Writing Life

What's your process?

Four very simple steps:

  1. Settle on an idea I love enough to write about
  2. Research
  3. [Step omitted lest it upset, frighten, or otherwise disturb readers, editors, or agents]*
  4. Edit. A lot.

*No actual readers, editors, or agents were harmed in the making of this list



What's it like to be a writer?

It's the same as any job. Except the people who demand things from you are often imaginary, and can't run screaming from your office once they hear what you've got planned for them.



Where do you get your ideas?

Anywhere and everywhere. I once got an idea ordering office supplies online. I'll leave you to guess which story that ballooned into.

Come on. You know this one.



Why did you decide to write?

I've always loved getting lost in stories, and there was an incident in third grade where I attempted to write a full-length thriller involving wills and codicils. Yes, I was a complication-loving word count hawg from the very start.

A lot of life went on until one day, I found myself in an ugly predicament. I'd exhausted the local library of anything I'd like to read, and our finances didn't allow for 5-10 new books a week.

I was desperate. I mean, really desperate. So I guess the answer is, I had no choice but to write because I had nothing left to read. And if you've ever written anything, you know how addictive it can become.

If you don't know, open up your word processor and get to work. Chop chop. I need more stuff to read.



Do you write about
people you know?

No. Not intentionally, at least. The subconscious being what it is, bits and pieces of familiar personalities or life experiences are bound to leak through, but I'm not one to use stories as voodoo-dolls, if you know what I mean.




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 Advice

How do I become an author?

Write badly and edit well.

"Huh?" you ask. "Write badly? And what are editors for if not to edit?"

Okay, okay, let me explain. In order to become an author, the first step is to become a writer.

And writers write. That's the big trade secret. Writers write, write, write.

The next step is to get real. First drafts are never perfect. Second and third drafts can suck something awful too, so do yourself a favor and give yourself permission to write badly.

It's a must. If you wait around for the perfect word or scene to present itself, you're gonna be waiting a dang long time. Write the wrong word and the wrong scene. Just put something on the page.

Now, don't panic. You've written badly, but writing is only half the battle. Good stories are written and edited. And rewritten and edited and rewritten again, then edited some more.

The first and best editor you'll ever have is you. Of course, no one knows how to edit straight out of the gate, so allow me to introduce your new best friends Mr. Strunk and Mr. White. They're excellent teachers. Not to be missed.

So there it is: write badly and edit well. Nothing to it.

But don't I need
to study theory?

This is a really touchy subject, because writers are like fingerprints. Every single one is different. Some writers get great results from theory. Others find it does more harm than good.

It's hit and miss because theories or "how-tos" are devised and presented using one person's (the instructor's) specific cognitive and logic processes. Your processes might be similar to theirs, they might not. So some theory will click with you, some might as well be written in sanskrit.

If you're interested in theory, your job is to dabble around until you find what works for you and what doesn't.

Some things I find helpful are:

Poke around other writers' sites like Charlotte Dillon's. It's geared toward romance writing, but don't let that stop you -- there's a ton of valuable info for writers of all genres and experience levels.

Another great online source is AbsoluteWrite.com.

Lastly, there's one writing exercise every writer can benefit from: Reading. It's your best source for guidance, inspiration, technique and everything else.

 Advice (cont.)

Presented in no particular order, accumulated from industry sources and my own experiences

What it really takes to be a writer: