Ninja Writing

Recently I’ve been reading a lot. As in judging contests (10 entries) and struggling through a bunch of  books to find something to read.




And I want to say how much I enjoy ninja writers.

The ones who have such skill, such subtly that you are pulled into their stories without seeing them.  They craft great stories but they are invisable.



You know the ones, you read a chapter and have been completely pulled in and at no time do you think, “oh- I see what the writer is trying to do”. Like a ninja, they strike quickly and with prescion doing exactly what they need to do, no more and no less.

Part of the reason I'm noticing them- not being noticable- is because in both published and unpublished cases I'm seeing more and more noticiable writing.  Where the author is there with you every single page, pointing out important information with a neon sign.  I started a published book last night and was bored in a few pages as I got tired of watching the author make things how they should happen, instead of how they DID happen.

I know, that doesn't make sense.  But it's that bit of writing where the writer is trying a little too hard to get a point across in case the reader missed it the first five times.  Where they use cliche reactions to things instead of saying, "Ok, I know my character- what would they really be doing right now?"

Ninja writing is subtle and clean and true to the characters.  A good ninja writer KNOWS their characters, and that knowledge is clear in every move the characaters make.  They trust the reader to follow along without being reminded how hunky the hero is every other paragraph.

So to all you ninja writers out there- I salute you- and I wanna be just like you real soon ;).

Yes, all those eggs should be in one basket!

 

Today I was thinking about how creative types sometimes like to hold back.  Maybe NOT put all of our eggs in one basket.  Keep something in reserve for the next book, story, song, painting, or movie.

Yes, me thinking about these thoughts was caused by a movie.  Not a bad movie mind you, just a movie that seemed to have been holding back.  I’m talking the most recent Star Trek movie.  Now, before you extremists start hunting me down, I said it was a good movie.  But, in my opinion, it wasn’t great. I don’t want to spoil things for fans who haven’t seen it yet so I’ll avoid details ;).  But I felt there were a number of times were things were dangled in front of us, then pulled back.  Where chances to go bigger, bolder, scarier, darker, were waved at then passed up for what felt like excessively long chases and fight scenes.

I think J.J. Abrams was holding out on us.

It felt as if he had ideas for another movie, say the third Star Trek, and wanted to save those ideas for it.  Maybe, maybe not- I have no idea why he did what he did. But for me the final product wasn't great.

And I know many a time  I’ve read and heard writers defend their holding back so they have something for the next book.

Don’t do it.

Take all those eggs, every last loving one, and dump them in that basket.  Great idea?  In it goes.  Juicy characters and twists?  Yup- in the little wicker thing.

We should never hold back for two main reasons: 1) we may not GET a second chance.  There may not be a second (or third, or fourth) book, movie, song, etc.  2) we’re selling ourselves and our readers short.  We’re focusing on a future reward instead of what’s in front of us.  Whatever project you are working on RIGHT now is your best project EVER.  You have to treat it that way.  Even if you’re an odd case like me who writes numerous series, whatever is going on right now is my baby.

Don’t worry about “using it all up”.  We’re creative folks, more ideas, characters, harrowing situations will come in to fill the space back up again. 

Just keep putting all of your eggs in that basket and make it the best damn basket ever.  Until the next one ;).

Found Notes, Lost Stories

I’m in the process of re-vamping my library/office in my house (aka digging it out and making it work like a real office ;)). During this long process, I’m really looking through what I’m keeping. This includes digging through boxes of notes that I’ve made on various books throughout the years.



It’s been eye opening that’s for sure!



I am a serious pantser, as Ray Bradbury would say I open the window and follow the character’s footprints in the snow. This leads to LOTS of brain storming and divergent paths at various stages in the writing process.



I’ve found notes and ideas that were not followed that would have radically changed where that particular book ended up. Sub plots that were modified or dropped, new ones that were added. I’d like to say that my characters stayed the same, but even they have changes as they morphed from earlier notes-through various brainstorms.



I don’t see these lost notes/ideas as wasted at all, clearly they helped me get to where I really needed/wanted the book to go. And some of them are so different they could be used for another book. But still, I almost feel sad for those lost books—the ones that were briefly alive, then lost in a pile of notes.



What about you? Ever find notes where you shot off in a different direction in the final draft? How do you feel about those paths not followed?

IWSG- Not Getting an Agent

Insecure Writers Support Group Wednesday!  Yes, it’s that time again.  One day of the month when a few hundred writers scream their fears into the abyss of the internet.

 

Not getting an agent

Ok, I’ll admit it, I want to become traditionally published.  I want the amazing agent, the gifted and talented editor, the book sitting face out on a brick and mortar bookshelf.

And part of me fears that will never happen.

Ignore, for a moment, the way the publishing world seems to change at any given month.  Getting an agent—correction—getting the RIGHT agent is as difficult as it’s ever been.  I’ve seen what happens when the wrong agent and the wrong writer get together, and it’s not good for either.

Many writers obsess on agents so much that in their minds even getting the wrong agent is better than no agent.  It means they’re a “real” writer-right?  But finding that special someone who loves our work as much as we do isn’t easy.  And someone who may even believe in it MORE than we do is a major miracle.  Going with an agent just to have an agent is a sure way to end up even more frustrated that we already are (and lemme tell you folks, writers are a very frustrated group of folks!).

So my insecurity for today is not finding that amazing advocate to go fight for my books. I want someone in my corner, who understands my work (and my humor ;)) and can steer me back on course if I wander too far off.  Someone anxious to spend the amount of time it takes to get a book into the hands of the right editor.

And now I’m realizing that may not happen. 

Part of me is excited about all of the new options for writers.  Waaaaay back in the day self-publishing was a very long four letter word. Now it’s a chance for writers to really have control (for good or bad) over all aspects of their work.

That I may actually be able to keep a title I love, find a cover that works, and make sure that book has a professional editor all over it sounds amazing.  Scary.  Expensive.  But amazing.

Yet the other part of me is saddened by the fact that I may never have that agent of my dreams in my corner.

So that's my insecurity for this month!  What about you?

It's all about touch....

 I was going to title today’s blog post, “Toucha toucha touch me”  but decided against planting the ear worm in the heads of any Rocky Horror fans (sorry- just did it anyway ;)) and figured it might indicate the wrong type of touch for this current post ;).

I’ve decided that I’d like to take a few posts and look at the senses and how they get used, abused, or abandoned in our writing. Please join in and add your comments and views J.

The most basic way we communicate and learn isn’t language, it’s our senses.  We start off using them as babies when the world of language is still in the “too be coming” phase. Adding senses to our writing makes it more real for the reader.  The reader may not stop and say, “well that writer didn’t use enough of the senses, I don’t believe that book”.  But they may say that they didn’t connect with the book or the characters—one warning sign that you might not be coming across as authentic as you could be.  Your people weren’t as well rounded as they should be and the reader noticed it.  Even if it’s not as jump up and grab you by the hair as some other writer mistakes it can still stop a reader in their tracks.

Sight and sound are probably the two most basic of senses, and ones most writers manage to toss in there (but please- no “roaming eyes”…makes me think of a horror movie ;)).

But what about the other senses?

Everyone relies on touch one way or another.  When we’re little we use it to build our view of the world.  Later we use it to convey things like comfort, friendship, and anger.

 In writing we can use it to express our character’s personality and world views.  Does your character always hold their arm?  Fold their arms in front of them? Rub the side of their face when lying? Do they have any other physical tics of self touch (no, not that kind) that indicate who they are and their mood? How does your character feel about their body?  That can be mined for physical reactions that can expose internal feelings of the character without going all info-dump on the reader's head.

Touching items can also be an interesting way to give a break between dialogue or other actions.  Does your character find comfort in running their hands across silk?  Lost in thought they rub a worry stone?  These would be little touches, tiny things that aren’t major actions in themselves, and should be subtle, but also manage to add to the entire world were writing.

Touch can indicate a disorder, someone who has to touch every mail box he sees but exhibits no other signs of OCD for example. There may be a very good reason your character hates to be hugged by anyone—even their lover.  Or why someone always hugs their friends good-bye.

Touch is a vital way for characters to communicate with each other, but also to communicate to the reader.

No, they really can't see inside your mind

For some folks, the title of today's post brings a feeling of relief.  They are free to take off that foil hat and stop getting odd looks everywhere they go.

For us writers they are words of warning.

Your reader CAN'T see inside your head.  When we write we see what's going on with the story, whether we're a pantser, plotter, or plantser-- we know what is there.  We know what is coming.  We may giggle a few pages in because--boy oh boy-- we know a funny bit that the reader is just going to LOVE happens on page fifteen.

But the reader can't see that.

They see only what we show them (see earlier post about the slug, dog and rocking chair ;)).  If we fill the first few pages with backstory, or fluff, or a wonderfully emotional opening that has no real bearing in our story, they get confused.  Or lost.  Or confused, lost, and annoyed.

Confused, lost, and annoyed readers stop reading.

Our main goal-beyond getting these words out of our heads- is to get those words in the hands of readers.  ANYTHING that stops that ruins the chances that our book will survive to be read.

This makes sense, I see many of you nodding and agreeing.  Of course I need to make sure the beginning grabs the reader.  But too many times we get so excited by our world, by what's coming around the corner, that we loose track of what we're really showing the reader.  We put in stuff they don't need.

I recently realized that while one of my books started in the right place so to speak, I needed to move some bits to the front.  The book wasn't getting across it's true colors.  So, I took a funny bit a few pages in and made it the beginning. 

It works much better now, it gets the feel of the book out there faster, and isn't counting on the reader to see what's coming (since, even without foil, they really can't see inside my head ;)).

So what about you?  Have you looked for those points in your writing where you like it because you know what's coming?

But am I a HACK?

Yup- it's that time again- time for writers of all stripes to shout their insecurities into the great void of cyberspace and pray it doesn't echo back with a "you're right".

So today I thought I deal with the biggie, the one faced by millions of writers and from which all other insecurities stem from--being a hack.

hack writer - a mediocre and disdained writer

 

 

It's that whole mediocre bit that gets me.  Writers spend most of our time alone, hacking (;)) away at words in the dark confines of our writer hobbit holes, hoping that what we're putting together is awesome and will wow the literary world.  Or at least our chosen corner of it.

 

 

But no matter how many words I write, no matter how many new worlds, or new characters, I can't help that fear that it's all lacking.  That instead of flinging words of wonder out into the Universe I'm flinging something more likely to be found being flung at a zoo.

 

 

Now, logically (don't you hate it when logic interferes with a perfectly good, 'woe is me' rant?) I have enough evidence that I am not a hack.  Probably.  Enough industry professionals (who had no vested emotional reason to lie to me) have commented on my writing in a positive manner that I am not a hack. Random readers in contests, also with no vested interest in my mental well being, have given positive feedback to also support this hypothesis.

 

 

But logic doesn't kick in when it comes to that fear, that terror, that maybe I am just a hack and perhaps the professionals in question were on meds that day...or off their meds...or had too much coffee and were in a manic caffeine happy high.

 

 

I do wonder at what point the fear goes away. But until then, I'll continue battling with my inner demons and keep putting the words down.

 

 

Eventually it gets better.  Right?