OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
Sometimes you need to refresh the Muse and deepen your knowledge by learning from professionals.
The Guardian is a fantastic British newspaper and media company and I have been a dedicated reader for many years. The weekend was taught by some wonderful writers and I learned a great deal.
The notes below are from my diary and are a combination of things people said and my own thoughts. I won't attribute them specifically as my notes are often re-interpretations of what people say and not direct quotes.
- People over-analyze their reasons for writing. Just write. Stop fretting and get on with it. After a year or two of writing, people generally decide whether they want to be serious about it and commit to a more professional career.
- Most people quite like the idea of writing but most don't take the risk.
- People ask about the discipline of writing, but it's not about discipline, it's about passion. It's what you love. It's engagement and obsession.
- A novel is labor intensive. You have to put the hours in and it takes more time than you think.
- The reader is most important. You need to guide them through your material. It's not therapy.
- The moment you share your work with someone else, it changes your own perspective. It's important to find the right people to share your work with.
- Create a character that represents a part of you that needs to speak.
- You need a lot of good material for a book. It's not just in your head, you need to find it. Life is research.
- There are many good ideas, but what is a good idea for you?
- What is in your range as a writer? This changes over time e.g. The Slap – Christos Tsiolkas is multiple first person viewpoints. It's a stretch for most people.
- If you bore the reader, you're dead. There's no message. It's entertainment. Readers are demanding. They want a good time. They aren't reading for you, but for themselves. The book must be more interesting that every day life.
- To make a living out of writing takes a lot of books, over time, consistently. What will you give up for this type of career?
- The publishing industry is deluged in mediocrity. Don't be one of the masses. It's boldness you want.
- Without difficulties, the book is nothing. It's the friction that creates the pearl.
- The book is an X-ray of your psyche at one point in time
- The first draft is awful. It still is for pro-writers. But until you've got something to work with, you don't know what you're interested in.
- Books love time. They soak it up.
- If you're a woman writing a man, just write it as a woman and then change the name. We are not so different. People are people. Concentrate on what is shared, rather than what separates.
- “We do not see things as they are, but as we are.” The Talmud.
- Why do people have to explain before they read their writing. Just read it and we will judge what we hear. Don't justify. Just read.
- Assume intelligence on the reader's part. Don't overstate.
- ‘Why write? Why breathe?” Katherine Mansfield
- A reader has a body, so include the whole body in description. Use exact details of all senses.
- Distinguish between plot (how you communicate to the reader) and themes (your own private business). It's easier to talk about themes, but actually it's best to tell people about the plot. Theme is nebulous and universal. Plot is specific and (hopefully) unique. The more concrete and rooted the plot is in your pitch, the more likely a publisher will be interested.
- The response of an agent or editor to your writing is instinctual. If they don't like it, that's because there isn't a good fit between you. So move on to another agent. Agents and editors are passionate readers who are always looking for authors who resonate with them.
- To be published these days doesn't mean you need to have a publisher put a physical book in a physical bookstore.
- With badly written books, it's obvious that the author doesn't really read. To improve, you must read. 90% of submissions are poor quality.
- Having a great sentence encapsulating your book will help all the way through the publishing process.
Do any of these statements resonate with you?
Images are my own. Flickr Creative Commons.
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1 2 3 Next »In my experience, how-to books/courses almost always demand a whole thesis on "why you want to write" before you're allowed to put fingers to keyboard. I've fallen for this myself, often. What a waste of time! Your first point is spot on, Joanna -- "Just write"!
I do ask people who come to me for consulting - what is the goal for your career as an author and for your book - as this is what is more important I think. That will shape the publishing process. But why write? Just get on with it!
Thanks so much for sharing your notes, Joanna. I especially love the first three points: truly breaths of fresh air. Why do we so often assume things have to be complicated in order to be effective? We undoubtedly have to strive hard to put a book out into the world, but it's incredible how easy it is to lose sight of why we are writers in the first place. We love writing enough to take the risk of writing. Simple.
Incidentally, I've only just discovered your site, and am completely devouring it. The process of publishing is all very new to me; it's as fascinating as it is overwhelming. You are already answering so many of my questions and quandaries. Thank you!
Thanks Sumangali, I hope you find lots of useful info here. It's been 3 years on the journey and I'm still learning :)
A masterclass indeed. My watchword for 40 years has been "Assume intelligence on the reader’s part."
Like Sumangali, I am new here, but have bookmarked your site and certainly will be back! I discovered you via Twitter, BTW.
I love twitter :) My favorite social network.
These are so great! I especially like the idea of thinking of writing as about passion, not discipline. I think that passion is what shines through and makes it something that someone else might want to read.
definitely, write in the genre you love!
The book is an x-ray of your psyche at one point in time
Love this one :)
Matt (Turndog Millionaire)
I do like the sentiment but given how many people die in my books, I'm hoping it's not actually true!
Thank you for sharing Joanna !
I really like number 7 : "Create a character that represents a part of you that needs to speak."
Every time I create a new character, no matter how young or old, either man or woman, they turn out looking very much like me, somehow.
I'm glad to realize that it's not a bad thing after all.
"The publishing industry is deluged in mediocrity. Don’t be one of the masses. It’s boldness you want."
Love that one too.
Oh and, by the way, your work is awesome and so hugely helpful. Thank you so much !
I'm glad you're enjoying the site Sirdalmi
"Create a character that represents a part of you that needs to speak."
Can't agree more. I'm finding that some of my best characters represent characteristics that are hiding inside me. I think many writers do this subconsciously.
Perhaps we have to do it - maybe there is no other way?
Hmm, I have to disagree that "writing is NOT about discipline." Of course it is! Just about everything meaningful you want to accomplish is about discipline -- whether it's getting exercise, cleaning your house or finishing a big work project. I can, however, agree with your idea if it says it's not ONLY about discipline. And I like the way you identify "passion" as a key trait for writers.
If you ask me, it's that passion that helps inspire the discipline. It's just not either/or. It's BOTH!
Does anyone else agree?
I absolutely agree with you.
You've got to make the time to write, and passion helps you do just that.
I was going to say the exact same thing Daphne. I think it's undoubtedly about discipline and passion. A lot of people have passion for writing - think of all the people you meet who tell you about the book they want to write. But a much smaller proportion have the discipline to see it through. And when the passion seems to have evaporated the discipline keeps me going until I can recapture it.
Yes, I think 'butt in chair' type discipline is important to see a project through but you won't do this unless you have the passion for it - given how much time and energy it takes for very little (material) reward.
"To make a living out of writing takes a lot of books, over time, consistently. What will you give up for this type of career?"
I'm working on this right now... I plan on downsizing from a 1,000 sq. ft. house to a one-bedroom apartment, moving from a mid-sized city to a much smaller one. I've been too distracted with other things, (home maintenance etc.) and have finally realized where I want my focus to be! For the past four weeks, I've sorted through so much stuff. It's unbelievable the amount of items (and emotional baggage) we accumulate over the years. After multiple (I've honestly lost count) drop-off visits to thrift stores, re-stores and our landfill site (only where necessary) I can truly say, I've felt the stirrings of liberation. My interest in writing is making a comeback. A new book title "magically" appeared this past week. I've already created a draft book cover. Characters are beginning to whisper in my ear. I so badly want to start this new project, but I need to complete the other two first!
Seriously though, clear out the physical clutter and your mind will clear, allowing room for new ideas. It's amazing how my perspective has changed! I even ordered my very first Kindle this week.
Thank you for all the interesting information you continue to share with us!
Hi Vivian, downsizing is one of the things I have done too as I moved into fulltime author-entrepreneur
http://ollinmorales.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/joanna/
We're also selling our house in Australia and really streamlining life so the financial commitments are few. We don't have a car anymore. It's actually brilliant so far. I feel much freer. I also have a 1 bed apartment so the Kindle is actually necessary when you have no space for books. Enjoy your new life!
"If you’re a woman writing a man, just write it as a woman and then change the name"
While I agree in principle, be careful there. I just finished reading a top 100 Kindle ebook that had a scene where two men were bantering back and forth in a corporate executive office. One 'tossed the tissue box' at the other guy during the bantering! I couldn't believe it. That wouldn't happen in a corporate office setting, unless it were a favorite autographed baseball and it was under discussion (and not sealed in glass). I've never seen women in corporate environments toss tissue boxes. But girlfriends at their boyfriends - that happens more frequently and was probably the real model for the author's dialog.
To have any success at writing different genders it must be from the beginning so that your writing is directed by that name from the start. Otherwise there will be things that suddenly see absurd. And those types of things get passed an otherwise well edited story (no software like spelling check to catch flying tissue boxes).
So I learned from this particular book: use beta readers of both genders to avoid unintentional wacky devices making it into the final copy.
That's a great tip - beta readers of both genders definitely a key requirement! (I certainly always have both)