The Making of the Perfect Novel
by K.M. Weiland @ Word PlayIs there such a thing as the perfect novel? And, if so, how does one go about writing it?
Once we’ve thought about it, I think most of us would agree that that the answer to the first question is an indisputable no. Perfection in art is unequivocally subjective. What one reader hails as perfection, another will throw across the room in disgust. As readers, our preferred reading experiences span the gamut from cuddly, reaffirming romances to gritty, life-challenging noir. And that’s awesome. A world without variety would leave us authors with very little of interest to write about.
Subtext: The Art of Iceberging
by K.M. Weiland @ Word PlayAs a writer, it’s easy to become accustomed to peeking into random characters’ minds. One of the thrills of writing stems from the ability we authors have to be “all-knowing” within the scope of our story worlds. Unlike real life, where we sometimes (make that often) struggle to understand the opinions, emotions, and needs of those around us, in writing we have the power to understand everything. I know why my characters react in sometimes unexpected and seemingly irrational ways. I know their histories, and I know their futures. I never have to wonder why they think or act; I just know.
Writing Background Inspiration
by Laura @ Word GrrlsToday I was thinking about what you like in the background as you write? Music is the most likely background. I flick on the radio to an oldies station and then I ignore it completely while I write. Some of it likely leaks into my brain but I couldn’t tell you even one of the songs that played.
Show and Tell
by K.M. Weiland @ Word Play storytellingArguably the most important rule of fiction is the age-old Show, don’t tell! Sounds simple, right? And yet many inexperienced (and some not-so-inexperienced) writers struggle with this foundational principle. After all, isn’t all of writing telling? Every word we write is for the express purpose of telling the reader what he’s supposed to imagine. Right?
The simple answer is yes. The not-so-simple answer is yes and no. Personally, I’ve always thought that the “show-and-tell” aphorism was a poor statement, simply because, for a writer, showing and telling both amount to the same thing: explaining a story to the readers.
So what’s the difference?
Sales Technique for Writing
by Laura @ Word Grrls sales copywriting techniques and stylesI’ve never liked being a salesperson, yet as a writer we are in fact, salespeople. You can’t get around it. We sell ourselves as credible sources for information. But, we also sell our ideas and our writing itself. If you’ve ever thought “Why should anyone read my stuff?” You can understand the relationship between sales and writing (even before publishing comes into it). We want readers to buy into our writing, to be believe what we write, take it seriously. So, we have to sell it.
Rules? We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Rules!
by K.M. Weiland @ Word PlayArt has to bear up under the strange dichotomy of both following set patterns and breaking those patterns. Writing is certainly no different.
The so-called Rules of writing are what make stories work. And, probably more importantly, they’re what get authors published. Readers and publishers alike expect stories to follow certain parameters. Authors are supposed to maintain consistent POVs, follow traditional story arcs, and play fair with foreshadowing and revelation. When authors violate these (and myriad other) “rules,” they risk angering the two most important people in their professional lives—the publisher who pays them and the reading public who ensure that they continue to be paid.
Be a Better Blog Commenter
by Laura @ Word GrrlsSay something relevant to the post itself. Come up with a comment more interesting than “I agree” or “Me too”. It’s not that tough to stretch out a thought beyond two words. Why do you agree with the post? What was your own experience? Most blog comments are on the short side. Find a bit more to say and make yours longer to stand out. A longer comment also gives the feeling you are interested in the post and the blogger and able to string together ideas yourself. Others are more likely to click on the link to your blog if you seem to be someone who can write and write well.
5 Ways to Pace Your Story
by K.M. Weiland @ Wordplay storytellingPacing is like a dam. It allows the writer to control just how fast or how slow his plot flows through the riverbed of his story. Understanding how to operate that dam is one of the most important tasks an author has to learn. Without this skill, we end up writing stories that variously lack momentum, feel uneven, become anticlimactic, and seem melodramatic. Following are five tips for taking this important plot skill beyond instinct to conscious action:
Characters: Likability Is Overrated
by K.M. Weiland @ Wordplay charactersWriters want readers to love their characters. We want them to connect with the men and women who inhabit our stories. We want them to empathize so strongly that they are moved to laughter and to tears right along with these imaginary people we’ve created. So, naturally, we want our characters to be as likable as possible. Right?
5 Q’s with Anna David
by Susan Johnston @ Urban Muse Writer interviewParty Girl author Anna David is a former partier herself, but now her drunken adventures are confined to the page. She’s contributed to the New York Times, Cosmo, Self, and Women’s Health, among many other publications. Her debut novel was released last week. Read my commentary here and see below for insight into Anna’s success.
Writing Your Very Own, Very Good Villain
by Laura @ Word Grrls charactersI think I’ve been having trouble getting my book off the ground, writing the characters, because I have been writing the villain as the heroine and the heroine as the villain. At first I thought I was just out of practice writing a good villain. So, as I was in the shower and had nothing else to do, I began plotting my villain.
Downtime?What Downtime?
by K.M. Weiland @ Word Play adviceMost non-writers have a hard time fathoming that some of our most difficult work takes place when we appear to be least productive. Actually, this is a little gem of a realization that even some writers have yet to appreciate. Making use of so-called “downtime” can actually be one of the most productive tricks in a writer’s bag.
Fighting Writer’s Block
by K.M. Weiland @ Wordplay writers blockWould it surprise you to hear I don’t believe in writer’s block? This infamous boogey man, rumored to lurk behind computer monitors and breathe down writers’ necks, hypnotizing us with the blinking cursor and laughing as we toss upon our sleepless beds-he’s just a ghost story as far as I’m concerned. An over-hyped ghost story at that.
You Too Can Write Earth Shaking Headlines
by Laura @ Word Grrls titlesI’ve always found headlines fun, a kind of challenge but a freedom to be a bit daring, wild and just plain contrary. You can pick something a bit misleading, something humourous, something argumentative or whatever appeals to you at the time.
Making the Time to Write
by K.M. Weiland @ Word Play tips“‘It is only half an hour’-’it is only an afternoon’-’it is only an evening’-people say to me over and over again-but they don’t know that it is impossible to command oneself sometimes to any stipulated and set disposal of five minutes-or that the mere consciousness of an engagement will sometimes worry a whole day. These are the penalties paid for writing books. Whoever is devoted to an Art must be content to deliver himself wholly up to it, and find his recompense in it. I am grieved if you suspect me of not wanting to see you, but I can’t help it.”
5 Tips for Maximizing Research
by K.M. Weiland @ Wordplay researchResearch is vital no matter what kind of fiction you write. I spent almost as much time researching modern-day Chicago for my fantasy novel Dreamers Come as I did the Third Crusade for my historical novel Behold the Dawn (scheduled for release October 1). I’ve always found it odd that some authors approach research as if it were the bane of their craft. Since most of us write fiction in an urge to learn and grow, research is a natural extension of that. On average, I spend three months researching any given novel before diving into the writing. And I love it. I love discovering the solid facts-the bricks-that will turn the imagined walls of my story into something solid. That said, I’m very much aware that research can be both overwhelming and frustrating. Following are some of the tricks I’ve adopted for my own use.
The Stashing of Ideas
by Laura @ Word Grrls ideasDo you wake up in the morning with the plot for the world’s greatest novel formulating in your brain? Not every morning, but about once a week I do. Often when I’m in the middle of something else: driving, showering, putting away groceries, watching TV, talking on the phone, making dinner, plotting my greatest ever Canadian World Domination… I get the best ideas but have no paper handy to jot them down. I forget a lot of great ideas before I can write them down.
Opening Yourself to Inspiration
by K.M. Weiland @ Word Play motivationIf you’re like most writers, coming up with story ideas is rarely a problem. More than likely, your brain bubbles over with more ideas than you’d be able to use in two and half lifetimes. I’ve yet to meet a writer who decided Hmm, I’d like to be an author—and then sat down to brainstorm ideas. Instead, I suspect most of us first turned to writing as a way to release the pressure of all the ideas already ricocheting around in our brains.
Reading Into It
by Laura @ Word Grrls ideastechniquesHere’s a writing exercise for you: Write a short description of a scene or action with one character in the scene. Don’t describe the character, or avoid as much description of the person as you can.
The All-Important Link Between Theme and Character Progression
by K.M. Weiland @ Word Play charactersthemesTheme is a slippery concept. The prevailing wisdom among writers is that if you apply any deliberate force to your theme, you’ll end up with a heavy-handed Aesop’s fable. On the other hand, a story without a theme is shallow escapism at best and an unrealistic flop at worst. Theme is arguably the single most important facet of a memorable story. Vivid characters, witty dialogue, and killer plot twists can certainly carry a story by themselves, but without theme they will never deliver their full potential. And yet, no theme at all is often far better than a poorly delivered theme.