Elle Pierre's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing"
Writers, Don’t Write What They Tell You
I was inspired to write this after reading this wonderful article from Writeforkids.org: http://writeforkids.org/2017/01/matte... and I thought I’d try to expand upon it using personal experience. I figure I should write a little more than just book reviews…
When I was thirteen or fourteen years old, my favorite book series were the Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell. A New York Times bestseller, Dork Diaries revolves around the zany misadventures of 14-year-old Nikki Maxwell, an unpopular girl attending a swanky private school, due to an arrangement her father made after getting hired as the school’s exterminator. It has all the perks of a middle-grade diary series: a quirky protagonist, “humor,” eccentric characters, and zany plotlines. Today, there are about a dozen books in the series, a huge fan base, and a spin-off for boys, I do believe. I guess you can say that Ms. Russel is an “accomplished writer.”
But what defines accomplishment? What or who should we measure our work against?
The answer is this: No one, except for ourselves.
As writers, we possess a unique gift: We have the ability to share our thoughts coherently, in a way that’s entertaining and educational, and that will impact those who read what we wrote, whether it be through a novel or short story, an essay… or a blog post. It’s frustrating when we don’t get the results that we hoped for, and for some, it’s downright depressing when we see how others are “succeeding” in the field (and we “aren’t”). But again, I must ask: What is “success”?
Thinking back to Dork Diaries, one thing I have always remembered from the first book, was the dedication given: the author credited her agent with giving her the idea for the series after sending in a “rambling 50 pages about a quirky girl and her fairy godmother.” But in a story where a teenage girl writes to her diary about how she could achieve “jumping out of a five-story building without going SPLAT on the pavement” (I found this while peeking inside of a recent volume of the series), I have to wonder, would the “rambling 50 pages” have been a better story? For readers? For the world?
No, this is not an attack piece on Dork Diaries or Rachel Renée Russell (though I was disturbed by what was mentioned above). The point I would like to make is this: Success depends on what matters to you most. Do you want to make lots of money? Appear on Good Morning, America? Be so popular you can’t leave your house? Write what “sells” because in the end, if it doesn’t sell, then don’t bother publishing it, right? Just let it go! Burn it! Take it off the market altogether, or edit it so much that it’s unrecognizable to you.
OR...
Is it more important that your words have changed the life of an elder, an adult, or a child for the better? Is your story something you love with all of your heart and want to share with others? Is it better to have a strong message, as opposed to a strong paycheck? This doesn’t mean you don’t seek feedback from others or hire an editor. And if something in your story needs tweaking, by all means, TWEAK IT. But, as we enter the third week of the New Year, I encourage every author (traditional and independent) or aspiring writer who reads this to write. Not what the New York Times Bestsellers’ List has been telling you, but what your heart tells you.
Write, because your story is NEEDED.
Write, because your message is TRUE.
YOU WILL find your place in the writing community.
YOU WILL impact people for the better. But first…
You have to try. And it starts with a good story.
When I was thirteen or fourteen years old, my favorite book series were the Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell. A New York Times bestseller, Dork Diaries revolves around the zany misadventures of 14-year-old Nikki Maxwell, an unpopular girl attending a swanky private school, due to an arrangement her father made after getting hired as the school’s exterminator. It has all the perks of a middle-grade diary series: a quirky protagonist, “humor,” eccentric characters, and zany plotlines. Today, there are about a dozen books in the series, a huge fan base, and a spin-off for boys, I do believe. I guess you can say that Ms. Russel is an “accomplished writer.”
But what defines accomplishment? What or who should we measure our work against?
The answer is this: No one, except for ourselves.
As writers, we possess a unique gift: We have the ability to share our thoughts coherently, in a way that’s entertaining and educational, and that will impact those who read what we wrote, whether it be through a novel or short story, an essay… or a blog post. It’s frustrating when we don’t get the results that we hoped for, and for some, it’s downright depressing when we see how others are “succeeding” in the field (and we “aren’t”). But again, I must ask: What is “success”?
Thinking back to Dork Diaries, one thing I have always remembered from the first book, was the dedication given: the author credited her agent with giving her the idea for the series after sending in a “rambling 50 pages about a quirky girl and her fairy godmother.” But in a story where a teenage girl writes to her diary about how she could achieve “jumping out of a five-story building without going SPLAT on the pavement” (I found this while peeking inside of a recent volume of the series), I have to wonder, would the “rambling 50 pages” have been a better story? For readers? For the world?
No, this is not an attack piece on Dork Diaries or Rachel Renée Russell (though I was disturbed by what was mentioned above). The point I would like to make is this: Success depends on what matters to you most. Do you want to make lots of money? Appear on Good Morning, America? Be so popular you can’t leave your house? Write what “sells” because in the end, if it doesn’t sell, then don’t bother publishing it, right? Just let it go! Burn it! Take it off the market altogether, or edit it so much that it’s unrecognizable to you.
OR...
Is it more important that your words have changed the life of an elder, an adult, or a child for the better? Is your story something you love with all of your heart and want to share with others? Is it better to have a strong message, as opposed to a strong paycheck? This doesn’t mean you don’t seek feedback from others or hire an editor. And if something in your story needs tweaking, by all means, TWEAK IT. But, as we enter the third week of the New Year, I encourage every author (traditional and independent) or aspiring writer who reads this to write. Not what the New York Times Bestsellers’ List has been telling you, but what your heart tells you.
Write, because your story is NEEDED.
Write, because your message is TRUE.
YOU WILL find your place in the writing community.
YOU WILL impact people for the better. But first…
You have to try. And it starts with a good story.
So Let’s Talk About Escapism (And How We Can Make It Better)
Goodness me! It’s been far too long since my last blogpost. I haven’t felt in the mood for reviewing, plus I haven’t been able to get my hands on any new books (despite my New Year Resolution). Anyway, I’ve found that I really enjoyed writing my article on success as writer (found here: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...), and I’ve been stirred to write yet another one! May it provoke thought...
So, what is escapism? Well, according to Wikipedia, escapism “is the avoidance of unpleasant, boring, arduous, scary, or banal aspects of daily life.” Basically, it’s a coping mechanism/boredom buster people use to endure the craziness found in this world. In the modern age, there are dozens of ways to step out of reality: video games, virtual worlds, cosplaying/roleplaying, books, movies, tv shows, music, and even… here it comes… social networks (shocker!). The list goes on.
Now, a healthy dose of escapism is good I think, but when you begin to neglect the real world… it kind of becomes a problem. With the seemingly constant negativity that appears to emanate from the earth by human hands (and mouths and minds), it can be easy to say “this world sucks, no use paying attention to it,” and tune it all out. But, that’s not the best practice, nor is adding to the problem.
But, what all this have to do with writing? I was just getting to that.
Have you ever read a book where a character’s profound musing spoke to you? Or how about a movie with a positive theme? When the credits started to roll, did you walk out of the theater with a bit more confidence or a new look at how to handle the real world?
Writers possess the ability to embed virtue into their fiction works whether through screenwriting, creative writing, even self-help or opinion pieces (like this one…?). For example, a fantastic adventure novel can be woven with themes of courage, teamwork, and tolerance, which for a reader, could benefit them as they struggle with these traits in a real life situation.
This is obviously a known fact, but I just wanted to emphasize the importance of bringing people up and together (especially these days), by giving them good, positive media to "escape" to, with the hope that they come back with solutions to our real-world problems, and have the courage to make changes. Don’t just write for entertainment; write for enrichment of the mind and heart of your readers.
So, what is escapism? Well, according to Wikipedia, escapism “is the avoidance of unpleasant, boring, arduous, scary, or banal aspects of daily life.” Basically, it’s a coping mechanism/boredom buster people use to endure the craziness found in this world. In the modern age, there are dozens of ways to step out of reality: video games, virtual worlds, cosplaying/roleplaying, books, movies, tv shows, music, and even… here it comes… social networks (shocker!). The list goes on.
Now, a healthy dose of escapism is good I think, but when you begin to neglect the real world… it kind of becomes a problem. With the seemingly constant negativity that appears to emanate from the earth by human hands (and mouths and minds), it can be easy to say “this world sucks, no use paying attention to it,” and tune it all out. But, that’s not the best practice, nor is adding to the problem.
But, what all this have to do with writing? I was just getting to that.
Have you ever read a book where a character’s profound musing spoke to you? Or how about a movie with a positive theme? When the credits started to roll, did you walk out of the theater with a bit more confidence or a new look at how to handle the real world?
Writers possess the ability to embed virtue into their fiction works whether through screenwriting, creative writing, even self-help or opinion pieces (like this one…?). For example, a fantastic adventure novel can be woven with themes of courage, teamwork, and tolerance, which for a reader, could benefit them as they struggle with these traits in a real life situation.
This is obviously a known fact, but I just wanted to emphasize the importance of bringing people up and together (especially these days), by giving them good, positive media to "escape" to, with the hope that they come back with solutions to our real-world problems, and have the courage to make changes. Don’t just write for entertainment; write for enrichment of the mind and heart of your readers.
"A Psalm of Life" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
This was such a beautiful poem... I wanted to share it on my blog! Enjoy!
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,— act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Copied from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem....
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,— act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Copied from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem....
