Top Ten Ways to Make Writing a Novel More Satisfying

My source of inspiration:  Bali

10.  When you are on the computer sit in a slouched position.

9.  Always have coffee next to you when writing—coffee makes everything better.

8.  Keep “pep talk” comments and goals above your desk:  “Write 300 words a day.”  Or “When at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

7.  The advantage of having to work on a computer?  You get to check Facebook and twitter every 15 minutes.  (Not positive this is an advantage…should actually be #10).

6.  Find your name online but doing other things.  It’s really someone else, but it will make you feel so good to think somebody might be impressed that you’re not just a writer:  you’re also a doctor in Albuquerque.

5.  Stop for a cupcake.

4.  Tell your kids you’re writing a book.  They are easily impressed! 

3.  Get your kids involved.  If the whole house is thinking and talking about writing, it can only make them better writers too, which is a great by-product!  My girls have repeatedly started writing their own stories over the past few years!

2.  Write about what’s really important to you.  It will shine through your novel, through your voice.

1.  Remember that at the end of the day, you can only do what you can do.  Every day I look for small growths and achievements.  Keep track of them, and at the end of the year you'll see big growth and hopefully big achievements!

The Importance of Voice

Just a heads-up, YA Author Lindsay Cummings has a sweet giveaway contest....a 3-chapter critique of your YA/MG finished manuscript or WIP!  Go here:

http://www.lindsaycummingsblog.blogspot.com/

Honestly, critiques are important as you're working on your manuscript.  We get so close to our own material...emotionally attached, really, so it's hard to detach yourself and have a real honest perspective about what it needs.  An honest outsider can give you just that.

When I joined a Writers' Digest Bootcamp (recommend it!) I found that getting my first 10 pages critiqued was quite a big help.  Some important things regarding overwriting were mentioned, as well as positive feedback about a strong voice, with suggestion that I develop and strengthen the voice even more.  Great advice, and I think my revisions make my manuscript so much stronger.

One of my students mentioned in class today, actually, that she thinks "voice" is what makes good poetry.  A strong voice is compelling, intriguing, even captivating.  We can relate, get sucked in to the poem or piece.

So I'm working on this myself with both my manuscripts (one YA and one women's fiction)--working on developing a stronger and stronger voice.  I have read on dozens of author/agent/editor websites that strong VOICE is where it's at.

So I will be here working on getting my literary vocal chords warmed up!

What do you think is the most important aspect of a piece to resonate with your audience?

How to Justify Writing with A Busy Life

I entered a writing contest recently with Cupid's Literary Connection. (see her blog here:  http://www.cupidslitconnection.blogspot.com/). Amazing experience, and "love" (code for adore and despise, the twin branches of a young sapling) the intensity of a writing competition.

Heart racing, palms clammy.  The same anticipation as that first kiss:  Will they pick me?!  PLEASE pick me!  Pick me!  It feels a bit like a flashback to P.E. in the fifth grade when you had to line up and pick country line dancing partners.  What?  You never had to do that?  Don't take it for granted.

I just about cried when I didn't make it to the agent round.  Miserable.  Sad face for two whole days.  Colleagues asking, "What's wrong?"  Not wanting to admit anything...feeling like a loser, like I can't even make it to round TWO of a writing competition?!  Why don't I just give it up and stick to my day job?!

For two days, I did.  I gave up my writing dream.  (Well, unless stalking the other contestants' posts, figuring how to post on twitter, reading articles about "Blog your way to being a paid writer!" counts as giving up...).

Like many of you, I asked the question:  how can I even justify spending so much time writing when I have three children to mother, a husband to befriend, and a full-time teaching load?

I didn't have an answer at first.  But then, I did.

And it's not "because I deserve it," or some such modern psychologist-friendly admonition.

I decided...what else would I be doing? REALLY doing, if I'm honest with myself?

Here's a list of what else I would be doing in the time I spend writing:
Spending time playing games with my kids
Making cookies (and eating them)
Browsing the Internet for articles like:  "Blog your way to being a paid writer!" (or, more likely, "How to Dress Like Megan Fox!")
Watching TV
Watching TV
Watching TV
Reading
Cleaning (nah...I'm lucky because being an expat in Malaysia means we can afford live-in help...more about that later)
Dates with my husband (no, probably not really this either, unfortunately.)

So....of that list, what is important?

Reading, yes, but writing could be just as important--kind of like an even exchange there.  Then of course playing games with my kids is important.  But, honestly, am I going to spend hundreds of hours a year more playing games with my kids?

SO.  My conclusion.

Like anything, writing is probably good and healthy as long as I'm not addicted.  (definition:  writing to the point where I damage my relationships with everyone around me.)  Write when I can, a little every week.  Do my best at my job.  Love my kids and husband wholeheartedly.

And only enter a writing contest if I'm okay with it ending in another REJECTION.

How to Survive Christmas

I posted this blog last year after the holidays...I thought it was highly appropriate to include again here in December of 2013. Happy Holidays everyone!

The holidays can be rather stressful, as all women and even some men know (the ones who might actually shop.) The bizarre irony of holiday time is that it’s supposed to be magical thinking about the spirit of giving, and family unity, and it usually ends up being about how many things I can buy the person whose name I picked in the drawing for our Christmas gift exchange and still come in under the 50 dollar limit.  

Basically the point of this exchange is to make myself look as good as possible--so the goal of the gift is to make ME look like a savvy, cool person who is so thoughtful that I would think of this EXACT thing for the recipient of my gift. It seems, if we're being honest here, that it has very little to do with making that person happy. Except, of course, if that person is happy it makes me look thoughtful! This theory might apply to all gift-giving situations, actually, and unfortunately.

On this particular Christmas it was my brother’s name I drew, which should be a blessing, because guys are notorious for not really caring what they get!  They are so wonderful in that regard--they never make you feel like a jerk for picking out gold instead of silver earrings, or look disappointed because they wanted the 200 megawatt drill bit instead of the 100 watt.  They just like everything!  

So it should be easy to buy for them, right?  No, actually, since we're continuing with the honesty, they are NOT easy to buy for because the flip side is that although they seem to like everything, it really means they have ZERO levels of liking.  They like everything with a very mild “kind of” liking.  They don’t love anything and don’t hate anything.  And if they were God, they would “spew” all gifts out of their mouths, with the lukewarmness of the gift. Thank goodness my brother ain't the Almighty.

So the moment is here. As he unwraps the gift I so lovingly wrapped (a clear irony that it takes one minute to open a package that took at least five minutes to close, and much longer if you're a creative wrapper like my sister).....drumroll in the background...I watch his sweet face as if there were a magnifying glass behind my eyeballs....will there be a look of pleasure?  Of pain?  Of indifference?  Oh, hope beyond hope, maybe his face will light up with that once a year smile of “This is exactly what I wanted!” and I can give myself an imaginary pat on the back and a big sigh of relief that I don’t have to return it.  Because if he knew how little I REALLY spent on it (did everyone else hit those 70% off sales?), I would be mortified.

But, I don't know why I even waited in trepidation, because it was already a law of male gift-dynamics that he wouldn't be thrilled or ecstatic. He would be mildly pleased. And yes, that is what happened. He was genuinely somewhat happy to see that I had gotten him a plaid tie and a black sweater for Christmas.

Darn it. And I thought it would be special this year.... I guess I would have to wait one more year to prove my worth.

Predicting The Future of Literature?

I read an interesting blog today by the author Barbara Quick.  She talks about readers’ obsession to fill Tolstoy's shoes with some "grand" authors of our day...but those shoes are always several sizes too big for any modern author, no matter how talented and best-selling they are.  She claims that our attempt is due to a panic that there will never be another Tolstoy.

You know, it may hurt to hear, but in reality there probably never will be another Tolstoy.

So we should just get over it?!  Cry, rip our hair out, rent our clothes?

Well, before we have to go replace our wardrobes, we stop and breathe…

The upside: there will be authors with strengths different from Tolstoy’s. 

Of course we've lost something of our language that we'll never gain again, no matter how rich the characters or captivating the plot.  The English language is becoming denuded.  Really, and truly.  Some “literary” authors and agents try to maintain it by writing some beautiful things that do at times get applause from the “literary” world, but often these things aren't read by the majority of readers.

This is mostly depressing to us readers and writers, but then in some ways, when something is stripped to its bare essentials, might it also give a glimpse of the heart and soul of what’s really beating under all that glamorous sentence structuring and immense vocabulary?  

Like a waxed layer coming off to reveal a shining cherry wood, or makeup revealing the even more natural beauty of a girl.  (of course it can reveal blemishes too!)

Sometimes when all is stripped the heart of the matter can really shine.  I guess we can only hope for that.  After all, perhaps the greatest words of all time have certainly done well for themselves and it doesn’t get much simpler than this:

I LOVE YOU.