May 4, 2008
How NOT to Write a Book
So my comment on Raine’s blog last Friday got me to thinking.
If you’re NOT going to put any time into it(writing), you might as well quit.
I mean what’s the point to keep going if you’re not going to write and all you’re going to do is whine about not having any writing time? I’m sorry but put up or shut up–yes I’m obviously one of the people Raine blogged about above because I don’t want to hear that “I don’t have time” bullshit! There are lots of us out there who “don’t have time” that fucking make the time because it’s important to us.
And while I was um a bit hormonal *coughbitchycough*, I think there’s something valid there.
So how do you NOT write a book? Here are a few ways I came up with in no particular order. Feel free to add your own.
1. Put everything and everybody above your writing: You MUST make time to write. Those words don’t just magically appear on their own. I’m not saying kick your family or job or housework to the curb (but if you can get away with it, go for it).
2. Spend so much time studying the craft that you don’t actually write. This is a cop out. The best way to learn the craft of writing…is to write. Duh.
3. Whine about not having time to write. I don’t want to hear you whine, because believe me when I say everyone has a life to deal with–I have two kids and a day job (a house and two cats). I find time. You can too. Allison Brennan wrote with three or four kids, and a stressful full-time job in the California state government. If you really want to write, you’ll make time.
4. Don’t read. This is an even bigger duh than #2. And believe it or not, I actually know of authors who don’t read. There was even a period after I started writing when I didn’t read–I actually think this is normal BUT if you want to be a writer you have to read AND write.
5. Quit. This one needs no explanation.
So why am I posting all this? Why be such a mean girl? Because I LOVE what I do. I LOVE being a writer, despite the hardship, the deadlines, the rejections, the setbacks…all of it. Now, I’m going to go dump my Alpha Smart and do some editing so I can update my meter.
Feel free to add your own, or argue with me. And then, go read this. And then, come back and tell me what you think.
Here’s another one: Don’t seek honest feedback on your writing.
Now I can understand if you have a lovely editor and that’s who will rip you a new writing orifice.
Not everyone has an editor, so don’t think you can get away with writing in a bubble. That’s insane. That’s not way to learn how to become a better writer. Most authors (yes, even the ones with big names, mid-listers, possible only the one person who thinks they can write in a bubble.) has someone they turn to and say, “rip it apart.” Most stories are good, but most stories can better with honest feedback.
As for making the time, that’s also black and white for me. Either you do or don’t. I have two kids, a full-time job, and I’m a part time student. I don’t know how I find the time. But I make it important, and so does everyone else around me. Case in point (And then I’m done, because this reply is getting pretty long) My sister who lives in Texas (and so does my two close cousins) told me I should move out there. I said, I wouldn’t have any time to write messing with them. She said (and shocked the hell out of me.) “No, baby sis. You’d write. We’d let you write three chapters a day, but don’t think you’re going to start that fourth chapter.”
If you make writing important so will your family. And at the same time they’ll make sure you don’t turn yourself into a hermit.
Okay, here’s the soapbox back. Raine you should have never given it to me. I’m on a roll.
Wow, that was long,
a post within itself. Listen, I just got paid. You guys should collect rent now.
I know I know… don’t get over yourself…
if you think your words are perfection and you cannot part with a single one … I know many writers who think their stuff is golden and may God help you if you give them a suggestion (we had a member quit IN THE MIDDLE OF A CRIT in a group I was in–his crit–give me a freaking break a 400,000 word (I shit you not) western needs a tad bit of tweaking… s’all I’m saying….
Ooooooooooo MEL that was a great one! I remember my first “Critique” Group was mostly a cheerleading group. Not that I didn’t come out of it with some friends who really wanted to be writers–one writes for Samhain as a matter of fact, but I found out quick it was totally what I DIDN”T want.
*slips Mel the bill for her part of the rent*
>>don’t get over yourself…
Another great one!!!!!!!! THey recently polled a bunch of Cobblestone Press authors and pretty much all of us said HELL YEAH we want editing….and FWIW CP does three..yes THREE rounds of edits.
Editing the everlovin sh#! out of that first page paragraph, go over and over and over and over and over it till you get it aso-freakin-lutely perfect. Then start again, because you know you just can write the rest of the book unless the begining is perfect, perfect, perfect!
lol.
Having said that we’re all allowed a bit of whining. Also, having had to deal with a lot of (bad) stress, it’s important to have balance in your life because one of the surest ways to not write (for a very long time) is to burn yourself out.
Having said that, the train station closest to me is almost at the end of the line. This morning I took the train to the end of the line, instead of in the opposite direction towards downtown. It added several minutes to my commute, but it also insured I got a seat, and a comfortable one at that so that I could write. I put the earbuds in for my Nano and tuned everything out for the next twenty minutes and got 2 pages down in longhand.
If you *really* want to write, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.
>>If you *really* want to write, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.
Damn that’s like bumper sticker worthy!
Great post. They’re all true. Also, Melissa & Dennie’s comments are great. I would add for another way to NOT write a book: Be afraid to cut.
If a person wants to NOT write a book, even if they have made time to write and learned to accept criticism, they should be acutely aware of all the time and effort it took them to write every precious paragraph of their precious novel. And even when they know something isn’t working, they should be wary of cutting it because cutting a paragraph or a scene means the time they spent writing it is wasted.
Here’s the deal: No time you spend writing is wasted. So what if you write a scene that doesn’t work and you end up cutting it? It will teach you how to identify and fix a scene that doesn’t work. In the future, you’ll know much earlier in to a scene that it doesn’t work, and you won’t spend so much time on it.
Nothing to add. Good post all around.
OMG Betti can I just say I totally had a fangirl squee when I saw you stopped by
I am with you there, Amie! If I can find time to write, ANYBODY can find time to write. i work 56-64 hours a week… Yes, a WEEK. In addition to that I find time to write a minimum of 500 words per day… MINIMUM. Generally I find myself writing 700-1400 so it’s all good and it only takes me about 1 to 1-1/2 hours to do it too. So anyone who says they don’t have time, ask them if they work that many hours, have two teenage boys, a husband, and two dogs. Yeah, so there. LOL
“Hey, you talkin’ to me???” hmm, yeah. I get it. Just shut up and write.
I want honest feedback and don’t want people to soft pedal it for me. If it sucks - tell me!
(If it’s got potential, I’d like to hear that too 
)
Lynn-most writing has potential. I have yet to see something that was beyond help. The difference is the person–if they are willing to do that extra work. That’s probably why they say anybody can write, but most won’t revise.
And I completely agree with Bettie. Learning to give up the words you wrote to write better ones is another lesson that ALL writers need to learn.
slids Amie montly rent
Jeez, slides
And Piggybacking on what Bettie said….not pushing yourself to grow as a writer
What can I say about not writing? You ladies have covered every aspect.
Great post, Ames.