Jade Varden's Blog, page 40
March 6, 2014
Writing 101: Elements of a Story
If you want to write a book, it's helpful if you understand the basic mechanics of creating a story. It's sort of like learning do-re-mi. Once you've got the fundamentals down, you're ready to start working on true wordcraft.
Dissecting a Story
It's true that every story should be unique, but all the good ones are built around the same basic structure. Use this foundation to construct your books. As long as the basic story elements are in place, you can write whatever you like around them.
Exhibition: Introduce your main characters and your setting. You've got to set up the story. Some authors take longer with the exhibition phase of storytelling than others. This may go on for several chapters, or occur in a few brief paragraphs. The way you write it depends on how quickly you want to get to the next phase, and on how much information you need to share.Action: When stuff starts to happen, the plot unfolds. It's not enough to create a world and populate it. Something needs to occur, and your characters need to move around and interact with each other. Otherwise, what the hell am I reading? Conflict: All the best stories contain conflict, so yours ought to have some as well. Introduce a villain or an obstacle, or several of each, and make your characters attempt to overcome this challenge. Every story needs a challenge. You can do this however you like. Some characters are their own biggest enemies, and they create internal conflict. Other stories contain overt villains who are clearly opposed to the main character.Resolution: All good things must come to an end, and that includes your story. You need to resolve conflicts and obstacles in order to finish the tale. The only exception is the cliffhanger ending, which is really only appropriate if you plan on crafting a sequel.
Write around the basic elements of a story, and write a better one.
Dissecting a Story
It's true that every story should be unique, but all the good ones are built around the same basic structure. Use this foundation to construct your books. As long as the basic story elements are in place, you can write whatever you like around them.
Exhibition: Introduce your main characters and your setting. You've got to set up the story. Some authors take longer with the exhibition phase of storytelling than others. This may go on for several chapters, or occur in a few brief paragraphs. The way you write it depends on how quickly you want to get to the next phase, and on how much information you need to share.Action: When stuff starts to happen, the plot unfolds. It's not enough to create a world and populate it. Something needs to occur, and your characters need to move around and interact with each other. Otherwise, what the hell am I reading? Conflict: All the best stories contain conflict, so yours ought to have some as well. Introduce a villain or an obstacle, or several of each, and make your characters attempt to overcome this challenge. Every story needs a challenge. You can do this however you like. Some characters are their own biggest enemies, and they create internal conflict. Other stories contain overt villains who are clearly opposed to the main character.Resolution: All good things must come to an end, and that includes your story. You need to resolve conflicts and obstacles in order to finish the tale. The only exception is the cliffhanger ending, which is really only appropriate if you plan on crafting a sequel.
Write around the basic elements of a story, and write a better one.
March 5, 2014
Writing 101: What It's Like
People want to know what it's like to be a wordsmith by trade. My answer? It's a war. And if you want to be a writer, you'd better be prepared to be a soldier.
Behind Enemy Lines
"Oh, really? That sounds interesting!"
This is invariably the response I get when I tell people that I'm a writer. I can tell you, with no humility whatsoever, that it is not. There is nothing at all interesting about me sitting in front of a screen for up to 12 hours at a time. I am told I often make faces, and I'm completely incapable of hearing anyone who speaks to me while I'm in the middle of typing something. So basically it's me pulling faces, grunting, ignoring people. Interested yet?
The truth is, you have to be able to tune out the world if you're a writer. You have to literally be capable of writing in the eye of a hurricane, if that's what it takes (and no I am not literally advocating that you should write while in a hurricane; please get to an evacuation area and follow all Red Cross instructions). Here's the bad news: tuning out the world no matter what is the easiest thing I'm going to ask you to do.
When you are a professional writer, you're not going to get a day off. You have to work holidays, late nights, early mornings and even when you feel sick. About two weeks ago I had to write a blog post and two articles flat on my back using a tablet, because I literally could not sit up. But I had to do it, so I did. I've taken throw up breaks while writing, and then gone right back to what I was doing before this disruption.
For most people, being a professional writer means working very hard and very long hours for very little money. When they say it's a labor of love, they're not joking. But there will be some days when you hate writing, and words, and all language that has ever existed. You'll wish our entire society was based on pictographs and hand signals instead. And that's why you have to be a warrior. That's why you have to fight.
When you're a writer, your biggest enemy is always yourself. You have to fight fatigue, you have to fight to gain focus, you have to fight your own bad attitude and you have to fight your mind to stop making you think of the fifty thousand things you'd rather be doing. And you have to constantly fight the self-doubt, and the worry, and that gnawing fear that you're really fooling yourself and you're actually a hack.
That's what it's like to be a writer. And if you still want to do it and you don't care what I tell you about how bad it gets, then you were meant to be one.
Behind Enemy Lines
"Oh, really? That sounds interesting!"
This is invariably the response I get when I tell people that I'm a writer. I can tell you, with no humility whatsoever, that it is not. There is nothing at all interesting about me sitting in front of a screen for up to 12 hours at a time. I am told I often make faces, and I'm completely incapable of hearing anyone who speaks to me while I'm in the middle of typing something. So basically it's me pulling faces, grunting, ignoring people. Interested yet?
The truth is, you have to be able to tune out the world if you're a writer. You have to literally be capable of writing in the eye of a hurricane, if that's what it takes (and no I am not literally advocating that you should write while in a hurricane; please get to an evacuation area and follow all Red Cross instructions). Here's the bad news: tuning out the world no matter what is the easiest thing I'm going to ask you to do.
When you are a professional writer, you're not going to get a day off. You have to work holidays, late nights, early mornings and even when you feel sick. About two weeks ago I had to write a blog post and two articles flat on my back using a tablet, because I literally could not sit up. But I had to do it, so I did. I've taken throw up breaks while writing, and then gone right back to what I was doing before this disruption.
For most people, being a professional writer means working very hard and very long hours for very little money. When they say it's a labor of love, they're not joking. But there will be some days when you hate writing, and words, and all language that has ever existed. You'll wish our entire society was based on pictographs and hand signals instead. And that's why you have to be a warrior. That's why you have to fight.
When you're a writer, your biggest enemy is always yourself. You have to fight fatigue, you have to fight to gain focus, you have to fight your own bad attitude and you have to fight your mind to stop making you think of the fifty thousand things you'd rather be doing. And you have to constantly fight the self-doubt, and the worry, and that gnawing fear that you're really fooling yourself and you're actually a hack.
That's what it's like to be a writer. And if you still want to do it and you don't care what I tell you about how bad it gets, then you were meant to be one.
March 4, 2014
Writing 101: A Different Kind of Writer's Block
I haven't made a secret of the fact that I got stuck on my current manuscript, lodged somewhere between two chapters and a time gap. None of my normal tricks and techniques were working, and the other day I realized why. I've got a different kind of writer's block...and I think lots of other writers have it, too.
Double-Edged Sword
Being an author is both a blessing and a curse in many different ways, and in a way I'm cursed by blessings. I started working on my newest manuscript even before my latest novel (Hope's Rebellion) was published. It's been on my "idea" list for quite a while, inspired by something I saw on Jeopardy! like two years ago. The point is, I've been very excited about writing this story. So why have I been stuck on it?
In a way, it's because of Hope's Rebellion. While sweating out the first draft of the project we'll call Mary, until I reveal the entire title anyway, I've been working on promotions for Hope's. This includes giving out review copies, naturally, and the reviews have started to come in. Happily, they've been largely positive. Some of them have even been effusive in praise.
I read another 5-star review a while back, and my stomach actually dropped. I didn't know why, at first, but now I do. Because now I also know why I've been stuck on the manuscript Mary: I'm feeling pressured. I got what I consider to be the best review I've ever received for Hope's, wherein the reviewer said there wasn't a spare word in the book and that everything had a purpose. Since I practically worship the art of brevity, I was completely blown away by this and totally overjoyed. But every time I opened up Mary, I felt a little queasy...and instead of writing even one sentence, I just stared and stared at the blankness of the page.
It's never a good idea to think about brevity while writing a first draft. The first draft is for vomiting the words on the page, typing faster than you can think, going off in weird directions and going back to edit all that mess because it's just too much. I've been letting the pressure get to me, and it's created a new kind of writer's block.
Stress can impeded one's ability to think. It leads to hasty decisions, lack of concentration and all sorts of other stuff that stifles creativity. And stress can cause writer's block, too. Sometimes you can have difficulty writing even if you know what you want to write, and how you want to write it, and where you're going to go with the story next.
How you treat writer's block depends on the type of writer's block you've got. In my case, relaxing is the best answer. Sometimes you've just got to take a breath, focus...and forget about all the reviews both good and bad. Remember that you can't let anyone else shape your stories, for any reason, and let go. Once you start writing for you again, that writer's block should begin to fall away.
Double-Edged Sword
Being an author is both a blessing and a curse in many different ways, and in a way I'm cursed by blessings. I started working on my newest manuscript even before my latest novel (Hope's Rebellion) was published. It's been on my "idea" list for quite a while, inspired by something I saw on Jeopardy! like two years ago. The point is, I've been very excited about writing this story. So why have I been stuck on it?
In a way, it's because of Hope's Rebellion. While sweating out the first draft of the project we'll call Mary, until I reveal the entire title anyway, I've been working on promotions for Hope's. This includes giving out review copies, naturally, and the reviews have started to come in. Happily, they've been largely positive. Some of them have even been effusive in praise.
I read another 5-star review a while back, and my stomach actually dropped. I didn't know why, at first, but now I do. Because now I also know why I've been stuck on the manuscript Mary: I'm feeling pressured. I got what I consider to be the best review I've ever received for Hope's, wherein the reviewer said there wasn't a spare word in the book and that everything had a purpose. Since I practically worship the art of brevity, I was completely blown away by this and totally overjoyed. But every time I opened up Mary, I felt a little queasy...and instead of writing even one sentence, I just stared and stared at the blankness of the page.
It's never a good idea to think about brevity while writing a first draft. The first draft is for vomiting the words on the page, typing faster than you can think, going off in weird directions and going back to edit all that mess because it's just too much. I've been letting the pressure get to me, and it's created a new kind of writer's block.
Stress can impeded one's ability to think. It leads to hasty decisions, lack of concentration and all sorts of other stuff that stifles creativity. And stress can cause writer's block, too. Sometimes you can have difficulty writing even if you know what you want to write, and how you want to write it, and where you're going to go with the story next.
How you treat writer's block depends on the type of writer's block you've got. In my case, relaxing is the best answer. Sometimes you've just got to take a breath, focus...and forget about all the reviews both good and bad. Remember that you can't let anyone else shape your stories, for any reason, and let go. Once you start writing for you again, that writer's block should begin to fall away.
March 3, 2014
Women's Lit Event
As a female writer, I'm proud to participate in the Women's Lit Event over at Lost in Books and I'll be happy to remind you all that March is Women's History Month!
Women have been voting in the United States for 95 years, as of 2014. They've only been wearing pants with no shame for about 60 years. And they still don't make as much money per hour as men who perform the exact same job. But it can be argued that female authors have truly mastered the written word. Check out my guest post at Lost in Books -- and read all about it!
Women have been voting in the United States for 95 years, as of 2014. They've only been wearing pants with no shame for about 60 years. And they still don't make as much money per hour as men who perform the exact same job. But it can be argued that female authors have truly mastered the written word. Check out my guest post at Lost in Books -- and read all about it!
Writing 101: Why It's Okay to Use Ain't
I'll go toe-to-toe with any editor over words like "a lot" and "for ever," and I have, but there's one battle I'm never going to fight: ain't. This battle was lost long, long ago. So all writers are now obligated to wave the white flag...and use it in their novels.
A Lesson in Speaking History
The writers who hate the word ain't should turn to embrace it immediately -- because it was an author who originally popularized the word. Maybe if Charles Dickens had been a bit less successful, today's blog post would be about me baking cookies instead.
The word ain't, which is used as a contraction of are not or is not, dates back to the 1700s. But the word really caught fire due to Charles Dickens, who used it quite often in his stories involving Cockney London characters. This is still where you'll hear the word most often in the UK. In the United States, ain't most commonly appears in southern dialects. However, after all these centuries it's managed to catch on everywhere.
The word has become most famous for being wrong. Say it as a child, and someone will correct you with the classic line: "ain't isn't a word." But that's just not true. Ain't has made its way into the dictionary and into everyday speech, and that's why writers are obligated to include it in their books. That's why Charles Dickens used it in his. And when it comes to writing, following his lead ain't at all a bad way to go.
A Lesson in Speaking History
The writers who hate the word ain't should turn to embrace it immediately -- because it was an author who originally popularized the word. Maybe if Charles Dickens had been a bit less successful, today's blog post would be about me baking cookies instead.
The word ain't, which is used as a contraction of are not or is not, dates back to the 1700s. But the word really caught fire due to Charles Dickens, who used it quite often in his stories involving Cockney London characters. This is still where you'll hear the word most often in the UK. In the United States, ain't most commonly appears in southern dialects. However, after all these centuries it's managed to catch on everywhere.
The word has become most famous for being wrong. Say it as a child, and someone will correct you with the classic line: "ain't isn't a word." But that's just not true. Ain't has made its way into the dictionary and into everyday speech, and that's why writers are obligated to include it in their books. That's why Charles Dickens used it in his. And when it comes to writing, following his lead ain't at all a bad way to go.
March 2, 2014
Indie News: Self-Published Authors are Getting Conned
The self-publishing boom has inspired a lot of writers to become self-published authors, but at what cost? Many companies and individuals are offering services designed to tempt indies. Unfortunately, some of those authors are getting conned.
For What It's Worth...
Almost 400,000 indie books were published in 2012, a 422 percent jump over the number of self-published titles created in 2007. There are new indie authors being born all the time...but you know the maxim states that a sucker is born every single minute.
Turning a word processing file into an ebook is not the simple process it seems to be. I happen to know this from experience, because I stumbled and bumbled my way through the entire procedure while looking up instructions for every single step on the Internet. What I discovered, what many indies discover, is that there are a lot of people out there willing to complete the process for me.
A recent article exposed Author Solutions for grossly over-charging would-be authors for their services, which will run you several thousand dollars. You don't get editing or copyright services as part of the package, either -- for that, it costs extra. Three authors have already filed lawsuits against them.
It's just one example. There are a whole host of companies and individuals out there who take advantage of indie authors. It doesn't stop with the publishing process, either, though you could spend thousands paying for editing and formatting services. Promotional services can cost thousands of dollars as well, with sites like Kirkus charging indie authors to provide them with reviews.
Here's why it's a confidence game: you don't actually need those services. Like me, and thousands of others, you can self-publish your book completely on your own and almost free. You'd be amazed what a budget of $50 and lots of staring at the Internet can actually do. Indie authors are getting conned and being led astray by grossly inflated self-publishing and promotion costs, but that doesn't have to happen to you. I give self-publishing tips every single week for free. Learn how to do it all yourself, and you can't possibly get bamboozled into paying too much.
For What It's Worth...
Almost 400,000 indie books were published in 2012, a 422 percent jump over the number of self-published titles created in 2007. There are new indie authors being born all the time...but you know the maxim states that a sucker is born every single minute.
Turning a word processing file into an ebook is not the simple process it seems to be. I happen to know this from experience, because I stumbled and bumbled my way through the entire procedure while looking up instructions for every single step on the Internet. What I discovered, what many indies discover, is that there are a lot of people out there willing to complete the process for me.
A recent article exposed Author Solutions for grossly over-charging would-be authors for their services, which will run you several thousand dollars. You don't get editing or copyright services as part of the package, either -- for that, it costs extra. Three authors have already filed lawsuits against them.
It's just one example. There are a whole host of companies and individuals out there who take advantage of indie authors. It doesn't stop with the publishing process, either, though you could spend thousands paying for editing and formatting services. Promotional services can cost thousands of dollars as well, with sites like Kirkus charging indie authors to provide them with reviews.
Here's why it's a confidence game: you don't actually need those services. Like me, and thousands of others, you can self-publish your book completely on your own and almost free. You'd be amazed what a budget of $50 and lots of staring at the Internet can actually do. Indie authors are getting conned and being led astray by grossly inflated self-publishing and promotion costs, but that doesn't have to happen to you. I give self-publishing tips every single week for free. Learn how to do it all yourself, and you can't possibly get bamboozled into paying too much.
February 28, 2014
Last Hope's
"This book was awesome! I loved everything about it."
"Surprising twists...emotions from happiness to anger to sadness."
The Book Owl Extraordinaire has reviewed Hope's Rebellion. Read the entire review to find out why the book got an A+ rating!
This is the last day of the Free Love, Free Words event. Go to Smashwords now to get your copy of the book for free while you still can! All you need is the code WQ47M.
"Surprising twists...emotions from happiness to anger to sadness."
The Book Owl Extraordinaire has reviewed Hope's Rebellion. Read the entire review to find out why the book got an A+ rating!
This is the last day of the Free Love, Free Words event. Go to Smashwords now to get your copy of the book for free while you still can! All you need is the code WQ47M.
February 27, 2014
Writing 101: Why Self-Publishing is a DIY
I'm crafty by nature, so the letters DIY never frighten me. But for others, it's a terrifying prospect to create a book from scratch and market it to the masses. The popularity of self-publishing has led to a wide availability of services geared toward indie authors. At some point, you may be tempted to hire someone to publish your book for you. I'm here to tell you not to do that.
Elbow Grease
The moment you begin writing out that idea which has taken root in your imagination, it stops being yours. After you write your manuscript and turn it into a book and share it with anyone, it will become something different. That book will never look to readers the same way it looks inside your head. You're the only one who will ever really understand that book, everything about why you wrote it and what it means.
That's why you're the best person to turn that manuscript into a book that others can read. Believe me, this is not going to feel like the most attractive option when you're in the thick of it -- but it still remains the best.
Look up self-publishing on Google, and you're going to be inundated with companies offering a wide variety of services for indie authors. You can hire someone to take care of every aspect of your book. It's possible to find an editor, pay for formatting and you can even purchase easy publishing. But I don't think you should do any of that. I think you should do it yourself.
Not just to save money, though at some point that should absolutely factor into the decision-making process. You're the only one who really understands your book, so you're really the only one who can bring it to life. You'll learn a lot more about your writing style (and bad habits) if you do your own editing. In fact, editing your work is more instructive than writing your work in many cases. You should read and re-read your own words and get to know who you are as a writer. This is the only way you will learn how to improve.
Once you get past the editing, the rest of the process really isn't that hard. I know a way to cheat on the formatting to make everything very simple, and once that's done it's really smooth sailing. Self-publishing is always something you should DIY, because no one will love your book the way you do. Save your money for marketing...because as an indie author, you're going to need it.
Elbow Grease
The moment you begin writing out that idea which has taken root in your imagination, it stops being yours. After you write your manuscript and turn it into a book and share it with anyone, it will become something different. That book will never look to readers the same way it looks inside your head. You're the only one who will ever really understand that book, everything about why you wrote it and what it means.
That's why you're the best person to turn that manuscript into a book that others can read. Believe me, this is not going to feel like the most attractive option when you're in the thick of it -- but it still remains the best.
Look up self-publishing on Google, and you're going to be inundated with companies offering a wide variety of services for indie authors. You can hire someone to take care of every aspect of your book. It's possible to find an editor, pay for formatting and you can even purchase easy publishing. But I don't think you should do any of that. I think you should do it yourself.
Not just to save money, though at some point that should absolutely factor into the decision-making process. You're the only one who really understands your book, so you're really the only one who can bring it to life. You'll learn a lot more about your writing style (and bad habits) if you do your own editing. In fact, editing your work is more instructive than writing your work in many cases. You should read and re-read your own words and get to know who you are as a writer. This is the only way you will learn how to improve.
Once you get past the editing, the rest of the process really isn't that hard. I know a way to cheat on the formatting to make everything very simple, and once that's done it's really smooth sailing. Self-publishing is always something you should DIY, because no one will love your book the way you do. Save your money for marketing...because as an indie author, you're going to need it.
February 26, 2014
Writing 101: All the Little Tips
You know about the hard work that goes into writing a book, and you probably have some idea of what you'll need to do as an indie author. But there are lots of little things you need to know that lots of people skip over -- until today.
Details, Details, Details
Little things matter, but as an author you're expected to be detail-oriented. So don't forget about all the little things that can help you on your journey, and don't neglect those details.
Email: Make your email address accessible, but hide it from the bots. Attach your email to a link (one that says "email me") or hide your email address like this: jadevarden [at] gmail [dot] com. If you display your address clearly, bots can find it and you'll get flooded with spam.Over-accepting: Don't over-accept review requests, guest post spots and interviews. Remember, you need time to promote all of your events. Pace yourself a little so you can adequately promote everything you do.Thank you: Say thank you to every book reviewer...even if they've trashed your work. If they take the time to email you links, take the time to thank them for their time. Don't say anything else! Remember: Keep reminding everyone about all of your books. Promote all your novels, at least every once in a while, because you can always gain new fans even with your older stuff.Pay attention to the little things, and everything else you do as an indie author will be a little bit easier.
Details, Details, Details
Little things matter, but as an author you're expected to be detail-oriented. So don't forget about all the little things that can help you on your journey, and don't neglect those details.
Email: Make your email address accessible, but hide it from the bots. Attach your email to a link (one that says "email me") or hide your email address like this: jadevarden [at] gmail [dot] com. If you display your address clearly, bots can find it and you'll get flooded with spam.Over-accepting: Don't over-accept review requests, guest post spots and interviews. Remember, you need time to promote all of your events. Pace yourself a little so you can adequately promote everything you do.Thank you: Say thank you to every book reviewer...even if they've trashed your work. If they take the time to email you links, take the time to thank them for their time. Don't say anything else! Remember: Keep reminding everyone about all of your books. Promote all your novels, at least every once in a while, because you can always gain new fans even with your older stuff.Pay attention to the little things, and everything else you do as an indie author will be a little bit easier.
February 25, 2014
Writing 101: Is It Creative, or Just Crazy?
Don't we all have an image of the brilliant genius? The Vincent Van Gogh, locked away in a room, painting masterpieces furiously in order to work through all this issues? The Sylvia Plath, writing brilliantly of suicide just before ending her own life? But at some point, doesn't behavior take a step beyond the eccentric and into the insane? Is it creative...or is it just crazy?
There Are Quirks, and Then There Are Quirks
T.S. Eliot was a highly successful writer, best known as a critic, poet and playwright. He was somewhat less well-known as an incredible eccentric. Allegedly, Eliot lived above a publishing house but rented a room at another business. Here, he answered only to the name "the Captain" and once inside his room painted his face green so he would resemble a corpse.
So why are writers allowed to act completely crazy...and why is this forgiveness only extended to those who are highly successful at their craft?
Truman Capote, for example. He wrote laying down, and that's one thing. But he also wouldn't allow more than three cigarette butts in his ashtray. He put the spares in his pocket (in...his..pocket), wouldn't begin or end a writing project on Friday and, according to legend, would not board a plane with more than one nun on it. That's superstition in the extreme, and in most people such a thing would not be tolerated. In Truman Capote, it's trotted out as some sort of endearing tale. This does not make him seem endearing to me.
If Stephen King showed up at a place of business covered over in a sheet and asked everyone to turn out the lights so he can get a better sense of fear, everyone would do it without question. I'm only using that name as an example and not suggesting he would do such a thing, of course. The point is, if I show up somewhere in a sheet making ridiculous requests then it's likely I would go to jail -- even though I am also an author and I also need to understand the nature of fear in order to write.
Insane behavior is something that is tolerated in a rare few for reasons that don't seem to be clear to anyone, but it's not going to make you a better writer. In fact, writers are much more likely to learn from observing others rather than being the center of everyone's attention. Scaring readers isn't a good idea. Focus on the words, and you'll get to success without any extra eccentricities.
There Are Quirks, and Then There Are Quirks
T.S. Eliot was a highly successful writer, best known as a critic, poet and playwright. He was somewhat less well-known as an incredible eccentric. Allegedly, Eliot lived above a publishing house but rented a room at another business. Here, he answered only to the name "the Captain" and once inside his room painted his face green so he would resemble a corpse.
So why are writers allowed to act completely crazy...and why is this forgiveness only extended to those who are highly successful at their craft?
Truman Capote, for example. He wrote laying down, and that's one thing. But he also wouldn't allow more than three cigarette butts in his ashtray. He put the spares in his pocket (in...his..pocket), wouldn't begin or end a writing project on Friday and, according to legend, would not board a plane with more than one nun on it. That's superstition in the extreme, and in most people such a thing would not be tolerated. In Truman Capote, it's trotted out as some sort of endearing tale. This does not make him seem endearing to me.
If Stephen King showed up at a place of business covered over in a sheet and asked everyone to turn out the lights so he can get a better sense of fear, everyone would do it without question. I'm only using that name as an example and not suggesting he would do such a thing, of course. The point is, if I show up somewhere in a sheet making ridiculous requests then it's likely I would go to jail -- even though I am also an author and I also need to understand the nature of fear in order to write.
Insane behavior is something that is tolerated in a rare few for reasons that don't seem to be clear to anyone, but it's not going to make you a better writer. In fact, writers are much more likely to learn from observing others rather than being the center of everyone's attention. Scaring readers isn't a good idea. Focus on the words, and you'll get to success without any extra eccentricities.
