It Takes a Village to Write a Novel

To write or not to write...and with whom to write? A book is unlike many other art-forms. For one thing, you can use it as toilet paper...but to stay relevant to the topic, it doesn’t require other actors, musicians, stagehands, roadies, groupies (G-d, I hope there are literary groupies with sexy glasses) etc. Right? That may not be as true as you think. Collaborating with other authors can be a crucial part of the creative process. But, don’t take our words for it...we’ll show you:

Not all drafts are voluntary

inductionmovie.com/

A Trumpet call blasts across the camp and the soldiers grumble from the tune.
The door to the barracks bursts open with a loud rattle and the Sergeant comes in with an even more sonorous voice.
“Polish your boots men (and women); today’s gonna be dirty!”
“Finish your drafts and get published before the enemy kills ya!” 

...Wait...Wrong draft! Aren’t we talking about writing? This isn’t Vietnam...

The Psychological Profiles of Critics (PART 2)

In an earlier post I talked about the different kinds of writing critics you might encounter. The profiles included: Your Mom (in a scientific context, not as the brunt of a joke surprisingly), Friends and Illiterate Strangers on the Internet. Today I have a few more psychological profiles of people who might give you feedback on your work and how to deal with them. 

eReaders: For The Electronically Inclined

Kindle vs. Nook

Hmmm. The Man tells us that we’re killing trees. The Man also tells us to read more, instead of rotting our brain watching the TV. Most reading still takes place on dead trees. Such hypocrisy!

Fortunately, The Man also comes out with new tech toys to sell us. There will always be so many products & deals, but, technology does not come cheap. And, because of that Law (although we do have that Invisible Hand), as soon as you get that device, it’s obsolete in six months, regardless of the quality.

Yet, there is a point to this: Is the eReader phenomenon here to stay and is it worth it?

A Writer's Soundtrack

As any biologist can tell you, the environment surrounding an organism can affect it on a very fundamental level. Why should your writing be any different? Isn’t your project a living, breathing, work of art? I believe mine is. I think it might have even bit me last night as I was working on it.
The part of the writing environment I want to talk about in this post is sound. Some need complete silence in which to concentrate while others prefer to let the white noise of a crowded coffee shop wash away distractions. Me? I need music...

Instant Fame...Not Karma: Gaining popularity as a writer

Thanks to daily-songs.com/

“Instant Karma’s gonna get you...gonna knock you right on the head.”

But, this is about “Instant Fame”, and nothing to do with Karma. Well, maybe a little to do with it.


When people first begin writing, it’s easy to think the first draft of a story is amazing.
                            

Writer’s Survival Guide: How to Be a Starving Artist Without the Starving Part

Photo rights: SamPac

Ok, so you’re not on the New York Times Best Seller List just yet. Maybe you’re still struggling to find a publisher. Maybe the dumb public wouldn’t know a good storyline if it came up and bit them on the illiterate ass. Or, maybe you just haven't gotten around to finishing the cursed book. Any way, you are going to have to make some money in the meantime. Why not get paid to do what you are hoping to get paid to do anyway? No not that! You dirty minded hominid! I’m talking about getting paid to write...

Writing Contests: On your marks...get set...holy crap I just lost!

Writing is kind of like a wasp. One of the only ways to smack that scary little insect away is to do something irresponsible and crazy: enter a writing contest or competition.

Image by Free-StockPhotos.com 

Oh, but the jitters come along. The inner-mind shrieks,“What if they don’t like it? What if...they think I’m a terrible writer?” Ah, and those fears are well warranted in many cases. Yet, fear is just that, and a great President of the United States of America told us that was rather foolish. So, let’s step away from that and move to the real part of this piece: where to look and how to enter contests. And why.

Let’s get down to business. Only novelists can enter these competitions. Writing anything else is a waste of time and should make you want to grab said Shotgun and do something rash.

No, I’m kidding. JK does not condone such thoughts. Write about it instead.

Last Writes: Dealing With Criticism of Your Writing (Part 1)

Dealing with critiques can be painful

So you finally opened up and showed your writing to the world and someone had bad things to say. Quickly! Curl up and die over there! Underneath the sofa, you can fit!
Or you can remember that it’s not the end of the world, not the end of your writing career, and not the best you can ever do when touching pen to paper (or fingers to keys)...

The First Write

We The Writers, as judged by the times and thoughts of our brethren, shall hereby relate the knowledge and wisdom of our trade. Please beware: you might enjoy this.

Yet, we must take a few steps backward. Without a basis for the purpose of this blog, you may never read this again. This is a blog, for all certain purposes, but it will and is reaching much farther than that. And, because of this special place, sacraments are welcome. Except not. That would be creepy.

Kyle and myself are The Writers. We are not just any pair of scribes, though. To tell you why that is would be blasphemy to the art, and thus, against our creed. We hope you’ll be excited to follow along with us as we are on the path to fortune and fame. Our at least some amazing works of fiction.

So, thank you for reading, and if you have any sort of soul, you’ll press the “Follow” button.

Till next time,

JK.