I'm Writing: Who Cares, Part 2
Tuesday, January 5, 2010 A comment in yesterday's post made me want to follow up on it today. Mridu Khullar noted that you should certainly keep writing, if only because every time you write, you improve. And I wanted to emphasize the truth in this statement - something I've said before on this blog, but since it's a new year and I have some new readers, I know that it's worth mentioning again.
Here's why: someone recently wrote in with the question (which I haven't yet posted) of whether or not my debut, The Department of Lost and Found, was the first manuscript I'd ever written. (Apologies to long-time readers of this blog if you've heard this story before.) In fact, it was not. I'd written another manuscript before The Department - said manuscript landed me an agent and was what I believed to be GENIUS. Before I even signed with an agent, I had envisioned the movie, seen my name on the bestseller list, was convinced that this book was going to be a BIG BOOK.
Weeeeeeeeeeell, not quite. The book got some nibbles from editors but ultimately, didn't get an offer. My agent and I parted ways soon after that when she told me that The Department, which I'd written in the meantime, would (and I quote), "Do more harm than good for my career."
In retrospect, that first manuscript was HORRIBLE. WRETCHED. SO GOD-AWFUL that I literally could never bring myself to reread it in the years since. I mean, it just stunk. But I didn't know that at the time. I knew that - in hindsight - by writing a better book. After I'd written The Dept, and thought I might return to that original manuscript and see if I could revisit/resell it. No way, no how. It wasn't even worth providing CPR to.
So how did I write this better book? Well, with some help from that agent, who took the time to point out where I was telling not showing, as well as noted when I killed the reader with exposition. But I also did it by reading, reading, reading writers whom I admired. I did it by being IMPARTIAL to my writing - cutting, deleting, recognizing that however beautiful a sentence might be, if it's not necessary to the book, it got axed. I did it by taking my ego out of it - that first manuscript was, in fact, so far from genius that I needed to step back and realize that I had a lot to learn. I never used a critique group because by the time I found my new agent, The Dept manuscript was already in good shape - but certainly, I would have. And when I wrote my next book, Time of My Life, I realized that I'd improved even more (some people disagree - hee, that's fine too)- there's an endless learning curve when you're a fiction writer. And though writing The One That I Want was a huge struggle for me, there is NO DOUBT that I never could have written that book without having written the ones before it. They're like dominos stacking on top of each other - only with skill sets instead of tile pieces.
So my point here is that even if you're not published: keep writing. I wasn't and I did. And that's how I got here today.
Reader Comments (7)
You hit the nail on its head with that post.
I started working on my first novel about five years ago, I set it aside after three hundred pages stuck on how I would end it. After shelving it, I started my second novel, and that one has been a so much fun to write--all five drafts! As l Iook back at the very first draft to the current one I see how my writing has improved and matured.
A few months ago, I took a look at the first novel. I thought perhaps I could write the ending (I finally came up with one a couple of years ago) and get some closure. Maybe with some revisions and rewrites, post it on my blog just for the heck of it. So I read the first chapter. Um, no. I was embarrassed by the whole premise, the characters, the setting, my voice, everything. It would do me more harm than good to post it. So in the hard drive drawer it stays.
Maybe if I had stuck to it and kept revising and rewriting, it would have turned out okay. But I'm no longer that writer. My style is very different now and I like it. The bottom line is that if you quit writing, you'll never become a better writer, develop a distinct voice or style, or get published.
Great advice. It takes effort when I'm reading something truly astounding to stop and deconstruct how the author put a scene together...but it pays off when I catch myself at the beginning of a mediocre writing habit and now have a better approach.
I think this is an interesting point you bring up, especially because there is something of a discussion going on in my blog circles about "why blog" and "how often to blog"...that sort of thing. It's mostly coming from people who, I think, started blogging as an outlet but now just find it to be a chore, an obligation. Except for the ones that are truly writers at heart and blogging is like food and shelter for them. Some of them want to be published authors someday, but it's hard to imagine that considering they find writing to be a chore. And they feel pressure from all of their "followers" to keep it up. But I say...keep writing, even if no one else is reading because, as with anything else, you will undoubtedly improve. Thanks for addressing it.
I found you through Jen Lancaster whom I adore like pink purses and have been following on Twitter for quite some time. Looks like I'll have to add your blog to my blog roll now. :D
Question:
I think I have been writing chapter one of my book for the past six months now. I edit, edit, edit and then edit some more(complete madness I tell you!!) How do you know when to move on to the next chapter?
One of my favorite things is seeing how much I've improved even over the course of a manuscript. I generally don't go back and edit until I'm finished but even in those few hundred pages I can see my craft improving. It's kind of fun. And depressing. But fun!
Great points! I would add too that sometimes, especially for beginners, mixing things up can help. Struggling with a novel? Write a poem. Can't get that humorous essay to flow? Try a short story. Having different projects going will only help your skills develop and may help you find what you are really good at (and enjoy) writing. I spent about a year doing this until I found that the novel format is what suits me. That being said. I do have a couple small side projects that I use to help keep me motivated - and to trick myself into feeling productive - when I just can't face my manuscript or am feeling a bit rusty...like after the holidays!
Great tips, thankyou! x