Did I really miss two whole months of blogging? Even when I stand completely still, time slides on by.
When I lived in Alaska in the 70s, I had a friend, Laura, who moved away every year. As the snow piled up to the tens of feet, the town (or at least most of the 250 of us) would gather at a local bar, sing, dance, tell stories, give her gifts, and lament about her how much we'd miss her. Then she'd leave, bound for Mississippi, her first home. We'd talk about her at the bar on Friday nights, speculate on how she was and what she was up to. And we'd wonder how long it would take her to get back.
Because she always came back. A month or two after her party, she'd waltz back into town and we'd celebrate her return.
Somehow, Laura's story reminds me of my life lately. The amazing town of close friends and tall tales is tough to leave forever. So I'm back, anxious for a round at the bar with my characters who are always ready to share their stories of adventure and romance. At the moment, I'm polishing one told me a few years ago. It may not be profound, but it's a fun story worth the effort. I can't wait to share it.
Laura eventually left Alaska for good. I'm not sure if her going-away party continues without her. Probably not. But it was always one hell of a party.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Standing Still in Circles?
The practice of nearly-daily writing is sparking my need to write more than this blog, as I hoped it would, but at the moment that need is pushing me around in circles. I feel like a writer running around the house looking for a pen. Historical? Futuristic? Romance? Mystery? What, exactly, do I need to write?
I was talking to a dear writer-friend today, Celeste Bradley, who is always so wonderful about sharing experiences and thoughts with other writers, when a light bulb went off. Granted, it was a tiny LED, but still a light bulb. Instead of tackling the whole story at once, as I've been doing, I need to treat this like learning to ski.
For those who haven't tried downhill skiing, it isn't the easiest thing to learn. Well, going downhill isn't difficult, it's the stopping before you crash or hit the bottom that's the tough part. When I was living in Alaska back in the wild pipeline days, I worked at Alyeska Resort as a lift operator. In the summer, I loaded older visitors onto the chair so they could ride up to enjoy the view, and all I needed was muscular arms, which I had. But when winter came around, I was told I had to learn to ski if I wanted to keep my job. (There weren't a lot of jobs in Girdwood, Alaska, at that time, so I couldn't afford to throw one away.)
Strapping on skis and going for it--tackling the experience all at once--was hard. And painful. To make it worse, all the "kids" I was supervising laughed every time I tried to get off the lift and crashed. But one young man was nice enough to explain the secret to me. He skied in front of me and told me to stare at the back of his skis. All I had to do was follow him one foot of snow at a time (the equivalent of one step at a time). Pretty soon, we were zipping down the mountain. (I will admit, it was a little humiliating when we first started and he was skiing in front of me backwards, drinking a beer, and holding the tips of my skis together as I mastered the snow-plow stop. The show-off.)
So here's my plan: I will write out the steps of a story, bullet-list fashion, and then follow those steps. If I do that, I should even be able to rearrange the bullets before I start and know where I'm going. For a Pantser (one who writes without an outline, or "by the seat of my pants"), this is a scary thought. If I know what's going to happen, will I still be able to write? Or will I just lose interest? If I can tackle it one bullet at a time...
I'll let you know how it goes. How do you approach writing? Do you dive in, outline, discuss it with others? If you know how your story/book is going to end, does it spoil the fun?
As for the photo, I can't find any of me working at the ski resort, but this is from the same time. I was wicked with an ax.
I was talking to a dear writer-friend today, Celeste Bradley, who is always so wonderful about sharing experiences and thoughts with other writers, when a light bulb went off. Granted, it was a tiny LED, but still a light bulb. Instead of tackling the whole story at once, as I've been doing, I need to treat this like learning to ski.
For those who haven't tried downhill skiing, it isn't the easiest thing to learn. Well, going downhill isn't difficult, it's the stopping before you crash or hit the bottom that's the tough part. When I was living in Alaska back in the wild pipeline days, I worked at Alyeska Resort as a lift operator. In the summer, I loaded older visitors onto the chair so they could ride up to enjoy the view, and all I needed was muscular arms, which I had. But when winter came around, I was told I had to learn to ski if I wanted to keep my job. (There weren't a lot of jobs in Girdwood, Alaska, at that time, so I couldn't afford to throw one away.)
Strapping on skis and going for it--tackling the experience all at once--was hard. And painful. To make it worse, all the "kids" I was supervising laughed every time I tried to get off the lift and crashed. But one young man was nice enough to explain the secret to me. He skied in front of me and told me to stare at the back of his skis. All I had to do was follow him one foot of snow at a time (the equivalent of one step at a time). Pretty soon, we were zipping down the mountain. (I will admit, it was a little humiliating when we first started and he was skiing in front of me backwards, drinking a beer, and holding the tips of my skis together as I mastered the snow-plow stop. The show-off.)
So here's my plan: I will write out the steps of a story, bullet-list fashion, and then follow those steps. If I do that, I should even be able to rearrange the bullets before I start and know where I'm going. For a Pantser (one who writes without an outline, or "by the seat of my pants"), this is a scary thought. If I know what's going to happen, will I still be able to write? Or will I just lose interest? If I can tackle it one bullet at a time...I'll let you know how it goes. How do you approach writing? Do you dive in, outline, discuss it with others? If you know how your story/book is going to end, does it spoil the fun?
As for the photo, I can't find any of me working at the ski resort, but this is from the same time. I was wicked with an ax.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
The Best Way to Learn
In school (during the many years I attended), I usually sat in front of an expert and listened, then went home and read from a textbook, and I was expected to learn. I guess I did learn that way. For a long time, I knew how to calculate the load of a building in its foundation. Unfortunately, that's gone. Everything fades without practice.
When I started writing, I had to find a different way to learn. Granted, I spent plenty of time listening to experts lecture, and reading "how to" books on writing, and I learned a lot. But there's sometime more personal about writing. You have to tap into some kind of species-level knowledge hidden in your bones. That doesn't come from the usual classroom setup.
I quickly realized a lot of it comes from reading the work of other writers. We all understand how important it is to read if you want to write. But when I'm reading a good book, I quickly slip out of writer mode and into reader mode to enjoy the experience. And if I'm reading a book that isn't so good, I stop. There are too many good books waiting out there.
Judging writing contests has taught me at least as much as any class. When you read something really good, you know it. You feel it in your chest. The trick is to figure out why it's good.
Reading the first ten pages of someone's unpublished manuscript gives me the opportunity to question what works and what doesn't. Then I work to share that information with the writer in a constructive manner. I've come to realize that I internalize my own comments. The next time I'm writing, I think back to what worked and try to figure out how to do that in my own voice and story. And I try to avoid what didn't work.
The other tool I've used to open up the world of writing is teaching classes. If you're the one standing in front of the group of eager writers, trying to impart useful information, you are forced to research and truly understand. I love that! I've learned so much that way, and I have to retain more of it in order to share it with others.
Maybe it's true of many things in life; helping others is the best way to help yourself. I hope so. For writing, I believe it's definitely true.
On another note, though related since I'm teaching others to create book covers next week, I've been trying to figure out why I wasn't happy with my self-published book cover. Then I found a wonderful quote. (These are not my words, but I can't remember the source.) "A good book cover makes a promise the book delivers." Yes! That doesn't mean I can create amazing covers yet, but I understand what I need to shoot for.
Here's where I am so far. What do you think? Not very flashy, but then neither is the story.
When I started writing, I had to find a different way to learn. Granted, I spent plenty of time listening to experts lecture, and reading "how to" books on writing, and I learned a lot. But there's sometime more personal about writing. You have to tap into some kind of species-level knowledge hidden in your bones. That doesn't come from the usual classroom setup.
I quickly realized a lot of it comes from reading the work of other writers. We all understand how important it is to read if you want to write. But when I'm reading a good book, I quickly slip out of writer mode and into reader mode to enjoy the experience. And if I'm reading a book that isn't so good, I stop. There are too many good books waiting out there.
Judging writing contests has taught me at least as much as any class. When you read something really good, you know it. You feel it in your chest. The trick is to figure out why it's good.
Reading the first ten pages of someone's unpublished manuscript gives me the opportunity to question what works and what doesn't. Then I work to share that information with the writer in a constructive manner. I've come to realize that I internalize my own comments. The next time I'm writing, I think back to what worked and try to figure out how to do that in my own voice and story. And I try to avoid what didn't work.
The other tool I've used to open up the world of writing is teaching classes. If you're the one standing in front of the group of eager writers, trying to impart useful information, you are forced to research and truly understand. I love that! I've learned so much that way, and I have to retain more of it in order to share it with others.
Maybe it's true of many things in life; helping others is the best way to help yourself. I hope so. For writing, I believe it's definitely true.
~~*~~*~~*~~
On another note, though related since I'm teaching others to create book covers next week, I've been trying to figure out why I wasn't happy with my self-published book cover. Then I found a wonderful quote. (These are not my words, but I can't remember the source.) "A good book cover makes a promise the book delivers." Yes! That doesn't mean I can create amazing covers yet, but I understand what I need to shoot for.
Here's where I am so far. What do you think? Not very flashy, but then neither is the story.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
A Few of the Basics
When I started writing fiction, I had no idea what I was doing. I wrote my first novel, then wandered around in the dark for months, submitting my manuscript to publishers and gathering rejections. I still remember my amazement when I joined a local writers' group and learned--in the first meeting--of 4 major things I was doing incorrectly. That was in 1998. Some of those lessons are still valid; others are outdated.
In order to kick off the reflection process, I thought I'd start with a few initial thoughts. These are things I share when asked for advice by new writers.
In order to kick off the reflection process, I thought I'd start with a few initial thoughts. These are things I share when asked for advice by new writers.
- Writing is an amazing thing. Completing a novel is something most people haven't done. However, it's normal to fall in love with your first work and be unable to see the flaws. Seek the help of professionals: a good critique group or experienced editor. (I didn't use to recommend paying editors, but with the explosion of self-published books, I've changed my mind. However, I've seen books "edited" by paid editors that may as well have not been, so be warned. Ask questions, look for experience in the publishing industry, talk to other writers.) Your best bet is to put your first manuscript away, write a second and maybe a third, then go back and review the first one.
- Experienced storytellers aren't necessarily great writers, and trained writers aren't always great storytellers. Fortunately, you can improve both abilities. Assume you know nothing and learn from everyone, but trust your instincts. (This sounds like a contradiction, but it isn't. If you read a lot, you'll know when something is "on." If you don't read...well, you must read in order to write.)
- Did I mention you must read? Read in your genre, but don't stop there. If you're writing contemporary romance and read nothing else, what you write will sound like what's already been done. Editors really are looking for "fresh" voices, so expand your reach.
- Join writers' groups and participate. I've always been inspired by time spent with other writers talking about writing.
- The writing world is much smaller than it looks. Don't burn bridges. If you can't say something nice about someone...well, you know the rest.
- Yes, most of us hear voices in our heads and have little to no control over them. Relax and enjoy!
Introduction to Writer Standing Still
Most of my life has been spent accomplishing tasks. If I wasn't getting things done, I was wasting time. Fortunately, I've discovered something I hope will help those of us who are trying to improve our writing experiences. Allow me to explain.
Besides writing, I work in an emerging field where the path ahead isn't always clear, and making a difference often means trying something new. Sometimes experiments fail, and sometimes they succeed, but there's only one way to know which has happened. You must stop moving long enough to reflect on what you've done.
You must stand still.
In the past couple of years, my "work" life has begun to influence my writing life in unexpected ways. (Yes, writing is work, but I, like many writers, have another job that pays most of the bills. I'm one of the lucky ones because I love both lives.) Now I hope to use the work lessons in a purposeful manner.
Due to circumstances beyond my control, I got out of the practice of writing daily. That practice over the course of 13 years had allowed me to produce something like 20 published novels, a number of novellas and short stories, and many other books that will never see publication. Suddenly, instead of writing daily, I was running in mental circles and not producing, and was feeling very guilty about it.
I've decided to stand still.
My idea for this blog is to reflect on things I've tried over the years, and lessons I've learned and continue to learn about writing and publishing. I invite other authors to join me, not to promote their latest works, but to reflect on things they've tried, and to share those lessons with the rest of us. My goal is to examine the nuggets I've picked up along the way and shoved in my pockets.
I don't promise that every post will be a brilliant piece of writing, or so insightful as to make readers gasp, but I will be as honest, open, and reflective as possible. Some posts may just be the scene running through my head that day. What can I say? I'm a storyteller at heart.
If you're a writer who has tried something different, or had an "ah-ha" experience you'd like to share, send me a note at sarah @ sarahstorme.com. I'd love to have guest bloggers!
Welcome to Writer Standing Still. The roses smell wonderful!
Besides writing, I work in an emerging field where the path ahead isn't always clear, and making a difference often means trying something new. Sometimes experiments fail, and sometimes they succeed, but there's only one way to know which has happened. You must stop moving long enough to reflect on what you've done.
You must stand still.
In the past couple of years, my "work" life has begun to influence my writing life in unexpected ways. (Yes, writing is work, but I, like many writers, have another job that pays most of the bills. I'm one of the lucky ones because I love both lives.) Now I hope to use the work lessons in a purposeful manner.
Due to circumstances beyond my control, I got out of the practice of writing daily. That practice over the course of 13 years had allowed me to produce something like 20 published novels, a number of novellas and short stories, and many other books that will never see publication. Suddenly, instead of writing daily, I was running in mental circles and not producing, and was feeling very guilty about it.
I've decided to stand still.
My idea for this blog is to reflect on things I've tried over the years, and lessons I've learned and continue to learn about writing and publishing. I invite other authors to join me, not to promote their latest works, but to reflect on things they've tried, and to share those lessons with the rest of us. My goal is to examine the nuggets I've picked up along the way and shoved in my pockets.
I don't promise that every post will be a brilliant piece of writing, or so insightful as to make readers gasp, but I will be as honest, open, and reflective as possible. Some posts may just be the scene running through my head that day. What can I say? I'm a storyteller at heart.
If you're a writer who has tried something different, or had an "ah-ha" experience you'd like to share, send me a note at sarah @ sarahstorme.com. I'd love to have guest bloggers!
Welcome to Writer Standing Still. The roses smell wonderful!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)