Chapter After Chapter Starter Discussion

[J.H.]

Susan wrote: "I will NOT lie to my friends to get out of doing something with them, no matter HOW excited I am about a current scene I'm writing. I will NOT put spending time with my husband, children, grandchildren or friends on the back burner so I can pursue what is arguably my own selfish interest. ."

I don't blame you, Susan. It's like what Stephen King said--life isn't a support system for art. It's the other way around.

[J.H.]

Chrys wrote: "So, although she did include a few shoulds in her book, she does explain how shoulds are hurting writers. ."

Isn't that a little strange and/or contradictory, though? "This is hurting writers, but I'm going to do it anyway."

I didn't realize writers felt guilty for not writing fast. I've seen lots of articles/books that suggest anything written quickly has to be crap, maybe because I'm on the flip side. It's like Stephen King says, "If you write, someone will try to make you feel badly about it." :D

One of the easiest, most guaranteed ways to make money as a writer when your fiction isn't cutting it is to write how-to guides for writers. That's one reason I take these books with a grain of salt.

[Chrys]

J.H. wrote: "Chrys wrote: "So, although she did include a few shoulds in her book, she does explain how shoulds are hurting writers. ."

Isn't that a little strange and/or contradictory, though? "This is hurtin..."


Oh it is a contradiction. I hear you on that. She might not have even realized it herself.

In our poll here for our book club, writing too slow was the insecurity voted #2. It surprised me, but when you hear writers say they can write a book in a month, it's understandable. I personally take as long as it takes. :)

Our future writing books will be about specific topics, such as marketing and structure, but I can't guarantee that there won't be "shoulds" or "musts" in them. lol

[J.H.]

No worries. This author just said certain things like they were the Ten Commandments when I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that she was wrong. I had to speak up in this case, but that doesn't mean every opinionated author will irk me. :)

How many fiction books have they sold, and why haven't I heard of them? That's something I consider when I see "advice" like this. I love writers like Chuck Wendig, who will tell you straight up that he's sharing what works for him, and that he doesn't really know anything at all. And he's had NYT bestsellers. He still gives great advice, but it's very much presented in a "You do you" way.

[Liesbet]

Rebecca wrote: "Okay, I'll share my super-special list-making secret: always put something on the list that you've already done. It feels so good to cross it off!"

:-) Or, write something down that is easily and quickly finished and that you know you will get done!

[Liesbet]

All good points! Sometimes life gets in the way and not much writing gets done - call it excuses, priorities or distractions, but we all do work at our own pace and once we are passionate about a writing project or goal, I think most of us will try to achieve that and not put the project under the bed once they miss a few days (or even a month) of writing (in the WIP).

[Leah]

J.H. wrote: "One of the easiest, most guaranteed ways to make money as a writer when your fiction isn't cutting it is to write how-to guides for writers. That's one reason I take these books with a grain of salt.

J.H. wrote: "How many fiction books have they sold, and why haven't I heard of them? That's something I consider when I see "advice" like this.

I said something similar to someone just the other day, that the writers selling the most are probably the ones telling others how to write or sell! :-)

I think it's human nature to look for the magic formula/method/rule to help us reach our goals. But you need to be discerning when you read how-to books on writing or take marketing classes, or try out new tools that someone swears will catapult your sales from obscurity to Amazon's top ten.

Great points, J.H.

[C.]

Sarah wrote: "5. I'm such a slow writer. So, so slow (I've been working on the same book for 6 years). I can have times where the words are just flying onto the page but it's so rare. But I think that's related ..."

I can relate to this so much. I have been pushing myself to stop this over-editing in the book I'm working on, but at night I keep wanting to jump out of bed, rush to the computer and change that "horrible" sentence I slammed onto the page that day.