anyone else?
Even though all writers should pour their hearts and souls into their works, it is also important to be able to detach yourself a little bit. The market can be fickle thing and not everyone is going to like your work and that’s okay. Don’t take it personally. Agents are often looking for the next trend and just because your book doesn’t fit into that category doesn’t make you a bad writer. Horror books have been around long before Edgar Allen Poe, wizards were wielding magic long before Harry Potter and forbidden romances were being read and whispered about long before Fifty Shades of Grey. In short, don’t write to emulate the newest trend, write about what makes you passionate. It doesn’t matter if it’s trendy or not. If you are ardent about what you’re writing, people will read your book. Not because someone in an office told them it was trendy but because their best friend recommended it. Your current work may not be a best seller, but that does not make it a bad book. Not everyone is going to love your book, but many others will.
When it comes to the book world, no doesn’t really mean no anymore. Thanks to the digital world, authors don’t have to give up when agents say no. If you are really passionate about your work, self-publish. Just because ten agents told you no, doesn’t mean hundreds of readers won’t say yes. But remember to listen to your fans. While sometimes brutally honest, their points are often be valid. Take that feedback and use it to grow. The day a writer stops growing is the day he or she should put down the allegorical pen. If you aren’t developing, then your characters aren’t either.
I am not saying it’s easy to have self-confidence at every turn. Like most things in life, writing is a bit of a roller coaster. There will always be highs and lows. The key is to look up in those low moments and remember it’s the only place to go from there. If that is not enough of encouragement for you, take a look at a list some of this last century’s most popular authors. J.K. Rowling, Stephanie Meyer, Dan Brown, Dr Seuss, C.S. Lewis, Margaret Mitchell, and Stephen King were all repeatedly rejected before their books exploded onto best sellers list. What if they had just given up?
Doubt is literally betting against yourself. So try and stack the odds in your favor. When in doubt, keep writing. You can only grow with experience, and while you may edit that part out later, or get another rejection letter, at least you’re still wading forward through that dreaded sea of doubt instead of drowning in it.
The Importance of World Building
It is not everyday that you get to create a world from nothing, that you get to let your imaginary wiles run free and the end result is a fictitious world your readers will dream of being a part of. Yet, as said so many times before, with all greatness comes great responsibility. Your characters can make readers fall in love, burn with hate and thrive with hope, but if their setting is not believable all that hard work can fall apart.
The world you create is the foundation for your story, and as when building all things, if the foundation is weak so will be everything else built upon it. Great books are not just about storyline or characters. They are a blissful combination of many things, but it is their world that becomes the glue binding it together.
Every interaction, every character choice and personality trait can be driven by the world you create. Bella and Edward’s romance wouldn’t have been so dreamy in some Midwest cornfield and Harry Potter would have been far less impressive if he never got out from the cupboard under the stairs. Think of your favorite book. When you close your eyes, you can see not only the characters’ faces, but also everything that surrounds them. You can hear what they hear, see what they see, and above all else, you can believe that world exists.
In many cases this means making rules for your world and staying true to them. Either people can fly or they can’t, the sky can be blue or red, weapons can be new age or old school. Just make sure when you create your book’s world, you stay true to your own rules. If you don’t believe certain things could happen, then neither will anyone else. Creating an in-depth world can mean the difference between merely piquing your readers’ interest and drawing them in so deeply that they are standing next to your protagonists as they fight for their lives or fall in love.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Twilight
The world you create is the foundation for your story, and as when building all things, if the foundation is weak so will be everything else built upon it. Great books are not just about storyline or characters. They are a blissful combination of many things, but it is their world that becomes the glue binding it together.
Every interaction, every character choice and personality trait can be driven by the world you create. Bella and Edward’s romance wouldn’t have been so dreamy in some Midwest cornfield and Harry Potter would have been far less impressive if he never got out from the cupboard under the stairs. Think of your favorite book. When you close your eyes, you can see not only the characters’ faces, but also everything that surrounds them. You can hear what they hear, see what they see, and above all else, you can believe that world exists.
In many cases this means making rules for your world and staying true to them. Either people can fly or they can’t, the sky can be blue or red, weapons can be new age or old school. Just make sure when you create your book’s world, you stay true to your own rules. If you don’t believe certain things could happen, then neither will anyone else. Creating an in-depth world can mean the difference between merely piquing your readers’ interest and drawing them in so deeply that they are standing next to your protagonists as they fight for their lives or fall in love.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Twilight
Interview with the author
1. What does your writing process look like?
I am a chaotic writer. As much as I would love to plan my books out in an organized manner, my brain tends to flicker on at inconvenient moments— in the car, in the shower, at the grocery store or while lying in bed at 2am. I always have the main storyline running in the back of my mind, but I tend to let my imagination run free, taking my characters on twist and turns even I didn’t see coming.
2. Do you have any strange writing habits (like standing on your head or writing in the shower)?
I write in the shower all of the time! A dear friend bought me a waterproof notepad and I use it almost every day. Mid shampoo an idea will cross my mind and I jump, “Oh! I have got to write that down!” I also have a bad habit of writing on anything when inspiration strikes— napkins, paper bags, the backs of receipts— really anything will do.
3. What book do you wish you could have written?
I am sure this is cliché, but Harry Potter. Not because of the fame or money, but this was the first series I fell in love with and because of how many lives she touched with her books. To reach that many people and inspire them to dream and read… that is a true gift.
4. Just as your books inspire authors, what authors have inspired you to write?
Obviously, J.K. Rowling is at the top of that list, but there are many other authors I look up to: J.R.R. Tolkien, Rick Yancey, Dan Brown, Suzanne Collins, Cassandra Clare and Diana Gabaldon, to name a few.
5. If you could cast your characters in the Hollywood adaptation of your book, who would play your characters?
Now that’s a tough one. Alex Pettyfer would make a great Triven, just think a little more blonde. Young Johnny Sequoyah would make an ideal Mouse, with her innocent face and deep eyes, she would fit the shoes just right. Give Henry Cavill a set of dark contacts and you have your Maddox. Arstid is a no-brainer, Cate Blanchett of course. Then there’s my wild card. While there are many talented young actresses out there, I would want to see Phoenix played by a new face, someone who could rock the screen and do a fierce girl like her justice. Suggestions anyone?
6. How important are names to you in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds or the meaning?
Names are very important to me. Your readers have to read them over and over again so I want to pick ones that stick. Oddly enough, in my book, my main characters’ names aren’t revealed until after you get to know their personalities, so it was even more important that they fit. I generally spend a lot of time on meanings, but sometimes it is also just about what feels right.
7. What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?
Learning to stop saying “I can’t.”
8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Living in Colorado with my husband and writing everyday while snuggling our dog.
9. Were you already a great writer? Have you always liked to write?
Of course not! Every writer has room to grow and gets better the more they write. I always had the spark for creativity but my grammar and spelling was appalling for years. Only with practice and determination did I grow.
10. What writing advice do you have for other aspiring authors?
Write because you love it. Not to make money or to be famous, write because you’re passionate. Because if you’re passionate it won’t matter what anyone else says, you are doing something you love and that’s more important than a stranger’s opinion.
11. Do you read your reviews? Do you respond to them, good or bad? Do you have any advice on how to deal with the bad?
Yes, but I take each one with a grain of salt. The beautiful part of being human is that we are all entitled to our own opinions. So I must respect that not everyone will like my work. If you get a bad review, see if anything can be learned from it and move on. You can’t please everyone.
12. What is your best marketing tip?
Friends and bloggers, they are your best chance at success.
13. What is your least favorite part of the publishing / writing process?
Rejection letters are never fun, but for me each one was a driving force to try harder.
14. Is this your first book? How many books have you written prior (if any?)
This is my first published book, but the second novel I have written. I have another collecting digital dust, but I will get that series out soon too. One thing at a time.
15. What are you working on now? What is your next project?
I am currently writing like mad on the next book in the NEW WORLD series, NEW WORLD: ASHES. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it.
New World: Rising
I am a chaotic writer. As much as I would love to plan my books out in an organized manner, my brain tends to flicker on at inconvenient moments— in the car, in the shower, at the grocery store or while lying in bed at 2am. I always have the main storyline running in the back of my mind, but I tend to let my imagination run free, taking my characters on twist and turns even I didn’t see coming.
2. Do you have any strange writing habits (like standing on your head or writing in the shower)?
I write in the shower all of the time! A dear friend bought me a waterproof notepad and I use it almost every day. Mid shampoo an idea will cross my mind and I jump, “Oh! I have got to write that down!” I also have a bad habit of writing on anything when inspiration strikes— napkins, paper bags, the backs of receipts— really anything will do.
3. What book do you wish you could have written?
I am sure this is cliché, but Harry Potter. Not because of the fame or money, but this was the first series I fell in love with and because of how many lives she touched with her books. To reach that many people and inspire them to dream and read… that is a true gift.
4. Just as your books inspire authors, what authors have inspired you to write?
Obviously, J.K. Rowling is at the top of that list, but there are many other authors I look up to: J.R.R. Tolkien, Rick Yancey, Dan Brown, Suzanne Collins, Cassandra Clare and Diana Gabaldon, to name a few.
5. If you could cast your characters in the Hollywood adaptation of your book, who would play your characters?
Now that’s a tough one. Alex Pettyfer would make a great Triven, just think a little more blonde. Young Johnny Sequoyah would make an ideal Mouse, with her innocent face and deep eyes, she would fit the shoes just right. Give Henry Cavill a set of dark contacts and you have your Maddox. Arstid is a no-brainer, Cate Blanchett of course. Then there’s my wild card. While there are many talented young actresses out there, I would want to see Phoenix played by a new face, someone who could rock the screen and do a fierce girl like her justice. Suggestions anyone?
6. How important are names to you in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds or the meaning?
Names are very important to me. Your readers have to read them over and over again so I want to pick ones that stick. Oddly enough, in my book, my main characters’ names aren’t revealed until after you get to know their personalities, so it was even more important that they fit. I generally spend a lot of time on meanings, but sometimes it is also just about what feels right.
7. What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?
Learning to stop saying “I can’t.”
8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Living in Colorado with my husband and writing everyday while snuggling our dog.
9. Were you already a great writer? Have you always liked to write?
Of course not! Every writer has room to grow and gets better the more they write. I always had the spark for creativity but my grammar and spelling was appalling for years. Only with practice and determination did I grow.
10. What writing advice do you have for other aspiring authors?
Write because you love it. Not to make money or to be famous, write because you’re passionate. Because if you’re passionate it won’t matter what anyone else says, you are doing something you love and that’s more important than a stranger’s opinion.
11. Do you read your reviews? Do you respond to them, good or bad? Do you have any advice on how to deal with the bad?
Yes, but I take each one with a grain of salt. The beautiful part of being human is that we are all entitled to our own opinions. So I must respect that not everyone will like my work. If you get a bad review, see if anything can be learned from it and move on. You can’t please everyone.
12. What is your best marketing tip?
Friends and bloggers, they are your best chance at success.
13. What is your least favorite part of the publishing / writing process?
Rejection letters are never fun, but for me each one was a driving force to try harder.
14. Is this your first book? How many books have you written prior (if any?)
This is my first published book, but the second novel I have written. I have another collecting digital dust, but I will get that series out soon too. One thing at a time.
15. What are you working on now? What is your next project?
I am currently writing like mad on the next book in the NEW WORLD series, NEW WORLD: ASHES. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it.
New World: Rising
Jennifer Wilson's Blog
Author of the New World series and The Chosen series.
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