Tag Archives: Writing

A Right Time to Write?

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Lynne1-editedCan you believe we’re up to week four of the ‘Write Time’ series? Today we have another quality guest blogger, award winning author and professional editor, Lynne Stringer. Lynne has loved to write since she was small, and as a published YA author, magazine and newspaper editor and screenwriter, she’s been able to explore that dream across numerous genres. Today Lynne broaches a topic most writers will relate to – that wrestle to achieving a workable balance between crafting a new writing project and the demands of ‘real life’. Just days before we launch into the New Year, this is timely wisdom. Over to you, Lynne. 🙂

Is there a right time to write? It’s an interesting question and one I’m pondering a lot of late.

One of the problems with being an unknown author is that you have to have a day job or else you starve. You’ve also usually got a family and so you need to spend time with them, not to mention doing things like feeding them, cleaning the house, etc.

Also, once you’ve had some books published, you really need to spend some time promoting yourself and your books.

The dilemma then becomes—when do you find time to write something new?

I recently started a new job, and although we’re closed over Christmas, I’m still trying to catch up on fifty million (okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration!) other things I have to do. This is causing a little ball of pressure to build up in me because I’ve got an idea for a new story. Am I going to find the time to write it or even start it? I hope so. It’s not quite at the point where it’s knocking on the inside of my head, demanding to be released (yes, authors are weird!) but I don’t think it will be long before it is. I’ve just got to work out the resolution (that’s the bit at the end where everything is tied up) but I think I’ve got it, so soon the little voice of my story will become a loud scream, as it decides it’s time to come out!

One of the best things about this story is that I already know what it’s going to be called. That’s rare for me. I usually find it hard to think of titles. And I’m reasonably confident it’s a title that is useable, although I’ve been wrong about that before, so I’ll have to see if that’s the case.

But still, will I find the time to write it? What I need to do, of course, is make time. While that’s easier said than done, especially at this time of the year, I’m hopeful that soon will come that exciting moment when I sit down and write the first line. The only thing better than writing the first line of a story is writing the last.

theheir_cover silver award smallLynne Stringer has been passionate about writing all her life, beginning with short stories in her primary school days. She began writing professionally as a journalist and was the editor of a small newspaper (later magazine) for seven years, before turning her hand to screenplay writing and novels. Lynne currently works as a professional editor and proofreader. Her debut novel, The Heir, the first book in the Verindon trilogy, received the Literary Classics’ sliver award in young adult science fiction in 2014. You can connect with Lynne on Pintrest, Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon and Twitter @TheHeirNovel.

The Power of Some

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Conference_SpotDo you come away from conferences and retreats inspired, full of enthusiasm and ready to squeeze the very best out of your area of interest? Maybe it’s just me, but when people with a common focus gather, there’s something energising about it. And with a writers’ conference and creative retreat within a week of each other in October, and a writers festival and retreat in November, I’m feeling pretty excited.

So what is this power of ‘some’? From my perspective, I think it can be easy to feel isolated in certain aspects of a field of discipline, as if the challenges and frustrations faced in a given area of interest are ours alone. By sharing information, encouragement and the highs and lows of our everyday journeys, it can be refreshing to realise we’re not the only ones facing similar challenges.

Likewise, when we want to celebrate achievements, what better way to do it than with others who understand the steep, winding road it’s taken to reach our goal? There’s such a buzz around that kind of thing when shared with others who ‘get it’.

And then there’s the learning. I don’t know about you, but each time I find myself at an event focussing on a particular discipline, I also come away feeling resourced with new skills and insights. It doesn’t matter how long I’ve been in a particular field, there’s always more to learn, which certainly keeps things from getting mundane.

I’d love to hear the thoughts and experiences of others who’ve ‘gathered’ lately, and if you’ve not been on a power-of-some adventure recently, why not see if there’s an event of interest coming up. If it’s anything like the ones on my calendar, you’ll be pleased you made the effort to attend.

Avoiding Write Pains

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERARecently my fun physio friend and writing associate, Pamela Heemskerk, and I teamed up to do a series of guest blogs for the ACW blogspot. And what better topic than pain?

Before you run and hide, the point is actually PREVENTING pain by developing positive habits to prevent repetitive strain injuries to muscles and joints. For writers these types of injuries can put a swift cap on the ol’ word count capacity. And wouldn’t it be a shame if we couldn’t share our deliciously creative word-slurries with the world? But this isn’t just a writer’s thing. We all spend enormous quantities of time using technological devices and no one is immune to muscle and joint strain.

In case you missed out on this series, I’ve added the links below. Click on over to discover some helpful ways to minimise your writing pain and maintain word count gains. 🙂

 

Part 1 – Pre-POSTURE-ous Perils of Ineffective Ergonomics

Part 2 – I NEED to move it, move it!

Part 3 – The ‘Eyes’ Have It

Part 4 – Your Ergonomic Writes for Headache-free Adventures

He said, she said

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BookStack1_2In recent years there’s been much advice on the use of speech tags in writing. If I picked two key points from the current standard, they would be:

1) Eliminate speech tags in preference of action beats wherever possible.
2) Use simple ‘he said’ or ‘she said’ instead of other tags like ‘retorted’, ‘teased’ or ‘simpered’.

I’ve applied this advice to my own writing, appreciating the improved flow and consistent pace conferred by not constantly bumping over ‘said’, ‘bawled’ or ‘snapped’. That said (pardon the pun …), I sometimes find myself including an action beat because it’s the ‘appropriate’ thing to do. Laziness? Weariness? Maybe just, ‘I’ve been at this for hours and just really want to finish this scene!’ All I know is token beats can really drain the life out of a scene (and characters) and make them feel flat and contrived. Clearly this is something to be mindful of, but I’m a ‘show me’ kind of person. I like to see examples of what works in order to apply it in my own writing. (You know that whole ‘writers should be readers’ thing? 😉 ) And I’ve stumbled across a gem.

Presently I’m listening to the audio recording of Jasper Jones by Australian author Craig Silvey. (Who says you can’t read and drive at the same time?) The language is coarse in places, although not gratuitous given the context. I suppose hearing it rather than being able to gloss over profanities with my eyes is more confronting, and although only a short way into the story, already I’ve sensed a sad, empty perspective of spirituality beyond anything but self in the characters. Yet the writing is brilliant. I’ve been drawn in, my imagination filled with carefully crocheted words that form an intricately textured blanket in my mind.

But while listening yesterday it struck me. He said? She said? I’m not far into the story, but I couldn’t say I’d noticed many. Was I so engrossed in the scenes that I missed them?

As I couldn’t flip back pages to prove it, today I got my hands on a printed copy – and there are some. A tag here and there, bunched in other places. Never overdone. Still, what really grabbed my attention was not a single action beat merely filled space. It all blended as part of the scene, sketching characters and emotions in three dimensions, and bringing settings to life like a seamless cloth. Two short examples from the first chapter:

p. 2
He takes a step towards me. I take one back.
‘Okay. Are you ready?’
‘What? Ready for what?’
‘I tole you. I need your help, Charlie. Come on.’ His eyes are darting, his weight presses back.

p. 10
‘I’m sorry, Charlie. I’m sorry about this, mate. I dunno what to do.’
I am hugging my elbows. I turn to Jasper Jones.
‘Why would you bring me here? I shouldn’t be here. I have to go back home. You have to tell someone about this.’
‘Wait. Charlie, not yet, mate. Not yet.’ It’s firm plea. We fall silent.

There is much I can learn from this master wordsmith, and many others. As I’m turning my attention to editing once again, this is a timely reminder of the importance of constantly challenging my writing craft through exposure to more skilful authors. How about you? Are there stories that have opened your eyes to a better way of writing? I’d love to hear about your experiences.

Keeping Time

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Last week we had our final guest blogger for ‘The Write Life’ series, and now it’s my turn to put in the last word. From herding cats to occupational quandaries of writing, there’s been much wisdom shared over the past two months. I hope you’ve enjoyed the contributions of our guests as much as I have. Many thanks again to all contributors! (Rita, Jo, Lynne, Meredith, Paula, Jeanette, Anusha, Sandra and Nola.) I encourage all my readers to follow up these fantastic authors and explore their work. You’ll be pleased you did.

WatchPicMy ‘Write Life’ lessons are many, but there is a simple one I constantly return to. Timing. Numerous times I’ve sent off a manuscript or short work, only to have my submissions rejected. Repeatedly. This can be frustrating, even discouraging, but eventually it becomes apparent that the works aren’t ready. It either wasn’t their time and/or they needed further development.

Our goals and dreams in life can be much like those submissions. At times potential opportunities repeatedly end with the equivalent of a rejection letter. Desires ranging from publishing a novel to finding that perfect job – or even a life partner – may seem unreachable, allowing frustration and discouragement to take root. We can question many things about our circumstances, or even give up those hopes entirely. Sadly, we can forget that each day spent waiting is another day to flourish in our ‘now’ and be better prepared for whatever the future holds.

Just like a manuscript, time spent reworking and waiting is never wasted. How tempting it can be to try and hurry those processes along. But there might be a much better ending than we could ever imagine, if we just wait for the right opportunity instead of forging ahead with our own plans, no matter what.

Perhaps our hopes are for a dear one to make better life choices. This is one area where I can grow quite impatient, especially when I can see those choices taking someone I love down a road that will guarantee a tonne of hurt and regret to work through later. It can be tempting to lecture and demand, ‘Why can’t you see?’ Yet, we’ve all taken unnecessary turns in life and have to walk our own path. It takes time to develop maturity and perspective. Including our own. It can also be difficult to see our own faults in these situations – a lot like the flaws in a beloved manuscript we’ve penned. Perspective requires much wisdom and grace.

A willingness to live and grow in the right time often yields imperfect yet inspiring stories of hope out of journeys through shadowed valleys of uncertainty. We might have our own ideas on the time frames in which we expect things to happen, but my experience constantly reminds me that life’s a long haul. And timing is everything.