Does Story Trump Craft?

http://www.rachellegardner.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/10463420_s-150x150.jpg We’ve discussed various aspects of writing many times on this blog, including the importance of mastering the craft along with how crucial it is to have a terrific story (or for non-fiction, a strong, compelling topic). Having been an editor for years and an aficionado of both literary and genre fiction, I’ve always advocated the position that “writing craft” is of primary importance. But I wonder if it’s time to change my tune. Are we entering an era in which the story is the single most important element, and issues of “craft” are secondary if considered at all? We are seeing: The rise of self-publishing Scaled-back editing at many of the major publishing houses More competition than ever for readers’ attention and time Could all of this... [ Read More → ]

How Do You Know If Your Work is Any Good?

A question from a reader on Facebook: I’ll ask the question that’s been asked a hundred thousand times by writers perhaps at all levels. Outside of selling, how do you know that your work is actually good? You may pitch a book, and it might be good but might not be what an agent likes. So how do you validate that what you are doing is good? Always a good question! And a tough one. Here are some thoughts: First, there’s the definition of “good.” Art and entertainment are completely subjective. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. While there are certain standards by which many of us agree to judge worthiness, it’s still not even close to being objective. Organizations routinely give awards to books that would bore the heck out of most  readers.... [ Read More → ]

Writing a One-Sentence Summary

Let’s discuss the one-sentence summary, also known as a logline, a hook, or a one-sentence pitch. (It is not a tagline, however.) What: About 25 words that capture your novel, memoir, or non-fiction book. Why: To get someone interested in reading your book. When to use it: The start of a query, book proposal, or anytime someone asks you, “What’s your book about?” What it does: A one-sentence summary takes your complex book with multiple characters and plotlines and boils it down into a simple statement that can be quickly conveyed and understood, and generates interest in the book. What it should include: → A character or two → Their choice, conflict, or goal → What’s at stake (may be implied) → Action that will get them to the goal → Setting (if... [ Read More → ]

7 Lessons from Advertising

Guest Blogger: Elizabeth Miller Wood (@ElizMillerWood) As an advertising copywriter, my job is to sell stuff using words. Regardless of what I’m selling—a product, a service, a destination—the copy strives for two goals: capture readers and compel them to take action. For the next few minutes, pretend you’ve got something to sell—in this case, your writing. You need to “sell” that agent on requesting your manuscript. You need to “sell” that reader on continuing to the next chapter. You need to “sell” your blog followers on coming back again. Here’s the catch: advertising copy allows very little word count. You have to sell your writing quickly and efficiently. This takes discipline! And discipline is a valuable skill for writers to hone. Here are seven lessons of... [ Read More → ]

4 Tips for Writing a Quick First Draft

National Novel Writing Month starts in three weeks! For those who don’t know what this is, you can go to the NaNoWriMo site here and learn all about it. The point is to write a 50,000 word novel between Nov. 1 and Nov. 30. I think it’s great for discipline and for getting that first draft out. A terrific way to stop procrastinating and just do it! Of course, in many cases, 50,000 words isn’t going to be an entire novel. If you’re planning a longer book, it’s okay. You can write the skeleton of a novel, then fill it out later, or write roughly half of your novel by the end of November, whatever 50k words turns out to be. You have to get to 50k, though — that’s the point. So let’s talk about writing a first draft. Today I want to address a couple... [ Read More → ]

Writing Craft: Foreshadowing

http://www.rachellegardner.com//HLIC/5600bc1656b69ef15344fae813ab190f.jpg I haven’t done a craft post in a while, so today I thought I’d talk about an aspect of novel-writing that I don’t see addressed very often, even though I deal with it all the time when editing novels. It’s the technique of foreshadowing and its black-sheep cousin, telegraphing. Foreshadowing is when you purposely drop tiny hints about what’s going to happen later in the novel, to heighten the effect or the suspense. It might not even be a hint, but an image or idea that thematically relates to whatever’s going to happen later. It’s like subtle shading to plant tiny, even imperceptible, seeds in your reader’s mind. Telegraphing is giving away too much, too soon, thereby ruining the suspense, or the impact of the event. When you foreshadow,... [ Read More → ]

Six Ways to Avoid Becoming a Literary Mimic

Guest Blogger: JR Parsons Call me Katniss. Some seconds ago–it’s not important how many–feeling lonely and cold in my bed, and finding not the warmth of my sister beside me but only the rough canvas mattress cover, I thought about the bad dreams that must have disturbed her sleep and caused her to search in the dark for the comfort of our mother. It was a way, I knew, of warding off fear of the coming reaping. Sounds familiar, right? But is it Suzanne Collins or Herman Melville? Neither–unless Collins fell prey to the literary mimicry trap or Melville wrote dystopian YA fiction. Thankfully neither did. And the world reaped Moby Dick and The Hunger Games. I sometimes work with writers who, in hopes of discovering their own voice, listen to well-intentioned advice. Read... [ Read More → ]

How to Become a Better Writer

*10 Non-Writing-Related Ideas 1. Be creative any way you can. Cook new recipes. Paint a picture. Design a garden. Compose a song. Build something with Legos. Organize the garage. 2. Pay attention. Observe the mannerisms of people around you. Listen to how they speak. Marvel at the way they’re dressed. Notice their shoes and their posture and the look in their eye. 3. Be an armchair shrink. Analyze people’s behavior. Ask yourself how their actions reveal their character. Wonder about their motivations. Scrutinize the dynamics of relationships. Drive your spouse and kids crazy. Read the rest of the post at the Books & Such blog. Be Sociable, Share! ... [ Read More → ]

What Makes a Blog or a Book Compelling?

Whether we’re talking about blogs, non-fiction books, or novels, one of the most crucial elements in making it compelling to readers is authenticity. When something is written from your deepest truth; when you’ve put your heart and passion into it, the reader can tell. In my mind, this is another way of saying, “Write what you know.” Most people take “write what you know” literally, meaning you can only write about situations with which you’re personally familiar. But in my opinion, that’s a limiting way to approach it. Write what you know means write from a deep place. Be honest. Don’t write from the surface. Whether you’re writing about parenthood or cancer or expanding your social media platform… be real. Be passionate.... [ Read More → ]

The Writing Rules Are Just Tools

http://www.rachellegardner.com//HLIC/0526cffb66a40645848d978f2855978c.jpg I am taking a blog hiatus. This is an encore presentation of a previous post. If you’ve been studying the craft of writing for long, you’ve heard all the “rules.” You know that you’re supposed to show not tell, use active not passive verbs, eschew adverbs, maintain consistent POVs, avoid repetition, and all the rest. But it’s easy to get too caught up in the rules and get frustrated at trying so hard to follow them that you find your creativity stunted. In addition, some writers are actively resentful about the rules, feeling like the Writing Establishment is trying to keep everyone in a little box and not allow writers’ artistic visions to shine through. I want to share a few thoughts about writing rules. 1. They’re not meant to be slavishly followed. They’re meant... [ Read More → ]

Is Talent Overrated?

I’ve been studying various philosophies of success and mastery lately, in an attempt to better understand how to help writers reach their goals. I came across this idea that Talent is Overrated and that, in fact, it is hard work that leads people to master a skill or profession, not any kind of inborn ability. I’ve mentioned many times on this blog that there may be a degree of innate talent or aptitude for writing a good book that contributes to a writer’s chances of success. But perhaps I’ve been wrong all this time? I find Geoff Colvin’s theories and his analysis of the research compelling. He says that it’s not just hard work that makes the difference and leads to greatness. It’s a specific kind of hard work: a regimented and completely... [ Read More → ]

Is Your Writing Better Than Facebook?

Guest blogger: Ed Cyzewski (@edcyzewski) As writers, we all have a fierce, powerful, all-consuming competitor. You won’t find it at a book store, and it’s one of the few things you can’t find on Amazon. I’m talking about Facebook. If you use Facebook, think about what you love about it for a moment. Facebook provides: → Entertainment → Interaction with friends → Immediate gratification Facebook is your competition because it consumes a ton of leisure time. I’m not saying that we need to fight Facebook toe to toe. I don’t think the world is pining for a book written like a Facebook timeline (though, you never know). Our challenge as writers is to drag our readers away from irresistible distractions like Facebook long enough to teach, enchant, or motivate them with... [ Read More → ]

How Hard Should We Make Our Readers Work?

Guest Blogger: Mike Duran (@CerebralGrump) Ask ten different authors the difference between literary fiction and commercial fiction and you’ll get 10 different answers. When there is consensus, it’s usually that literary fiction is more about the writing than the story, while commercial fiction is more about the story than the writing. Graham Greene simply made the distinction between what he called “novels” and “entertainments.” When I began shopping my first novel, I was told to avoid the term “literary.” “In today’s market,” they said, “literary is a death sentence.” Okay, so that may be a bit extreme. Nevertheless, today’s readers do seem less concerned about the writing than the entertainment. Tempo... [ Read More → ]

6 Things To Learn from Hemingway

Over the last year or so, I’ve been re-reading some Ernest Hemingway. The more I read, and the more I learn about his approach to writing and his work habits, the more I’m in awe of his genius. I’ve come to see him as a remarkable example that serious writers would do well to study and emulate. Setting aside the depression, the personal demons that drove him, and the drinking he used to cope, Hemingway stands as a master of the craft with a great deal to teach us. Here are a few valuable things I’ve identified: 1. He read the masters and studied them obsessively. His teachers were Homer, Dante, Flaubert, Turgenev, Dostoevsky, and countless other exceptional writers. 2. He was friends with writers and discussed writing, art, and literature incessantly. His early circle included... [ Read More → ]