Status Report

Thanks to all of those who have stopped in and left comments.

I forgot to mention last week that I will be away until February 1st. That means that I will be posting again then, plus catching up on all your blogs.

Until then, keep writing...and if the weather is as cold where you are as it is here, keep warm too!

Exaggeration or Bust

Sometimes when I am writing a character, I like to exaggerate a certain characteristic. This gives the character a memorable trait for the reader. In writing, you can get away with this kind of exaggeration. In life, it does not seem as common.

There is one exception – game show contestants.

Where do they find these people? I know happy people, and even those who tend to get excitable but never like the ones have I witnessed on television. That frenzied jumping around, screaming and exaggerated excitement is incomprehensible to me. In fact, if I did not see it for myself, I would hardly believe it.

I'm not even sure I could get away with writing a character so animated. The reason may not even be a believability issue but rather, I would probably end up despising the character so much that I’d have to do away with them within the first three chapters.

Truth of the matter is this: I like to keep my characters around longer than that so no game show characteristics for them.

Writing is Learning

I am all for helping other writers. In fact, nobody is above learning something new. However, advice, whether given or requested, is a dangerous thing. Take it with a grain of salt and a healthy questioning. Trust me. There is no be all and end all right answer.

Here at my blog, I write about what works for me, and of course, what does not. That does not mean the same will apply to you. It irks me to hear generalizations of what the correct way to write is; or even worse, what one should never do.

No one can tell you the correct way to write. The only real way to learn is to do large amounts of both reading and writing. Through reading, you can see what works for other authors. And, if you do a lot of reading, you will see that what works for one author is very different from what works for another. There are as many styles of writing as there are authors.

If you want to write, write. Practice. Try different things and learn what works for you. Of course, you can learn from other writers and I encourage you to do so. Just do not get caught in the trap that you must do something a certain way; or allow someone to convince you to change your style because they believe it will not work.

Only through practice and continued writing will you learn what works for you.

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Writing Lessons

No, I am not talking about proper sentence structure or grammar. I am actually talking about writing - or more specifically, handwriting.

When I am working on my WIP, 90% of my writing is done using the computer. The other 10% is a bunch of scribbles written on anything resembling paper. In my new job, I am constantly taking notes and writing down information.

I really see that I am going to have to work on my neatness. Sure, I can read the chicken-scratch that is there but I am willing to bet the girl who types up my correspondence is going to need a decoder ring.

This learning to write neat (or at least neater) is a lesson to take into my WIP. The point is to be easily read, concise and understood. If my writing can be read that way, I will have a much better novel once I am done.

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Three-Day Rule

One of the requisites of becoming a writer is the development of growing a thick skin. I say it is a development because it is a continuous developed skill.

It never surprises me at how writers will slave over their words, write and re-write their stories but never prepare for the needed critique of said work.

Criticism of our writing and produced work is never easy or fun, however, it is an integral part of our learning and growth. What you have to remember is that any criticism is directed at the work, not as you as a person or writer. We writers tend to personalize too much - from our work being "our baby" to criticism of our work being a personal attack.

A number of years ago, I had the pleasure of working with a great editor. When the time came to submit some chapters to him for critique, he informed me that he had one rule, and only one, but there was no bend to this rule. If I could not follow it, there was no need to send anything to him.

I agreed and I got the rule: Once critique is received, do not email or call me with your questions, comments, retorts or other for three days. Any telephone calls in that time will go unanswered and any emails will be deleted without being read.

Piece of cake, I thought. I also thought that it was not much of a rule. Until I received my first critique.

Seeing the odd grammatical error or sentence structure flaw did not bother me. In fact, I could have slapped myself for not catching them on my own. What got my blood boiling was seeing red lines crossed through entire passages (and in spots, pages). Scribbled notes of "why is this here?" and "who cares?" made me want to strangle someone - and I knew just who.

With my heart pounding, blood racing and the vein in my forehead ready to burst, my first impulse was to pick up the phone and call the above-mentioned editor. I needed to explain why all those passages he had casually crossed out needed to be there. I had my reasons. There were important to the story later. They just needed to be there, damn it.

I then remembered his rule and resisted the urge to call or email. Instead, I railed at anyone who would listen that the guy was an idiot - and how could he say such things about my work with only reading a couple of chapters. He would have to know the whole story before making such comments. Let's just say, the day was a waste of anger and self-pity.

Quite late into the second day, I pulled out my critique and gave it another read. Again, the red lines and comments cut me but the pain was less intense this time. I still was not sure about all the recommendations but, at least, I was giving them some thought and careful consideration. I still did not work on the chapters but my mind was running the options.

Day three, I pulled out the critique again along with the original chapters. I spent the day re-writing. I did not incorporate every recommendation, but I listened to a lot of it. After the re-write was complete, I read it over. To my utter horror, I couldn't believe it - it was better.

And not just better, incredibly better. The writing was tight and the storyline clearer. Compared to my original chapters - good Lord, I did not even want to think about the improved difference.

When day four came, I had two well-written chapters plus a healthy respect for the advice and suggestions made by my editor friend. I called, thanked him for all the time he took in reading my work and making his comments. I informed him that even though I did not take all his suggestions, his input vastly strengthened and added to the re-write of those chapters.

I take critiques much better now than I did back then. To this day, I still follow that three-day rule. I figure that it is about right - after three days, my skin has thickened enough to rejoin society and properly thank my critique-giver for their valuable time and effort they give to us and thus making us better writers.

And perhaps, they even make us better people in the process.

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