Dawn Richard
asked
Janet Fitch:
Hi Janet! I'm an huge fan of White Oleander and am currently re reading it at the moment. I wanted to know what advice you have for young writers that 1. have trouble making time to write/committing to completing a book and 2.trying to get published? Thanks so much for your advice and thoughts. Dawn
Janet Fitch
Hi DAwn--sorry if its taken me so long to get back to you--I was finishing a book myself! "Trouble committing to finishing a book" tells me you're partway there, and you're having trouble staying engaged. I say, don't try to write the next thing that happens. Get really quiet and think, what can I see very clearly. And then write that. And then something else you can see very clearly. Don't worry how it fits together until later.
"Trouble making time to write" asks the question--what is writing compared to the other things you have to do? If its a priority--make sure you spend at least 15 minutes a day on it. It's easier to keep a patient on life support than trying to resurrect the dead on an occasional weekend or on vacation. Just dust it off, clean up some words, but do it every day.
If you have trouble "committing to completing a book"--try writing shorter things! Short stories, or even short shorts, that you know you can finish in a few hours, or a few weeks.
Trying to get published--spent 10 years in those trenches before I ever published anything. Because my desire to be published in those years was very strong, but my craft was not its equal. I had to learn to write, keep learning, keep getting better, keep studying, keep fighting, making beautiful sentences, telling stories in a more compelling and interesting way. Trying to get published means not only persevering in sending things out and tolerating the rejection, but also trying to get better, all the time.
good luck and thanks for writing!
Janet
"Trouble making time to write" asks the question--what is writing compared to the other things you have to do? If its a priority--make sure you spend at least 15 minutes a day on it. It's easier to keep a patient on life support than trying to resurrect the dead on an occasional weekend or on vacation. Just dust it off, clean up some words, but do it every day.
If you have trouble "committing to completing a book"--try writing shorter things! Short stories, or even short shorts, that you know you can finish in a few hours, or a few weeks.
Trying to get published--spent 10 years in those trenches before I ever published anything. Because my desire to be published in those years was very strong, but my craft was not its equal. I had to learn to write, keep learning, keep getting better, keep studying, keep fighting, making beautiful sentences, telling stories in a more compelling and interesting way. Trying to get published means not only persevering in sending things out and tolerating the rejection, but also trying to get better, all the time.
good luck and thanks for writing!
Janet
More Answered Questions
Katy
asked
Janet Fitch:
White Oleander is one of my most beloved books, I read it every spring. It taught me a lot as a human and a baby writer. I love and I hate Ingrid. I'm fascinated by her. I'd love to know more about where she came from, what created such an unlikely and extraordinary person. Other than the tiny titbits offered in the book, is there anything you can share about her family/upbringing?
Vladimir
asked
Janet Fitch:
Dear Mrs. Fitch, I would not ask you about your internal connections to St. Peterburg arising from your study in this amazing city and from your visit in 2007: it is a needless question. I spent my student's years from 1964 till 1969 in Leningrad and could guess your positive answer. To be a little bit more specific: Have you found some shades and spirits of Dostoyevsky there?
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