The idea behind this blog is that new writers actually can help each other quite a lot. There are some very good undiscovered voices out there, with amazing ideas, as anyone who has ever participated in a writing contest knows. Furthermore, we all know that many of the best-selling authors, right now, in many genres, are not necessarily very good. Many of them write only barely-literate prose, which is then rushed into print with minimal editing. Literary fiction sales are usually dismal, and to a great extent these are subsidized by mediocre works that sell like hot cakes. This is not really new. The publishing industry has always been like this. The main point is: just because we are unpublished does not mean we are clueless about writing.
My view on writing is that so-called advice for new authors is often toxic, and probably should be avoided. By "advice," I mean insistence that unless you follow a very specific process, and turn out what I call "canned fiction," according to "the rules," you will never be published. Few great writers of the past two generations have followed the rules, but most have confessed to doing at least the following things. First, they have worked diligently and persistently on the development of their craft. Second, they have written in a style true to themselves and their stories, not for an audience or a market. Third, they have accepted the necessity of merciless self-editing. I think that if you can tackle these three aspects of the writer's discipline, you are well on your way to writing an excellent story.
Many of the greats add a fourth component to the discipline: learn the language. If you are going to write polished, impressive prose, you need to have a firm grasp of sentence structure, grammar, vocabulary, etc. - how to make words say exactly what you mean, succinctly. A strong knowledge of grammar also will help you when, on occasion, you need to break the rules.
Many of the best writers of our time did not come by their accolades easily. Susanna Clarke, the author of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, despite actually working in the publishing industry herself took nearly a decade to get her masterpiece accepted. Probably the main reason why she had so much difficulty is that her book breaks almost all the rules - and, yet, therein lies its greatness. Susanna Clarke, in fact, broke so many classic "thou shalt nots" of the publishing trade, from mixing genres to writing in flawless early 19th century English, that her agent should be canonized for performing miracles to get her tome into print.
I would caution new writers to stay away from new authors' chat rooms. I also would caution people to not send their manuscripts for anonymous criticism by other newbies. The problem with chat rooms is that they invariably turn into a battle between those who write market-driven work, following specific "rules," and those who are true writers, doing something creative, possibly complex, and perhaps risky. Scathing criticism by some stranger can also be terribly disheartening. My advice is to send your manuscripts to be read by someone who knows you and who understands your project, but who is a good enough friend that they can criticize your work. Otherwise, you'll end up with a rant by someone who thinks the use of even a single adverb is the kiss of death.
I also would caution new writers not to follow the advice of certain agents who tell them they should only write in a very specific way. Such people make a lot of money selling "how-to" books to people who will never be published. Some of their advice is good enough, taken with a grain of salt, but the overall premise of their argument - follow my model or forget it - is flawed. There is no specific way of writing, and imagine how boring the world of books would be if there was. Writing is like a field-sport. There are certain techniques and classic plays, certain tactics, but in the end each writer - like each player on the field - brings his or her own signature talent to the game. Indeed, when you write your query letter, you need to acknowledge the rules of the game, but also show what you can contribute that's new.
The only way to develop a writer's skills is to sit down and write in a regular, disciplined way. Make time for writing and set goals for yourself. Make an atmosphere for writing, as well. Hollywood treats writing as a kind of devil-may-care, hedonistic lifestyle, punctuated by miraculous outbursts of creativity, but productive writers know that writing is a craft, requiring daily effort and a level of diligence sometimes bordering on self-indulgence. There are few full-time writers, today, because you can't just move to Paris and live on a pittance anymore. Most of us have real jobs, and we need to claim time and space for writing, but this also frees us from having to publish - from sticking to hackneyed templates just because they happen to sell in a particular market. Despite the obstacles, writing is a very rewarding activity - weaving images and worlds from words - and that is what this blog is about.
My view on writing is that so-called advice for new authors is often toxic, and probably should be avoided. By "advice," I mean insistence that unless you follow a very specific process, and turn out what I call "canned fiction," according to "the rules," you will never be published. Few great writers of the past two generations have followed the rules, but most have confessed to doing at least the following things. First, they have worked diligently and persistently on the development of their craft. Second, they have written in a style true to themselves and their stories, not for an audience or a market. Third, they have accepted the necessity of merciless self-editing. I think that if you can tackle these three aspects of the writer's discipline, you are well on your way to writing an excellent story.
Many of the greats add a fourth component to the discipline: learn the language. If you are going to write polished, impressive prose, you need to have a firm grasp of sentence structure, grammar, vocabulary, etc. - how to make words say exactly what you mean, succinctly. A strong knowledge of grammar also will help you when, on occasion, you need to break the rules.
Many of the best writers of our time did not come by their accolades easily. Susanna Clarke, the author of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, despite actually working in the publishing industry herself took nearly a decade to get her masterpiece accepted. Probably the main reason why she had so much difficulty is that her book breaks almost all the rules - and, yet, therein lies its greatness. Susanna Clarke, in fact, broke so many classic "thou shalt nots" of the publishing trade, from mixing genres to writing in flawless early 19th century English, that her agent should be canonized for performing miracles to get her tome into print.
I would caution new writers to stay away from new authors' chat rooms. I also would caution people to not send their manuscripts for anonymous criticism by other newbies. The problem with chat rooms is that they invariably turn into a battle between those who write market-driven work, following specific "rules," and those who are true writers, doing something creative, possibly complex, and perhaps risky. Scathing criticism by some stranger can also be terribly disheartening. My advice is to send your manuscripts to be read by someone who knows you and who understands your project, but who is a good enough friend that they can criticize your work. Otherwise, you'll end up with a rant by someone who thinks the use of even a single adverb is the kiss of death.
I also would caution new writers not to follow the advice of certain agents who tell them they should only write in a very specific way. Such people make a lot of money selling "how-to" books to people who will never be published. Some of their advice is good enough, taken with a grain of salt, but the overall premise of their argument - follow my model or forget it - is flawed. There is no specific way of writing, and imagine how boring the world of books would be if there was. Writing is like a field-sport. There are certain techniques and classic plays, certain tactics, but in the end each writer - like each player on the field - brings his or her own signature talent to the game. Indeed, when you write your query letter, you need to acknowledge the rules of the game, but also show what you can contribute that's new.
The only way to develop a writer's skills is to sit down and write in a regular, disciplined way. Make time for writing and set goals for yourself. Make an atmosphere for writing, as well. Hollywood treats writing as a kind of devil-may-care, hedonistic lifestyle, punctuated by miraculous outbursts of creativity, but productive writers know that writing is a craft, requiring daily effort and a level of diligence sometimes bordering on self-indulgence. There are few full-time writers, today, because you can't just move to Paris and live on a pittance anymore. Most of us have real jobs, and we need to claim time and space for writing, but this also frees us from having to publish - from sticking to hackneyed templates just because they happen to sell in a particular market. Despite the obstacles, writing is a very rewarding activity - weaving images and worlds from words - and that is what this blog is about.
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