Sandy Fussell's Blog, page 3

Read Like a Writer, Write Like a Reader?

One of the things I love about social media is it makes my brain buzz.

Read like a Reader, Read Like a Writer

About a week ago I wandered into a conversation going on in Jen Storer’s Duck Pond Facebook Group about whether writers should read. Jen has written a thought-provoking blog post (Want to Be a Writer? 6 reasons You Should Stop reading) about how daunting or expectation-creating reading can be for some writers and even ventured to suggest some writers shouldn’t read too much in their own genre – maybe only the top five novels. My feet are firmly planted in the “writers who believe in reading a lot” flower pot but I get what Jen is saying. I’ve read books that have left me breathless with their words and story, and at the same time devastated me because I will never write that story or one as good as it. But then I think, even a book half as good would be publishable so I need to aim for higher than that bar. And I get all inspired and excited by the book I read and write enthusiastically.

It’s an art and craft kind of thing. Reading like a reader is art,

immersing myself in the story and losing sight of the world. 

Reading like a writer is craft, paying attention to the structure,

picking things apart so I can learn. 

I believe writers need to read, lots.  For me it’s an art and craft kind of thing. Reading like a reader is art, immersing myself in the story and losing sight of the world. Like when I saved Sofie Laguna’s new novel The Choke, for a three hour Book Week train trip north because I wanted to read it in one go. When I got to my station I still had a page left. I’m always early so I sat on the platform and finished it. As soon as the last word was read, the sobs started. Not crying. Sobbing.

Reading like a writer is different. It’s all about craft, paying attention to the structure, picking things apart so I can learn. I often read a book twice so I can read it both ways. Whenever I read one of Jack Heath’s Minutes to Danger series, I know I have a tutorial on writing action and tension in my hand as well as a good read.

Write like a Reader, Write like a Writer

Tonight I sat down to surf a few blogs. Zanni Louise was blogging about attending an event where Tristan Bancks interviewed Andy Martin about his new book about Lee Child writing, Reacher Said Nothing: Lee Child and the Making of Make Me. It’s a very interesting blog post (read it here: What I learned from Lee Child) but what stopped me mid- paragraph was this: Lee Child says he Writes like a Reader. That’s so succinct. We write to be read so we need to Write like a Reader. And we can only do that if we read (like a reader or a writer). So this was resonating like crazy with me and then abruptly, mathematical me felt lopsided.

If we Read like a Reader and Read Like a Writer, then maybe we need to Write like a Reader and Write like a Writer. At first it sounded indulgent to write like a writer, but then I figured if we write for ourselves as reader then that’s okay. But maybe here’s another facet. Maybe to write like a writer is the need to be disciplined and to have some sort of writing routine. Even Lee Child has a 10% typing and 90% daydreaming routine.

After all that thinking, I’ve decided that I’ll continue on like I do. Read like crazy. Write like crazy. I’m also going to read my first Jack Reacher novel.

How to Make Time to Write

I didn’t plan to attend Allison Tait’s Make Time to Write session when I was at the Sutherland Writer’s Unleashed Festival in August. I figured I knew all I needed to know about that subject. I manage to make time to write despite five part-time jobs (which somehow always add up to more than one full-time job!), a child too ill to go to school (whose Year 11 work I teach) and all the other commitments and emotional traumas that come with being a carer, mother and a partner. I even blogged about making time to write eight years ago!

But I attended another session by Al, another time, another place, and it was brilliant. So I didn’t want to miss out in case she said something brilliant again. And surprise, surprise (do I ever learn?), it was the right decision.

A big take away for me was no matter how much you know about how to make time to write, it’s always enormously motivating to have someone repeat it and challenge you to do better. It’s a call to action because the truth is, while most of us do know how to make time, we don’t actively do it in any directed or organised way.

Here’s what I learned. A lot of it is common sense, but the thing about common sense is sometimes we have to be hit over the head with it, often. Right? I know I do.

1 What’s stopping you? Work out what’s getting in the way of your writing. What are you being overly ‘busy’ about? If you’re still think there’s no time in the day, get up earlier or stay up later. Use the time you have, not the time you wish you had.

A few months ago when life was particularly tough and I was struggling to find any time to write, I made a list of everything I did every day for two weeks. And I found a massive chunk of time.  I started grocery shopping on-line and saved myself four-and-a-quarter hours a week. Physical shopping means every item you purchase is handled six time (off shelf into trolley, out of trolley to scan, back in trolley, into car, out of car, into pantry). On-line shopping – straight from your door to your pantry. As a systems analyst I’ve conducted many time and motion studies but missed a major efficiency right under my nose!

2 What are you waiting for?

There is no perfect time. You have to start now. Right where you are. If you don’t start you won’t write. Nobody ever wrote a book by talking about it. There is no perfect place. It’s not the place that makes the writing goo. It’s the writing that makes the place good.

3 It’s a cumulative process

You have to start accumulating. Little bits add up. Break down your word count. Try to write 500 words per day. If you can’t do that, write less but have a consistent minimum. I’ve got a soft spot for statistics and write every day statistics are  some of the good guys. Write 500 words a day – that’s 182, 500. (For a middle grade fiction author like me, that’s 4 books!) Write 300 words per day – that’s 109,500. Even 150 words a day adds up to 54,750.

So what are we waiting for?

Bye, Bye Book Week Month

It’s the 30th August and Book Week Month is almost over. This time it spills in to September with five days in sunny Ipswich next week for the Story Arts Festival.

 

 

But the long days of travel (including one 15 hour day) and the early morning starts (4.45 am more than once) are over. I’ve been to all sorts of schools of all shapes and sizes. Had catch ups with librarians and libraries I’ve visited before and discovered some places I didn’t even know existed. I’ve been spoiled by chocolates and spectacular lunches (I’m looking at you two, Merrin and Lynne). I’ve faced the kid up the back who doesn’t want to be there, and known I’ve done my job when he put up his hand to ask a question.

 

 

There are always rock star moments (how did you get to become a famous author?) but my favourite moments are the gold medal ones – when a teacher takes you aside to say “That boy. who filled up the page in the Minecraft workshop, never writes more than a few sentences” or “You picked the right kid to bang the gong. He’s never the centre of attention, but for once, every kid in the room wanted to be him.”

 

I’m absolutely exhausted, but I’m also brimful of enthusiasm for writing. When I stand in front of a class, it’s like a mirror reflecting my stories back at me. I want that to go on forever.It’s totally worth it.

I’m even thinking of adopting a school, or two. My fifteen hour day was ashared trip to two small schools.  Cowan Public School has 45 students and Brooklyn Public School almost twice as many with 87. the moment I stepped off the platform at Hawkesbury River Station, I felt like I belonged.

 

 

It’s also the scene of this year’s faviourite Book Week anecdote. A boy brought his signed book back to me because the name was spelled wrong. I was surprised, because I always ask kids to spell their name for me(after being caught with Jayne/Jane/Jain one too many times). He pointed to my name! Which I had fortunately spelled correctly!\.

Roll on Book Week 2018 (but give me 12 months to recover first)

Annual ISC CBCA Children’s Literary Lunch

Last Wednesday I attended my ninth Illawarra South Coast Children’s Book Council Literary Lunch. I’ve only ever missed one. This is one of my most favourite events on my kidlit calendar. Eighteen tables of keen primary school kids and their librarians.

My table this year was a group of energetic, enthusiastic and very hungry kids from Mount Warrigal Primary School accompanied by their lovely, dedicated and patient librarian, Susan. We hatched a few plots and plans over a sausage roll and a cup of tea!

 

 

Literary Lunch always begins with speed pitching by each author. I suggested this yonks ago thinking it was a good idea until I realised how many times I would be doing it. Plus it’s dangerous. If you talk too much, the illustrious Branch President gongs you off. The Samurai Kids gong has attended ten of these events (it even went once without me).

The highlight of the pitching was spoken word poet Gabrielle Journey Jones who beat-boxed her way though a poem called Poetry, What? We all got to yell, “What” on cue. Loudest poem ever.

Each table had a writing prompt and was set the task of producing a short piece. Our postcard prompt was initially met with disappointment. Six teacups. I encouraged the kids to think about how we could dispose of these teacups. If the teacups were boring maybe we could find exciting ways to get rid of them.

Imaginations went wild after that. The thought of cup smashing and shattering was very inspiring. We decided on a counting story where we eventually had no cups. Here is what Mount Warrigal wrote (my contribution is the title):

 

The Case of the Disappearing Tea Cups

One tea cup was broken, shattered all over the floor

and then there were five,

One teacup was stolen by a robber looking for antiques

and then there were four,

One teacup was stained with coffee so Mum threw it away

and then there were three,

One teacup was caught speeding so it went to jail

and then there were two,

One teacup was sat on by an elephant

and then there was one,

One teacup was buried by a dog

and then there were no teacups.

No-one could ever drink tea again.

 

Which is quite a sad ending for tea drinkers like me.

After lunch, Edwina Wyatt and Christopher Neilsen launched their noisy new picture book baby Ponk and we all sang Happy Birthday. The kids were treated to a drawing workshop taught by Adam Murphy, a former lead artist and animator for Disney and Lucasfilm. Adam has worked on The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, the Lego Batman movie and more. Lots of street cred with the crowd happening there.

 

The kids from St Columbkille’s came for a photo and made me feel a little bit famous.

 

 

Now for the honour roll of fabulous authors, poets and illustrators in attendance – Jody Cauduro, Sean Farrer, Susanne Gervay, Demelza Haines, Karen Hendriks, Gabrielle Journey-Jones, Peter Mcinnes, Michelle Morgan, Adam Murphy, Christopher Neilson, Dale Newman, Jo Oliver, Jodie Wells-Slowgrove, A. L. Tait, Sue Whiting and Edwina Wyatt.

Being a childrens’ author? Best job ever.

 

Writers Unleashed Festival – Author Platform

After my first book was published, I thought I might run a ‘how-to-write’ course. Until I discovered I didn’t know anything about how to write. For me, writing just happened. Words somehow connected in the right way, characters found their voices and stories came to life. I’ve always suspected I learned to write osmotically, soaking up all the necessary elements as a result my rabid reading habit.

I eventually learned the terminology to match what I did – narrative arc, Hero’s Journey, viewpoint, orientation and so on. But as far as imparting knowledge to other writers, fourteen books and a CBCA shortlisting later, I was still clueless. So I never did teach that course.

Instead I discovered there was something else, useful and author related, that I could contribute. As a former software developer, systems analyst and project manager, the digital world of platform building and social media was my language comfort zone.

On Saturday August 18th at the Writer’s Unleashed Festival in Sutherland, I’ll be sharing how to build an author profile and platform but even more importantly, how to maintain it without wasting valuable writing time. I call it Connections – because worthwhile platform building is about connecting with people in a meaningful way.

I’ll be talking shortcuts, time-saving, optimising, prioritising, maximising and mobilising special weapons. Dismantling the buzz words to show realistically what works and what doesn’t. Showing how to put heart into social media so you can actually enjoy it.

I’ll be laying some ground rules. About building something solid. You don’t want a platform that’s like a tent, blowing over at the first hint of trouble. It’s got to stand firm while you’re away for a week or more doing family or writerly stuff. I’ll be providing advice about the best tools to make it quicker and easier. About finding your personal sweet spot. About putting together a schedule but not letting it rule your world world. About small windows of time that lead to big picture views.

The hardest part about author platform is maintaining momentum. At the end of my session, you’ll have a personalised schedule to help you keep it going. You’ll be surprised what you can achieve in half an hour a day. Half an hour can sometimes be three ten-minute blocks waiting for an appointment or sitting at the bus stop.

It works for me. I have distance ed schooling to supervise, two part-time businesses to run (an IT consultancy and The Story Crowd), three days a fortnight managing the office at the South Coast Writers Centre, books to write and school visits. If I want to fit in maintaining an author platform, it has easy and time-limited. And it has to be worth the effort.

Come along and find out how and why. It’ll be fun. Or sign up for my newsletter below. Lots of tips there, too (but none about how to write).

The Writers Unleashed Festival Program is packed full of all sorts of literary goodness. Take a look. Buy a ticket now. Sales close 12th August.

 

Advice for Slow Writers

I’ve come to accept that in the writing world, I’m a tortoise.

I’m still a little envious when I see spectacular word counts trumpeted on Twitter. And impressed and inspired.

But no matter how hard I try, writing quickly is not for me. I’ve read all the advice – how if you want to go quickly just splat it down in a first draft and then edit. I can’t. I just can’t do it. If I’m not happy with the previous chapter, if I haven’t at least revised it three times , if there’s not a certain shininess, I get word constipation and no words are flowing then. Every step forward sees me look back.

It’s also about the way I write. I’m the world’s worst plotter. Yes, I’ve also read how plotting can help you write faster but if I don’t write, I don’t have a plot. I begin with an idea, a first sentence or paragraph I love, a character who is bullying me into letting them drive and a rough draft of the last page. So I know where I’m going and who is leading me on this journey, but I don’t know what will happen.

I’m always pleasantly surprised and secretly amazed that this approach comes together. Sure I take lots of detours, and occasionally I end up somewhere else, but I’m like that in real life, too. It works for me.

So my advice is, it’s okay to go slow. It might mean you need to find more time (I found four and a quarter hours a week here) or it might be it’s just going to take longer. I don’t even mind that. I use an app called Writeometer and it tells me when I’ll finish at the rate I’m going and makes sure I don’t go any slower.

Turtle power! Now where have I heard that before…

 

How to dress up as a Samurai Kid for CBCA Book Week

I love CBCA Book Week although I think it should be called Book Month because on my calendar, it takes up most of August.

This years theme is Escape to Everywhere. Imagine the possibilities when nowhere is excluded – up, down sideways or into another dimension – every one is a destination.

Escape to Everywhere resonates personally. In my family I was the square peg and that made so many things difficult. Books provided an escape for me and as soon as finished school, I left home. My sole possessions were a budgie in a cage, one suitcase containing clothes, a cup, a plate and some cutlery (that my Nanna gave me) and one bigger suitcase full of books.

Dressing up for Book Week is one of my positive childhood memories. My mother didn’t approve of much (not even homework) but she did like to sew.

If I could dress up now – and a little voice inside me says its’ probably not too late (authors can get away with a lot when it comes to foolish fashion) – I would be a samurai. And not because of the Samurai Kids series but because it’s such a cool outfit (and it comes with a sword!)

It’s an easy dress-up option especially for a kid with a karate uniform. I know from experience it’s a popular on with boys for Book Week.

Here are some places to find ideas.

1  Scholastic has the most amazing costume made out of egg cartons and a cardboard box. It has to be seen to believed. So simple, so spectacular.

2  An easy way to make a katana (samurai sword) from cardboard

3  A printable for a samurai helmet

 

This post is part of my Post from Posts series where I am inspired by the blog posts of colleagues and friends. So if your child doesn’t want to be a Samurai Kid, they might like to be Archie from Archie and the Bear. Instructions for Archie and the Bear can be found on Zanni Louise’s blog.

How I Found Four-and-a-Quarter More Hours to Write – Every Single Week

There are lots of posts about finding time to write. Unfortunately most of them don’t help me.

I’m already super-organised, having Trello-ed my life (and even the pantry). I successfully juggle four part-time jobs including school visits that are often hours away. Until recently I was always writing something, too.

Then suddenly, I found I wasn’t getting much writing done at all, and something was quickly shrinking awful close to nothing.

Every time a writing rhythm kicked in, my world short circuited and booted me off the grid.

The reason for that can’t be managed. I have a long-term unwell child and a flurry of appointments as we leave the pediatric health system behind left me with little time to write. Plus there are other complications – when he’s particularly unwell I don’t feel like writing and when he’s a little better I have two hours of distance education supervision to fit in to every day.

Got a year 10 Maths question, I can help with that!

But I’ve discovered something that saves me time twice over.

On-line grocery shopping. I’d always hesitated before, thinking I can’t justify the delivery fee when the supermarket is just down the road. Its not that I thought on-line shopping was being lazy. In my house, lots of dollars go to medical costs and the ones left have to be carefully counted.

A casual comment by the Love of My Life made me reconsider. I discovered Woolworths, where I shop anyway, had introduced an advance coupon deal that cut my delivery fee to $2. Cheaper than petrol.

So now I save an hour and half, once a week, by shopping on-line. That’s absolutely free, unallocated time. Time I can dedicate to writing.

But there’s a double whammy. I can specify when I want my shopping delivered, within a three hour window (and get a closer time estimate on the day). So I can organise my groceries to be delivered at 5am!

I have to get up and be ready (no delivery man wants to see me in my pyjamas first thing in the morning) – and what can I do when I’m up at that time of the morning, just waiting around? Write of course!

As I’d normally get out of bed at 8am, deducting the time spent packing away the groceries, that’s another two-and-three-quarter hours a week.

Plus cost savings. No impulse buying. A lot less chocolate. And when I order a piece of fruit or vegetable, it’s invariably a larger piece that’s supplied. If something goes wrong (yes, once the apples were battered and bruised), it’s a no questions asked refund and a credit voucher. Win-win all round.

Total extra weekly time to write thanks to on-line shopping:

four and a quarter hours – every single week!

Who would have thought Woolworths could provide that?

(Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Woolworths. I’m just super excited to have found all this extra time to write).

Live and Local, SWF and Kate DiCamillo

It was a writerly weekend.

On Saturday, the Sydney Writers Festival was literally streaming into the Gong Town Hall. The program included live-streamed sessions from the Big Show in Sydney and local events in between. The highlight for me was Catherine McKinnon in conversation. Catherine is the local author of Storyland, a novel receiving critical acclaim everywhere and an extremely glowing review from me. I loved it.

 

 

I ran a workshop called Planning for Publication. I was all set to show how to create a project plan to work towards getting published. It worked for me! But I quickly recognised the eclectic group of attendees was looking for something different and we had a lively and informative round table discussion. Even though I didn’t use anything I’d prepared – except the first line (Hello, I’m Sandy Fussell) – it was one of the most fun workshops I’ve delivered.

On Sunday I hopped the train to Sydney with Sue Whiting, to bask in the brilliance that is Kate DiCamillo. Sue and I have long been huge fans. My first blog, back forever ago, was called Stories are Light based on my favourite quote from The Tale of Despereaux.

“Stories are light. Light is precious in a word so dark. Begin at the beginning. Tell Gregory a story. Make some light.”

 

 

Kate was brilliant, but so humble. I loved how she spoke 15 mins targeted to the host of adults who  had come to hear her, and spent most of the time answering questions from the kids (all of the answers to which were of great interest to the adults, too). A class act.

 

The only other event we went to was the Illustrator Challenge, thanks to some fast-taking and free-wheeling dealing by James Foley who snaffled Leila Rudge and Gus Gordon‘s free tickets for Sue, Kelly Canby and me. How’s that for casually name-dropping four wonderful illustrators in a sentence? I’m always in awe of illustrators and watching them drawing at the speed of light to audience suggestions, only overwhelmed even more.

The next day I racked up 1,004 words of my work-in-progress Algernon and the Outside Girl. That’s the effect of a writerly weekend.

 

 

Meet My Latest Writing Distraction, Hedghog

This is Yona. Some people say he’s a Burmese Cat but I think he’s a Writing Distraction Cat. When I’m trying to write he likes to walk across my laptop keyboard. All sorts of strange things happen then. Things I didn’t even know my laptop could do.

Yona is the name used for hedgehogs in Richard Adam’s Watership Down. This Yona is short, stumpy and very cute. A bit like a Hedgehog except not prickly at all. When he’s feeling  tired from all the running around that Hedgehogs do, he sleeps on my lap. Then I can get some writing done.

#1 son’s girlfriend posted a picture of him on Twitter and he notched up 245 likes. More likes than any tweet of mine ever scored. #catsofinstagram #catsoftwitter beware.