Ian Dawson's Blog - Posts Tagged "stephen-king"
Are You a Writer Who Reads?
I love to read. If I see a book I think I would enjoy, I either buy it or add it to my wish list. My coworker buys me books for my birthday and Christmas. If there’s a topic I want to learn more about, I don’t Google it; I try and find a book about the topic instead. Reading has always played a significant role in my life and my education post-school, and it’s an activity that I enjoy.
One of my favorite authors, Stephen King, has said: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” I have a feeling King knows what he’s talking about.
If you’re a writer, I encourage you to take the time to read. Not books about writing, which I'll talk about next week, but a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction books.
Read Outside Your Genre
If you are an author who writes primarily in a specific genre – Young Adult, Romance, Thriller, Mystery, etc. – I encourage you to read novels that aren’t from your chosen realm. While it’s essential to know and understand your genre’s tropes, themes, and other elements, it’s equally important to see how different genres work within their various story conventions to see what you can learn. You can often glean some new bit of story structure or character development idea from a novel outside your chosen area of expertise.
Read Different Authors
We often get comfy with a couple authors we enjoy and stick with them. Dare to pick authors you may not be familiar with and read their works as well. Your favorite author isn’t going anywhere.
Read Books from Other Decades
We are creatures of habit. Most of the time, if it’s a book that’s a current best-seller, or one on display at Target, it’s the book we grab to read. However, it’s also important to delve into the past and read authors whose work lives long after their passing. The classics have inspired authors for generations, and by looking at these works, you can learn new aspects of storytelling that you can possibly apply to your work.
Read History, Autobiographies, and Biographies
The real world can offer up some great story ideas, and you can learn a thing or two along the way. Real human beings, human behavior, and human drama can sometimes be more engaging and fascinating than fiction, and these types of books can give you a fresh perspective on topics you think you know about.
Read to Learn
As you read, observe how the author crafts their chapters, characters, and story arcs. Look at how they format certain things. For example, I’ve seen text messaging and phone calls formatted in many different ways in novels, depending on the author.
If you found yourself up until 3 in the morning not wanting to put the books down, ask yourself why? What was it about the story, the characters, or the pacing that made you have to keep reading? These are elements you can analyze and apply to your work as well.
Always Go with Variety
If you’ve plotted out your 2021 reading list, consider adding books and authors you usually wouldn’t read. Maybe an author whose work you don’t enjoy, or one whose opinions bother you. Look at them less as annoying reading assignments and more like learning opportunities. Each book you open can inform your own writing methodology and how you create your worlds and story.
And all you need to do is turn to Chapter One and start reading.
As a writer, how do you decide what books to read? Leave a comment and let me know!
One of my favorite authors, Stephen King, has said: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” I have a feeling King knows what he’s talking about.
If you’re a writer, I encourage you to take the time to read. Not books about writing, which I'll talk about next week, but a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction books.
Read Outside Your Genre
If you are an author who writes primarily in a specific genre – Young Adult, Romance, Thriller, Mystery, etc. – I encourage you to read novels that aren’t from your chosen realm. While it’s essential to know and understand your genre’s tropes, themes, and other elements, it’s equally important to see how different genres work within their various story conventions to see what you can learn. You can often glean some new bit of story structure or character development idea from a novel outside your chosen area of expertise.
Read Different Authors
We often get comfy with a couple authors we enjoy and stick with them. Dare to pick authors you may not be familiar with and read their works as well. Your favorite author isn’t going anywhere.
Read Books from Other Decades
We are creatures of habit. Most of the time, if it’s a book that’s a current best-seller, or one on display at Target, it’s the book we grab to read. However, it’s also important to delve into the past and read authors whose work lives long after their passing. The classics have inspired authors for generations, and by looking at these works, you can learn new aspects of storytelling that you can possibly apply to your work.
Read History, Autobiographies, and Biographies
The real world can offer up some great story ideas, and you can learn a thing or two along the way. Real human beings, human behavior, and human drama can sometimes be more engaging and fascinating than fiction, and these types of books can give you a fresh perspective on topics you think you know about.
Read to Learn
As you read, observe how the author crafts their chapters, characters, and story arcs. Look at how they format certain things. For example, I’ve seen text messaging and phone calls formatted in many different ways in novels, depending on the author.
If you found yourself up until 3 in the morning not wanting to put the books down, ask yourself why? What was it about the story, the characters, or the pacing that made you have to keep reading? These are elements you can analyze and apply to your work as well.
Always Go with Variety
If you’ve plotted out your 2021 reading list, consider adding books and authors you usually wouldn’t read. Maybe an author whose work you don’t enjoy, or one whose opinions bother you. Look at them less as annoying reading assignments and more like learning opportunities. Each book you open can inform your own writing methodology and how you create your worlds and story.
And all you need to do is turn to Chapter One and start reading.
As a writer, how do you decide what books to read? Leave a comment and let me know!
Writing Wisdom Wednesday: Stephen King
This week, I wanted to start a new series by bringing you interviews from a wide variety of authors speaking about the craft, their creative process, and other notable insights.
Today, I’m beginning the series with one of my all-time favorite authors: Stephen King. Below are a few videos of King speaking about his works, the inspirations for some of his works, and the craft of writing.
Bookmark, Listen, Learn, and Enjoy!
Politics & Prose Bookstore is Washington - 2014
2016 Library of Congress Book Festival in Washington, D.C.
An Evening with Stephen King at the Billerica Public Library on April 22, 1983
Check back next Wednesday for another author!
Today, I’m beginning the series with one of my all-time favorite authors: Stephen King. Below are a few videos of King speaking about his works, the inspirations for some of his works, and the craft of writing.
Bookmark, Listen, Learn, and Enjoy!
Politics & Prose Bookstore is Washington - 2014
2016 Library of Congress Book Festival in Washington, D.C.
An Evening with Stephen King at the Billerica Public Library on April 22, 1983
Check back next Wednesday for another author!
The Road to Midnight House: An Author’s Journey – Part Five
Last week, I talked about getting feedback, finalizing your manuscript, and getting it ready to publish. In this final post about the process of publishing Midnight House, I wanted to touch on the indie publishing process, marketing, and other aspects of getting your manuscript out in a professional form.
Let’s get started!
To Self-Publish, or Not to Self-Publish…
Your hard work has paid off. You have written, edited, and copyrighted your manuscript and are ready to move to the next step: publication. Here, you can go one of two ways: traditional publishers or independent publishing.
If you go the traditional route, you’ll want to craft an eye-catching query letter that hooks the reader, and hopefully, you get a request for your manuscript to be sent for review.
If you go the independent publishing route, you are in control of the publishing process.
I went independent for several reasons with The Field and Midnight House:
1. The novels are professionally published in both eBook and paperback form for sale and distribution;
2. The books are sold in the same online marketplaces as traditionally published works (Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, etc.);
3. I have the same access to social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, personal website) as other authors.
Now, the downside, of course, is that it does cost money to self-publish. I recommend you do your research and find a publishing company that fits your needs and your budget. Many have packages for just eBooks or for an eBook/paperback bundle.
I cannot stress this enough: Make sure if you invest the money to self-publish that you have a plan in place to pay yourself back via your 9 to 5 or other income. Being an independent author is great, but don’t expect to make Stephen King money with your first novel.
Author Dan Brown had written three novels before the DaVinci Code. After that hit big, the other three became bestsellers.
Be patient, keep writing, and don’t get discouraged.
Sometimes You Should Judge a Book By Its Cover...Especially If It's Yours
If you do decide to self-publish, many publishing companies offer in-house cover art services. If you wish to seek out your own cover artist that fits your stylistic needs, I recommend checking out my post on this topic, Finding A Cover Artist.
It’s a Team Effort, But You’re Coach
Once you’ve taken the leap to publish independently, keep in mind that you are the boss. You are in control and give final approval to every aspect of the publishing process. It’s essential to be engaged, respond quickly to any questions the publisher may have, and don’t be afraid to ask any and all questions before and during the process. This is a financial investment on your part, so making sure things are exactly as you want them to be is critical.
I highly recommend keeping all correspondence upbeat and positive with everyone you are working with throughout the process. As Team Coach, you set the tone, and you have to make sure all parties involved stay focused and motivated to create a great final product. If you have issues with something, inquire nicely—no need to be an egomaniac or a jerk. Everyone has the same goal: to get your novel professionally published and out to the world.
When each step is complete, take the time to email those who helped you and thank them for their hard work and assistance. A little professional courtesy can go a long way, especially if you plan to use the same cover artist or publisher again in the future.
Have I Got a Novel for You!
Marketing starts with you. You control the message. You control what people initially know about your book. You are the point-person when it comes to getting the word out.
Utilize your social media and let people know you have a novel coming out soon (I recommend you start putting the word out six weeks before the book comes out). Post the cover. Post the blurb from the back of the book. Work on generating interest among people you know who can help get the word out to others.
But you don’t have to stop there.
If you desire, you can work with a marketing firm that specializes in independent publishers. They can help you craft a press release for your book and get copies in the hands of book reviewers who can help get the word out about your novel. A marketing firm can target a specific market and demographic for your book to reach the right people who can help sell your book.
This, too, costs money, so budget accordingly.
The key here is to get your book in front of as many eyes and ears as possible. When the book is released, there will be buzz about your book online, with reviewers, and hopefully, you can snag an interview or two to talk about your book.
Writing a novel, a non-fiction book, a screenplay, a play, and any other creative work takes time. It truly is a marathon that requires hard work, dedication, professionalism, focus, and energy to get to the final stage of the product’s release. I’m very proud of my independent publishing team’s work on The Field and Midnight House. And when you get that box of paperbacks in the mail and open it and see a book’s cover with your name on it, it really is a thrill.
I hope this five-part series was helpful to you and will help you on your publishing journey. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment, and I will get back to you.
Happy writing, and happy publishing!
Let’s get started!
To Self-Publish, or Not to Self-Publish…
Your hard work has paid off. You have written, edited, and copyrighted your manuscript and are ready to move to the next step: publication. Here, you can go one of two ways: traditional publishers or independent publishing.
If you go the traditional route, you’ll want to craft an eye-catching query letter that hooks the reader, and hopefully, you get a request for your manuscript to be sent for review.
If you go the independent publishing route, you are in control of the publishing process.
I went independent for several reasons with The Field and Midnight House:
1. The novels are professionally published in both eBook and paperback form for sale and distribution;
2. The books are sold in the same online marketplaces as traditionally published works (Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, etc.);
3. I have the same access to social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, personal website) as other authors.
Now, the downside, of course, is that it does cost money to self-publish. I recommend you do your research and find a publishing company that fits your needs and your budget. Many have packages for just eBooks or for an eBook/paperback bundle.
I cannot stress this enough: Make sure if you invest the money to self-publish that you have a plan in place to pay yourself back via your 9 to 5 or other income. Being an independent author is great, but don’t expect to make Stephen King money with your first novel.
Author Dan Brown had written three novels before the DaVinci Code. After that hit big, the other three became bestsellers.
Be patient, keep writing, and don’t get discouraged.
Sometimes You Should Judge a Book By Its Cover...Especially If It's Yours
If you do decide to self-publish, many publishing companies offer in-house cover art services. If you wish to seek out your own cover artist that fits your stylistic needs, I recommend checking out my post on this topic, Finding A Cover Artist.
It’s a Team Effort, But You’re Coach
Once you’ve taken the leap to publish independently, keep in mind that you are the boss. You are in control and give final approval to every aspect of the publishing process. It’s essential to be engaged, respond quickly to any questions the publisher may have, and don’t be afraid to ask any and all questions before and during the process. This is a financial investment on your part, so making sure things are exactly as you want them to be is critical.
I highly recommend keeping all correspondence upbeat and positive with everyone you are working with throughout the process. As Team Coach, you set the tone, and you have to make sure all parties involved stay focused and motivated to create a great final product. If you have issues with something, inquire nicely—no need to be an egomaniac or a jerk. Everyone has the same goal: to get your novel professionally published and out to the world.
When each step is complete, take the time to email those who helped you and thank them for their hard work and assistance. A little professional courtesy can go a long way, especially if you plan to use the same cover artist or publisher again in the future.
Have I Got a Novel for You!
Marketing starts with you. You control the message. You control what people initially know about your book. You are the point-person when it comes to getting the word out.
Utilize your social media and let people know you have a novel coming out soon (I recommend you start putting the word out six weeks before the book comes out). Post the cover. Post the blurb from the back of the book. Work on generating interest among people you know who can help get the word out to others.
But you don’t have to stop there.
If you desire, you can work with a marketing firm that specializes in independent publishers. They can help you craft a press release for your book and get copies in the hands of book reviewers who can help get the word out about your novel. A marketing firm can target a specific market and demographic for your book to reach the right people who can help sell your book.
This, too, costs money, so budget accordingly.
The key here is to get your book in front of as many eyes and ears as possible. When the book is released, there will be buzz about your book online, with reviewers, and hopefully, you can snag an interview or two to talk about your book.
Writing a novel, a non-fiction book, a screenplay, a play, and any other creative work takes time. It truly is a marathon that requires hard work, dedication, professionalism, focus, and energy to get to the final stage of the product’s release. I’m very proud of my independent publishing team’s work on The Field and Midnight House. And when you get that box of paperbacks in the mail and open it and see a book’s cover with your name on it, it really is a thrill.
I hope this five-part series was helpful to you and will help you on your publishing journey. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment, and I will get back to you.
Happy writing, and happy publishing!
Writer’s Workshop Wednesday: R.L. Stine
A reading staple of most middle-schoolers and young adults, R.L. Stine is the prolific master of teen-friendly horror. His works and writing style have helped many of us – me included – graduate from his lower-stakes horror fare to the more graphic and violent works of Stephen King and Jack Ketchum. Even if you’ve never read one his novels, you are more than likely familiar with the Goosebumps series of books that sport very effective and compelling covers.
Stine wrote his first teen-themed horror novel, Blind Date, in 1986, which became a best-seller. In 1989, Stine began the Fear Street series, which boats over 100 books under its banner. In 1992, Stine began the Goosebumps series of books, a series that currently has over 130 books! His other novel series include, The Nightmare Room, Mostly Ghostly, Rotten School, The Haunting Hour and The Nightmare Hour.
His novels have been adapted into TV series, films, and comic books. Needless to say, he is an author with one of the most extensive bodies of work I’ve talked about in this series!
Below are some interviews with Stine where he talks about his works and his creative process.
Enjoy!
Check out his official site HERE.
R.L. Stine 1
R.L. Stine 2
R.L. Stine 3
R.L. Stine 4
R.L. Stine 5
R.L. Stine 6
R.L. Stine 7
R.L. Stine 8
Back in two weeks with another great author!
Stine wrote his first teen-themed horror novel, Blind Date, in 1986, which became a best-seller. In 1989, Stine began the Fear Street series, which boats over 100 books under its banner. In 1992, Stine began the Goosebumps series of books, a series that currently has over 130 books! His other novel series include, The Nightmare Room, Mostly Ghostly, Rotten School, The Haunting Hour and The Nightmare Hour.
His novels have been adapted into TV series, films, and comic books. Needless to say, he is an author with one of the most extensive bodies of work I’ve talked about in this series!
Below are some interviews with Stine where he talks about his works and his creative process.
Enjoy!
Check out his official site HERE.
R.L. Stine 1
R.L. Stine 2
R.L. Stine 3
R.L. Stine 4
R.L. Stine 5
R.L. Stine 6
R.L. Stine 7
R.L. Stine 8
Back in two weeks with another great author!
Sunday Edition of Writer’s Workshop Wednesday: New Stephen King Interviews & A Conversation with Stephen King and George R.R. Martin
Stephen King is one of my favorite authors of all time. In honor of his newest novel, Billy Summers, here are some new interviews about the book, and a Q&A with King and Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin.
Enjoy!
King on Good Morning America
King on The View
King Reads from Billy Summers
Stephen King & George R.R. Martin Interview
Back in two weeks with another writing series!
Happy writing!
Enjoy!
King on Good Morning America
King on The View
King Reads from Billy Summers
Stephen King & George R.R. Martin Interview
Back in two weeks with another writing series!
Happy writing!
Writer’s Workshop Wednesday: Jack Ketchum
An author whose novels are not for the faint-of-heart or the squeamish, writer Jack Ketchum has been described by Stephen King as “the scariest man in America.” There’s no doubt in my mind that there is something to King’s view of Ketchum. I have read many of his novels and the images that he paints with words stick with you long after you’ve finished the book and moved on to other, less disturbing, fare.
And yet, his writing style makes you return for another graphic and horror-filled tale from this master of his craft.
From 1981 to 2017, Ketchum authored 27 works that range from short fiction to novels. His unique voice and his ability to ignore critical views of his work – the Village Voice has referred to his writing as ‘violent pornography’ – have made him an iconic voice in horror fiction.
Sadly, Ketchum passed away in 2018, but his works live on through print and film and TV adaptations.
Check out his official site HERE.
Below are some interviews where Ketchum speaks about his works and his craft.
Enjoy!
Jack Ketchum 1
Jack Ketchum 2
Jack Ketchum 3
Jack Ketchum 4
Back in two weeks with another great author!
And yet, his writing style makes you return for another graphic and horror-filled tale from this master of his craft.
From 1981 to 2017, Ketchum authored 27 works that range from short fiction to novels. His unique voice and his ability to ignore critical views of his work – the Village Voice has referred to his writing as ‘violent pornography’ – have made him an iconic voice in horror fiction.
Sadly, Ketchum passed away in 2018, but his works live on through print and film and TV adaptations.
Check out his official site HERE.
Below are some interviews where Ketchum speaks about his works and his craft.
Enjoy!
Jack Ketchum 1
Jack Ketchum 2
Jack Ketchum 3
Jack Ketchum 4
Back in two weeks with another great author!
Writing Tip of the Week: Writing a Fearless First Draft
The ominous blank page. Whether it’s a blank page flashing a taunting cursor from a screen, or a lined notebook daring you to fill its pages with ink, it can sometimes be challenging to get your brain and body moving in the same creative direction.
Every day, we see films, novels, and TV shows that move and amaze us. But what we don’t see are the hundreds of hours of hard work, gallons of coffee or energy drinks, and the multitude of drafts that went into making what you’re watching or reading available for mass consumption.
The drive for perfection of the first try can be a detriment to creativity. We demand perfection from ourselves, it doesn’t happen off the bat, so we beat ourselves up and walk away. But nothing we see or read is the first draft. Nothing we see or read didn’t start as something worthy of the recycle bin.
Everyone’s first draft sucks.
And that’s okay. If we were given insight into the early drafts of any best-seller or Oscar-winning film, we would be surprised to see that what is considered the standard of great writing starts off as mediocre at best…and unsalvageable at the very least.
I say this to tell you that writing the first draft of anything need not be a perilous and disastrous endeavor. Quite the opposite, in fact. First drafts are supposed to be bad. That’s why they’re called first/rough drafts.
So, let’s talk about them.
For Your Eyes Only
First a foremost, this draft is for you. No one else. Not your significant other. Not your Beta reader. Not your favorite child or pet. You are the sole audience for this version of your story, and that’s that.
This is a place where you can openly write ideas, dialogue, description, and more that might be pushing limits or boundaries. This is the place to test out ideas and story threads to see where they go. This is the place to have fun with what you’re writing. You are the Creator in this world; what you decide to do is what happens.
This draft should be unfiltered, unedited, and uninhibited. While you’ll want to have a basic road map guiding where the story is headed, don’t let that stop you from shifting your imagination and creativity into overdrive in this draft.
You can always change it later. The important thing here is to get everything down and out of your head so it can be fixed in subsequent drafts, because whatever you do…
Don’t Look Back!
You finished a chapter last night and woke up this morning with a new idea to change what you wrote. Great. That means your creativity is doing its job, but don’t return to that chapter and attempt to edit it. Why not write a new version of the chapter with the new material instead?
Writing a first draft is about momentum, the momentum to get from the beginning to the end without the pitfalls and hazards or going back and editing and revising. You’ll have plenty of time for that later. Plus, what if you erase what you had and then realize later there was some dialogue you deleted that would’ve worked great in the revised version? Now it’s gone.
Keep it all in the first version and do that heavy lifting later.
Write the Fun Stuff First
We all have our favorite things to write. It could be action sequences, romantic scenes, or comedy moments that really help drive the story and are fun for you to write. These moments are likely the big payoff to a long buildup, so writing them can be an enjoyable experience.
However, we shouldn’t deny ourselves the opportunity to write these when we want to. Write them when you feel like writing them. When it comes to drafting, you always have the power to rearrange and change where chapters or scenes are located in the story’s world. If you want to write the big finale first, do it. Have a romantic scene that you’re itching to write? Write it.
While there may be traditional story structures needed when you put the story out there for the world, in the drafting phase, you can write what you want, when you want. And no one can stop you.
The Creative Brain on Auto-Pilot
Sometimes your characters will begin to dictate what they want to do, what they want to say, and where they want to go. Don’t fight this feeling; let them take you there. Often your subconscious knows what’s best for your story and can take you places you didn’t initially think of.
This isn’t some weird phenomenon; it does happen. And if it does, let your characters take the wheel. Remember, if they steer the story down a wrong path, you can fix it later. If they show you something fresh and new about your story or characters, it can be a great win for you and your story.
Getting here requires you to tell that evil, no good, despicable part of your brain to shut up and go on vacation. And that part is…
The Evil Voice of Doubt and Negativity
This horrible creature likes to loom around your creativity, giving making you unsure of what you’re writing, how you’re writing it, and if you should even be writing.
I sure hate this creature!
There are 24 hours in a day. Give this monster a few hours off as your write and keep them locked out as you work on your draft. This is all for you, not anyone else, so this evil creature is wasting your time by creeping into your head as you charge forward. Even if the monster makes a good point about a scene or chapter, make a note or rewrite the chapter, but keep going.
Creativity is a big enough challenge at times without this specter of negativity floating about.
When You Feel Blocked…
Writer’s block does happen, but it’s how you handle it that makes the difference. I would suggest when you do hit a wall moving on to another part of the story or work on another project to keep the creativity flowing.
It’s very tempting – and I’ve done this – to close the laptop, lay on the couch, and watch TV instead of writing. While this is a quick fix, it doesn’t get you to your goal of finishing your draft and moving on to the next project.
Do your best to stay focused and stay on track. You may falter, but don’t let the block prevent you from writing for too long.
Have Fun!
As I said before, this draft is your time to play. It’s your time to test out ideas, see how they work or don’t work, and see if your characters take you anywhere new.
If you are bored with your story, have lost interest, or are dreading writing this draft, then there may be something wrong with your story, not you. What is the reason you aren’t excited to write? What aspect of the story is holding you back?
Unless you are writing this draft as part of an assignment, reevaluate your story and see where the issues are. Maybe you are challenging yourself to write in an unfamiliar genre, or you don’t like the main character. Whatever it is, make the changes you need to make the process enjoyable.
Writing is a journey. It’s a process. It’s a challenge. And it’s something that can become addictive in a positive way. As you begin to write your first/rough draft, remember that Stephen King, Jordan Peele, Grady Hendrix, and Maya Angelou all had to start with an idea, a blank page, and a first draft.
You can only get better once you have the first version out of your head and out on the page.
Happy writing, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
Every day, we see films, novels, and TV shows that move and amaze us. But what we don’t see are the hundreds of hours of hard work, gallons of coffee or energy drinks, and the multitude of drafts that went into making what you’re watching or reading available for mass consumption.
The drive for perfection of the first try can be a detriment to creativity. We demand perfection from ourselves, it doesn’t happen off the bat, so we beat ourselves up and walk away. But nothing we see or read is the first draft. Nothing we see or read didn’t start as something worthy of the recycle bin.
Everyone’s first draft sucks.
And that’s okay. If we were given insight into the early drafts of any best-seller or Oscar-winning film, we would be surprised to see that what is considered the standard of great writing starts off as mediocre at best…and unsalvageable at the very least.
I say this to tell you that writing the first draft of anything need not be a perilous and disastrous endeavor. Quite the opposite, in fact. First drafts are supposed to be bad. That’s why they’re called first/rough drafts.
So, let’s talk about them.
For Your Eyes Only
First a foremost, this draft is for you. No one else. Not your significant other. Not your Beta reader. Not your favorite child or pet. You are the sole audience for this version of your story, and that’s that.
This is a place where you can openly write ideas, dialogue, description, and more that might be pushing limits or boundaries. This is the place to test out ideas and story threads to see where they go. This is the place to have fun with what you’re writing. You are the Creator in this world; what you decide to do is what happens.
This draft should be unfiltered, unedited, and uninhibited. While you’ll want to have a basic road map guiding where the story is headed, don’t let that stop you from shifting your imagination and creativity into overdrive in this draft.
You can always change it later. The important thing here is to get everything down and out of your head so it can be fixed in subsequent drafts, because whatever you do…
Don’t Look Back!
You finished a chapter last night and woke up this morning with a new idea to change what you wrote. Great. That means your creativity is doing its job, but don’t return to that chapter and attempt to edit it. Why not write a new version of the chapter with the new material instead?
Writing a first draft is about momentum, the momentum to get from the beginning to the end without the pitfalls and hazards or going back and editing and revising. You’ll have plenty of time for that later. Plus, what if you erase what you had and then realize later there was some dialogue you deleted that would’ve worked great in the revised version? Now it’s gone.
Keep it all in the first version and do that heavy lifting later.
Write the Fun Stuff First
We all have our favorite things to write. It could be action sequences, romantic scenes, or comedy moments that really help drive the story and are fun for you to write. These moments are likely the big payoff to a long buildup, so writing them can be an enjoyable experience.
However, we shouldn’t deny ourselves the opportunity to write these when we want to. Write them when you feel like writing them. When it comes to drafting, you always have the power to rearrange and change where chapters or scenes are located in the story’s world. If you want to write the big finale first, do it. Have a romantic scene that you’re itching to write? Write it.
While there may be traditional story structures needed when you put the story out there for the world, in the drafting phase, you can write what you want, when you want. And no one can stop you.
The Creative Brain on Auto-Pilot
Sometimes your characters will begin to dictate what they want to do, what they want to say, and where they want to go. Don’t fight this feeling; let them take you there. Often your subconscious knows what’s best for your story and can take you places you didn’t initially think of.
This isn’t some weird phenomenon; it does happen. And if it does, let your characters take the wheel. Remember, if they steer the story down a wrong path, you can fix it later. If they show you something fresh and new about your story or characters, it can be a great win for you and your story.
Getting here requires you to tell that evil, no good, despicable part of your brain to shut up and go on vacation. And that part is…
The Evil Voice of Doubt and Negativity
This horrible creature likes to loom around your creativity, giving making you unsure of what you’re writing, how you’re writing it, and if you should even be writing.
I sure hate this creature!
There are 24 hours in a day. Give this monster a few hours off as your write and keep them locked out as you work on your draft. This is all for you, not anyone else, so this evil creature is wasting your time by creeping into your head as you charge forward. Even if the monster makes a good point about a scene or chapter, make a note or rewrite the chapter, but keep going.
Creativity is a big enough challenge at times without this specter of negativity floating about.
When You Feel Blocked…
Writer’s block does happen, but it’s how you handle it that makes the difference. I would suggest when you do hit a wall moving on to another part of the story or work on another project to keep the creativity flowing.
It’s very tempting – and I’ve done this – to close the laptop, lay on the couch, and watch TV instead of writing. While this is a quick fix, it doesn’t get you to your goal of finishing your draft and moving on to the next project.
Do your best to stay focused and stay on track. You may falter, but don’t let the block prevent you from writing for too long.
Have Fun!
As I said before, this draft is your time to play. It’s your time to test out ideas, see how they work or don’t work, and see if your characters take you anywhere new.
If you are bored with your story, have lost interest, or are dreading writing this draft, then there may be something wrong with your story, not you. What is the reason you aren’t excited to write? What aspect of the story is holding you back?
Unless you are writing this draft as part of an assignment, reevaluate your story and see where the issues are. Maybe you are challenging yourself to write in an unfamiliar genre, or you don’t like the main character. Whatever it is, make the changes you need to make the process enjoyable.
Writing is a journey. It’s a process. It’s a challenge. And it’s something that can become addictive in a positive way. As you begin to write your first/rough draft, remember that Stephen King, Jordan Peele, Grady Hendrix, and Maya Angelou all had to start with an idea, a blank page, and a first draft.
You can only get better once you have the first version out of your head and out on the page.
Happy writing, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
Writing Tip of the Week: Story Pacing
Have you ever watched or movie or read a book where at some point, you think: Is this EVER going to end??? Or a movie ends and you think: Wait, that’s it? Play it again!
Pacing in a story matters; it keeps you engaged as a writer and can help keep your reader engaged as well. How you pace your story is related to the type of story you want to tell and how you want to tell it.
So, let’s talk about it!
Taking Your Time
If you are world-building, writing historical fiction, or creating a nuanced view of your story’s setting, you will want to take your time to set things in motion. Your task is to draw the reader in, give them insight into the world the characters and the story inhabits, and deliver detailed descriptions that help them fully understand where the story and setting take place.
World-building gives you lots of ways to describe and present expository information, but it should be delivered in a way that keeps the reader engaged and interested. Much like historical fiction, you want to ground us in the world without getting too bogged down in minute details that don’t have any real bearing on the story being told.
Some novels that take their time and do it well are the Game of Thrones series, The Lord of the Rings series, and many of Stephen King’s works like It and The Stand. These works provide detailed descriptions of their worlds and still keep the reader focused and curious about where the story is headed.
Getting Right to It
Jumping right into the action is another pacing method. You start in the middle of an action sequence or some other adrenaline-pumping event that still gives us information about the setting and characters. Still, we get this information in bursts and not long paragraphs.
If you’re writing a thriller, an action-adventure, or an exciting sci-fi epic, grabbing the reader with a flashy opening sequence will help hook them fast and keep them turning the page. Just make sure that you still take the time to deliver substantive information that relates to the rest of the story.
A high-octane story with a ticking clock and high stakes would definitely benefit from a fast-paced style. You can always give the audience time to catch their breath, which leads us to the next section.
Charging Ahead, Then Pulling Back
This is the most commonly used in mainstream films and novels, and it’s a healthy combination of the two. You hook the reader with a fast-paced open, then pull back and give us some detailed exposition and plot information, character backstory, and description, then ramp things up again.
There’s an ebb and flow to the storytelling, allowing the reader moments to take a quick breather before things speed up again.
What’s Best for Your Story?
If you are working in a particular genre, I recommend reading books in that genre to see what the pacing is like. Do they hold your interest? Were there any points while reading that your mind wandered, or were you locked in and focused on the story the whole time?
If a novel has lengthy descriptions that interest you, how does the author structure those paragraphs to keep you engaged?
If the novel has a faster pace, how does the writer deliver needed information with fewer words while still connecting with the reader?
During the drafting phase, experiment with pacing. Choose a scene or sequence from your story and write it using different pacing styles. Does one fit what you want to do better than the other?
Editing and Pacing
While editing for continuity, spelling, and grammar are essential, reading for pacing is also important. If there are sections of you story where you lose interest, you have the power to fix those areas to avoid the same situation with a reader.
I recommend a Pacing Edit. After you’ve gone through and fixed basic issues, removed sections, added new material, and are happy with what you have, take the time to read through the manuscript and mark – don’t do any rewriting at this point – any areas where you lose interest or aren’t engaged with the story.
Once you have those areas marked, go back through and figure out why. Are the sentences too long? Is the paragraph lacking information needed to move the story forward? Do you need that section? If you cut it, would it impact the story?
Once you have resolved these issues, read through again and see if the pacing has improved and keeps you focused.
Final Thoughts
You know your story best and what pacing will help convey your story, characters, settings, and dialogue most effectively. Doing some reading research and experimenting with pacing can help maximize reader interest and engagement in your own writing.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Pacing in a story matters; it keeps you engaged as a writer and can help keep your reader engaged as well. How you pace your story is related to the type of story you want to tell and how you want to tell it.
So, let’s talk about it!
Taking Your Time
If you are world-building, writing historical fiction, or creating a nuanced view of your story’s setting, you will want to take your time to set things in motion. Your task is to draw the reader in, give them insight into the world the characters and the story inhabits, and deliver detailed descriptions that help them fully understand where the story and setting take place.
World-building gives you lots of ways to describe and present expository information, but it should be delivered in a way that keeps the reader engaged and interested. Much like historical fiction, you want to ground us in the world without getting too bogged down in minute details that don’t have any real bearing on the story being told.
Some novels that take their time and do it well are the Game of Thrones series, The Lord of the Rings series, and many of Stephen King’s works like It and The Stand. These works provide detailed descriptions of their worlds and still keep the reader focused and curious about where the story is headed.
Getting Right to It
Jumping right into the action is another pacing method. You start in the middle of an action sequence or some other adrenaline-pumping event that still gives us information about the setting and characters. Still, we get this information in bursts and not long paragraphs.
If you’re writing a thriller, an action-adventure, or an exciting sci-fi epic, grabbing the reader with a flashy opening sequence will help hook them fast and keep them turning the page. Just make sure that you still take the time to deliver substantive information that relates to the rest of the story.
A high-octane story with a ticking clock and high stakes would definitely benefit from a fast-paced style. You can always give the audience time to catch their breath, which leads us to the next section.
Charging Ahead, Then Pulling Back
This is the most commonly used in mainstream films and novels, and it’s a healthy combination of the two. You hook the reader with a fast-paced open, then pull back and give us some detailed exposition and plot information, character backstory, and description, then ramp things up again.
There’s an ebb and flow to the storytelling, allowing the reader moments to take a quick breather before things speed up again.
What’s Best for Your Story?
If you are working in a particular genre, I recommend reading books in that genre to see what the pacing is like. Do they hold your interest? Were there any points while reading that your mind wandered, or were you locked in and focused on the story the whole time?
If a novel has lengthy descriptions that interest you, how does the author structure those paragraphs to keep you engaged?
If the novel has a faster pace, how does the writer deliver needed information with fewer words while still connecting with the reader?
During the drafting phase, experiment with pacing. Choose a scene or sequence from your story and write it using different pacing styles. Does one fit what you want to do better than the other?
Editing and Pacing
While editing for continuity, spelling, and grammar are essential, reading for pacing is also important. If there are sections of you story where you lose interest, you have the power to fix those areas to avoid the same situation with a reader.
I recommend a Pacing Edit. After you’ve gone through and fixed basic issues, removed sections, added new material, and are happy with what you have, take the time to read through the manuscript and mark – don’t do any rewriting at this point – any areas where you lose interest or aren’t engaged with the story.
Once you have those areas marked, go back through and figure out why. Are the sentences too long? Is the paragraph lacking information needed to move the story forward? Do you need that section? If you cut it, would it impact the story?
Once you have resolved these issues, read through again and see if the pacing has improved and keeps you focused.
Final Thoughts
You know your story best and what pacing will help convey your story, characters, settings, and dialogue most effectively. Doing some reading research and experimenting with pacing can help maximize reader interest and engagement in your own writing.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Reading Challenge: Trying Out a New Author or Genre
I’m a huge Stephen King fan and an avid reader of his novels. This past month when I was on vacation, I went to Barnes & Noble and found a new author in the horror genre: Ronald Malfi. I had never read any of his books before, so I took a gamble and bought one of his books.
I’ve found a new favorite author!
The next time you’re at the bookstore, on Amazon, or considering buying a book from an author you know, consider trying out a new author in the same genre. You can also experiment and try a new genre outside your comfort zone. If you love fantasy, try romance; if you love sci-fi, try historical fiction, etc.
Or, if you are a hardcore fiction reader, try a non-fiction book on a topic that interests you.
It’s easy to get locked into reading patterns – I know I do – but every once in a while, give yourself the challenge of trying out a new genre or author. You may not like it and run back to what’s familiar, but at least you know you tried.
Or you’ll be like me and find a new author to enjoy.
Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
What authors or genres have you tried and found you enjoyed? Leave a comment and let me know!
I’ve found a new favorite author!
The next time you’re at the bookstore, on Amazon, or considering buying a book from an author you know, consider trying out a new author in the same genre. You can also experiment and try a new genre outside your comfort zone. If you love fantasy, try romance; if you love sci-fi, try historical fiction, etc.
Or, if you are a hardcore fiction reader, try a non-fiction book on a topic that interests you.
It’s easy to get locked into reading patterns – I know I do – but every once in a while, give yourself the challenge of trying out a new genre or author. You may not like it and run back to what’s familiar, but at least you know you tried.
Or you’ll be like me and find a new author to enjoy.
Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
What authors or genres have you tried and found you enjoyed? Leave a comment and let me know!
The Self-Aware Writer - Self-Awareness & Failure
We’ve all failed at things in our lives, but the things we really want, really desire, really strive to achieve, we have to understand and accept that failure is part of the game. Everyone you know, either in your personal life or who is a public figure, has failed at some point in their life. Most people have failed dozens of times.
As a self-aware writer, as a self-aware person, the important thing to remember is failure should be viewed as a learning experience and not as an excuse to give up.
Let’s talk about it.
Accepting Failure
Part of self-awareness is knowing that you’ll face an insurmountable obstacle at some point in your life that feels like you’ve failed. Any number of things could lead to that moment, some within your control and some not in your control. Sometimes we get super close to achieving something, only for the opportunity to be taken away at the last moment. Other times we tried and tried, but things still didn’t work out.
Hey, it happens.
When it comes to your writing career, having the self-awareness to know and accept that the inevitable rejection letter or email will happen is a step toward accepting failure on some level. It doesn’t mean you burn your manuscript or give up writing; you take the loss and try again.
There’s this author some of you may know, Stephen King, whose first novel, Carrie, was rejected by 30 publishers before one finally picked it up. And before that, King himself tossed the novel in the trash, the novel that helped make him a household name and an author who continues to publish multiple novels a year!
Failure has many negative connotations in our society. Still, one thing that isn’t discussed is how failure has to happen for success to happen. Failure is part of the process. And no matter what you do, you have to start from somewhere and work your way up; and failure is just something that happens on the way to the top.
A few months ago, I wrote a review for a book called Chasing Failure by Ryan Leak that I highly recommend. Part of self-awareness is knowing how to utilize failure to your advantage and make it a positive learning experience instead of a catastrophic nightmare.
You Have the Right to Fail, So Allow It To Happen
The obsession with perfection can cause many to not even try. We want to be the best at what we do from the start; the terror of falling flat on our faces and being judged by others can cause analysis paralysis and a sense of doom that prevents us from venturing out of our heads or comfort zones.
But we have to understand that failure is part of life. It’s part of being human. And we have to accept that part of humanity to truly live life and reach for our goals. Failing is another step toward success; you can’t reach your goals without its existence. Don’t fear it.
Learning From Failure
The key to dealing with a failure is to examine why it happened and what you can learn from it. Every failure is a learning experience. Once you can pinpoint why you failed during that attempt, you can reconfigure and try again. You may fail again, but now you have the knowledge to help you make new decisions and choices as you progress toward your goal.
Next Time…
Many of us fear failure, but what about being afraid of success? We’ll talk about it.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
As a self-aware writer, as a self-aware person, the important thing to remember is failure should be viewed as a learning experience and not as an excuse to give up.
Let’s talk about it.
Accepting Failure
Part of self-awareness is knowing that you’ll face an insurmountable obstacle at some point in your life that feels like you’ve failed. Any number of things could lead to that moment, some within your control and some not in your control. Sometimes we get super close to achieving something, only for the opportunity to be taken away at the last moment. Other times we tried and tried, but things still didn’t work out.
Hey, it happens.
When it comes to your writing career, having the self-awareness to know and accept that the inevitable rejection letter or email will happen is a step toward accepting failure on some level. It doesn’t mean you burn your manuscript or give up writing; you take the loss and try again.
There’s this author some of you may know, Stephen King, whose first novel, Carrie, was rejected by 30 publishers before one finally picked it up. And before that, King himself tossed the novel in the trash, the novel that helped make him a household name and an author who continues to publish multiple novels a year!
Failure has many negative connotations in our society. Still, one thing that isn’t discussed is how failure has to happen for success to happen. Failure is part of the process. And no matter what you do, you have to start from somewhere and work your way up; and failure is just something that happens on the way to the top.
A few months ago, I wrote a review for a book called Chasing Failure by Ryan Leak that I highly recommend. Part of self-awareness is knowing how to utilize failure to your advantage and make it a positive learning experience instead of a catastrophic nightmare.
You Have the Right to Fail, So Allow It To Happen
The obsession with perfection can cause many to not even try. We want to be the best at what we do from the start; the terror of falling flat on our faces and being judged by others can cause analysis paralysis and a sense of doom that prevents us from venturing out of our heads or comfort zones.
But we have to understand that failure is part of life. It’s part of being human. And we have to accept that part of humanity to truly live life and reach for our goals. Failing is another step toward success; you can’t reach your goals without its existence. Don’t fear it.
Learning From Failure
The key to dealing with a failure is to examine why it happened and what you can learn from it. Every failure is a learning experience. Once you can pinpoint why you failed during that attempt, you can reconfigure and try again. You may fail again, but now you have the knowledge to help you make new decisions and choices as you progress toward your goal.
Next Time…
Many of us fear failure, but what about being afraid of success? We’ll talk about it.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
