Whatever Works is a Good Technique

A great teacher of mine once said "Whatever works is a good technique." He was talking about acting, but the same rule applies for writers.
Whatever helps you write more joyfully, or helps you write better, or just more often, is a good technique, for YOU.
Every writer I've known has had his or her rules, or techniques, for writing.  They begin as wild guesses, desperate attempts for creativity, then become habits, and soon gain the status of rules--the breaking of which, the writer often feels, will bring "bad mojo" or "chase away the muse."
Those aspiring writers who have yet to get into a groove of being working writers often have no idea how to begin the process of writing. The answer is, of course, quite simple--"Whatever works is a good technique"!
Loraine, a writer friend of mine, recently stumbled across the writings of the amazing Rita Mae Brown. Loraine was amazed to find that not everyone knew of this literary genius, and soon began writing letters to her. The "Dear Rita Mae Brown" letters began. Being in her writing group, I was one of the few people chosen to read them in rough form.
The letters soon evolved to be about a lot more than writing--like RMB's own books--and all of Loraine's friends have been caught up in following the story as it unfolds, daily or weekly.
The reason I'm sharing this is: simply reading RMB's writing (and reading books about her colorful life) inspired Loraine, and gave her the impetus to write--along with the almost-daily "Dear RMB" letters--page after page of her own previously stalled novel-in-progress.
Whatever works, right?
I've often told writers who feel "blocked" or "stalled" or whatever they call it, that they need (among other things) to read writing that inspires them. This is one of the best--and fastest--results I've seen, in action, but I think there's always some good result.
The Dear RMB letters are now posted on Loraine's blog, "From Paige to Page"which you can find here. Start with the letters posted in April, and written in February. The link should take you to the first letter, dated 2-24-13.
If you want to be a writer and you aren't writing, then write. If you feel you can't write, try reading (or watching or visiting) something to inspire yourself--if it works, good. If not, try something else. Remember, "Whatever works is a good technique."
hasta pronto!

Such an Exciting Time to Be a Writer

Yes, it's true! This present time is the most exciting time ever to be a writer--not only are there oodles of places for writers to put their writing and have it read (well, yes, mostly for free, but still...) but there are also a zillion ways to get published, and many more places to have your books appear. Not to mention more than a few formats--e-books and "tree books" to name just two. (Thanks Matt!)
Every week or so I hear from another writer who is e-pubbing a book, self-pubbing a book, or starting to think about doing some version of the two.
It is true that all too often people rush their "shitty first drafts" into e-publication (see my premature e-publication post last year) and most of those books never go very far...Which is only right. Readers want quality writing, too, not just reading material.
But for those authors who invest enough time--and money--on quality packaging and publishing, the rewards can be enormous--whether those rewards are monetary, or not.
Just today I heard from my friend Marla Miller who just started a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to indie publish her novel--how novel! I'm a backer, and I hope you will join me--here is the link...let's all support writers in what ever small ways we can.
hasta pronto!

What Exactly Does an Editor Do?

Do you want to work with an editor, but are not sure about how to go about it? Are you wondering if it is too early to get an editor to look at your manuscript? Are you unsure what kind of editor to hire? Are you confused about the difference between a line editor and a content editor?

You'll find out the answers to these (and other) questions at my class at the San Diego Writers, Ink (SDWI) on Sunday, March 24th, from 1-5. More info is here.

For those with more time to invest in learning next Sunday, my talented editor friend Laurie Gibson has a class earlier that day at SDWI about the new world of publishing in "Publishing 1, 2, 3." More info on her class is here.

San Diego Writers, Ink, is a great group of local teachers, writers and lovers of words--they hold lots of classes and events. More info here.

Both classes are held at the Ink Spot in downtown San Diego....
Hope to see you there--spread the word...
hasta pronto!

Advice to Aspiring Writers

I am occasionally asked for advice from writers about how to get published.
Depending upon my mood, my advice is anything from a long list of books to read and websites to peruse, to simple comments like "just write today, and worry about the rest of it later."
I have often wished that "someone out there" would take the trouble to write a comprehensive answer to the question, and now someone has.
Today's blog post from Hugh Howey, "My Advice to Aspiring Authors" is so excellent and so jam-packed with current publishing-world insight that I'm just gonna link to it here. I don't agree with EVERY point he makes, but the bulk of it is so "write on" that I'm not going to quibble.
Okay. My work is done.
hasta pronto!

Give Your Writing More Oomph

Recently, working with an author client, I had to use a real bummer of a phrase about her writing--yes, I said it was "half-hearted." That might not sound bad to you, but it's a cardinal sin for writers. Nothing turns off an editor or agent (or ultimately, a reader), like writing that feels tepid or warmed-over.
So, take chances--raise the stakes--make it more important. 
If someone is coming to the end of a job, a marriage, or a friendship--make today the day that it ends. Show us what happens to precipitate that demise.
If your protagonist needs to have an epiphany, don't water it down--make it a real "come to Jesus" moment!
If you're writing about someone falling in love, write about the moment they realize it. Don't let them muse about how they "guess they had really sort of started to realize it" last week.
And let's all be careful of all those casual modifiers we use in speech (that are perfectly fine, when you're talking) such as those I used in the example above, as well as "kind of" and "might" and "a little bit." Who wants to read about someone who "might be, a little bit, sort of" falling in love? Or "kind of beginning to think she might be ready" to quit her job?
Use definite language--make your characters take a stand.
And don't use everyday words for extraordinary situations--try using words that sparkle, and resonate, and provoke.
Finding ways to "up the ante" for your characters, and using lively and exciting language, gives your writing more oomph--not to mention, it's fun and challenging. And isn't that what being a writer is all about?
See you soon at the Southern California Writers Conference--for more on SCWC, click here.
hasta pronto!