Thoughts For Winter Writing

Stephen King
"No, it's not a very good story—its author was too busy listening to other voices to listen as closely as he should have to the one coming from inside."

Ford Madox Ford
"The first thing you have to consider when writing a novel is your story,
and then your story—and then your story!"

Barbara Kingsolver
"This manuscript of yours that has just come back from another editor is a precious package. Don't consider it rejected. Consider that you've addressed it 'to the editor who can appreciate my work' and it has simply come back stamped 'Not at this address'.
Just keep looking for the right address."

E. B. White
"There is no satisfactory explanation of style, no infallible guide to good writing, no assurance that a person who thinks clearly will be able to write clearly, no key that unlocks the door, no inflexible rules by which the young writer may steer his course.He will often find himself steering by stars that are disturbingly in motion."

Support Is A Two-Way Street

Or five.

No man is an island. John Donne (1572-1631)

No one accomplishes anything on their own. Even if one manages to start a new ball rolling, sooner or later others will be needed to keep the momentum going. Nor does one's initial impetus to conceive and acheive occur in a vacuum but arises from an individual's collective experience.

All help and advice is understood and accepted after being filtered through an individual's experiences and needs. And that filtering provides us with the variety that gives everything we encounter a new twist, a new flavor or a new understanding.

My critique group has eagle eyes. They encourage me to improve, to learn, to study, to look closer at my writing. To uncover the weak areas and build on the strong areas.

Good Critique Partners: A learned Skill

Serious writers want to be published and good critique partners help you get there. Whether you are in a group or work one-on-one with another author, critiquing is serious business. Finding time to write is precious to an author and participating in a critique group takes commitment.

And guts.

No one is born critique partner. Just because a person writes doesn't mean they can critique. The skills needed to be effective CP’s must be learned. There are many website that offer tips on how to critique, check them out. They offer direction, and do’s and don’ts.

Here are mine.

The Golden Rule of a Critique Partner

NEVER, ever, turn the writer's paper into YOUR paper.

Never rewrite, cross out or impose your voice or style on your partners work.

A good CP has the ability to give constructive criticism

and not rewrite someone else's story.

The Seventeen Commandments of a Critique Partner

1. Read the work submitted to you whether you like the story or not.
2. Offer suggestions but let the author make her own decisions.
3. Respect each other's voice and individuality.
4. Don't suggest rewrites as you would, but to improve the author's vision.
5. Don’t edit the life out of their prose.
6. Comment only on the work itself, not on what you think it should mean.
7. Don’t change the author’s work because of a writing rule you read somewhere.
8. Offer suggestions, not commands.
9. Write your comments on grammar, spelling, and word choice on the manuscript.
10. Point out areas that confuse you and suggestion an improvement.
11. Look at viewpoint, structure, characters and how you felt as a reader.
12. Do begin with a positive comment, the manuscripts strengths; mention what you liked, what resonated with you.
13. Raise questions from a reader's point of view.
14. Focus on the overall problems of content before grammar, spelling.
15. Phrase comments clearly and carefully or through questions. “This sentence confuses me; can you reword to make it clearer?” "Can you make a stronger transition here?”
16. Be honest, be gentle, be kind. But tell the truth. If the story doesn't have enough plot, or the characterization needs work, tell them so.
17. Word your critiques carefully, as you would have others critique your work.

Receiving a Critique

1. You are the final judge of what to change or keep.
2. Do not remove the life from your words.
3. If incomplete sentence sounds good to you, leave it in.
4. Don’t change things because of a critique partner's objections.
5. When the time comes, your editor will suggest changes.
6. You have the final say in your words.
7. Your decisions reflect your unique voice.
8. Take your writing and the writing of others seriously.
9. Be willing to learn and perfect the craft of writing.
10. Listen, take notes.
11. Don't argue, explain or defend.
12. Honest feedback is hard to take, but it can improve your work.
13. Have fun, and don't take everyone's critique as gospel.
14. Remember - You are the one who decides what works for you.
15. Keep hold of your style and voice.
16. Not every comment improves your work.

NanoWriMo

Well, it's that time of year again folks. National Novel Writing Month, or Nano, for short. It's a program you sign up for. A writing contest of sorts. To win, you need only complete 50,000 words on a novel that you start on 1 November, and finish by 30 November. Now if you intend to write more than 50K, then of course you simply continue into December, working at your own pace. Winners are given graphical certificates of their "winning status" they can post on their website, print to hang on their wall, and just generally have fun with.

So the question is - is Nano worth the effort? I suppose that depends upon your outlook. I participated last year and am still fixing that same manuscript so it makes sense. Obviously I moved too quickly. Others created wonderful manuscripts that have gone on to be published. Regardless, the author involved receives an impressive sense of accomplishment upon completing Nano.

This year I've signed up, but I've changed my goal a little. I'm working more for quality rather than quantity, because quantity obviously did not work for me.

Even if I don't finish my 50K goal, I will have started a manuscript that is as of yet, stuck in my head. It's time for it to come out. It's time for me to share that story. So yes, I'll "compete" in Nano one more time.

Even if you decide Nano isn't for you, you can't help but admire a program designed entirely to the creative process of writing. There's no editing (or so they suggest). It's all about content, not prose.

So until they have an editor's month (watch, someone will point out one just because I mentioned the chance) I'll continue to enjoy the thrills and joys of Nano.

If you're interested in checking it out, head to http://nanowrimo.org

Bad Muse Day

Having a bad muse day?

Turn off the computer, go to the library, the bookstore, take in a movie, visit a friend or try out a new restaurant--whatever recharges your creative process.

The time to learn what gets your muse fired up and zinging again is before you sell. Once you are writing on deadline or stuck in revision hell--that published writers so often speak of--if your muse leaves on vacation you gotta' get her back and fast. Editors have production schedules they must meet and woe to the writer who cannot do deadlines.

What do I do? I coddle my muse. I let her play in the sandbox instead of digging trenches. It is not a good solution--she is very spoiled. However, so far she has not deserted me.

Tell me about your muse.

Susan