Everyone knows (or should know) that you can't be a writer unless you're a reader. Reading is how we learn the craft, whether that knowledge comes from emulating the great books or analyzing the bad. When it comes to genre, reading that genre is how writers learn the conventions, stylistic variations, common themes, and tropes. If I had to make a list of the most common advice I've read in "writing 101" books, "read your genre" would come in at #2, right between "open in media res" and "write what you know."
Just like those other two chestnuts, though, "read your genre" has its own pitfalls as a piece of advice. While it's important to read and understand your genre of choice, it's my opinion that only reading the genre you write is a quick way to get stuck in a rut.
Years ago in high school (okay, not that many years ago; I am only 20), I was trying to come up with a new story idea for a NaNoWriMo novel. Fantasy is my genre of choice and always has been, and I wanted to put together a stunning work of epic quests, creatures, and discoveries. I was, however, stuck fast. Everything I scribbled out in my notebook seemed trite and overdone, and I pitched countless harried notes into File 13, never to be heard from again.
It was at that point my mom came to me with a book she loved, but that was vastly different than anything I've ever written: Naked in Death, by J.D. Robb.
I loved that book. I'm a couple books behind in the series now, but I've read most of them more than once and will keep reading them as long as they're being written. They're not part of my favorite genre, but that doesn't make them bad. I enjoy those books more than some fantasy I've read, because they're well-written, they have strong characters who go through realistic arcs, and while some of the cases the main character solves might be "formulaic," they always contribute to the characters' overall growth as a person. They're great and I can't recommend them highly enough.
And, at that point in time, they were just what I needed. Reading good books that weren't part of my genre bounced me out of the rut I was in. I didn't stop to analyze every little thing because it was a genre I was trying to write; rather, I was able to sit back and enjoy a damn good story. It was only after I read the first few books in the series that I stepped back and examined what made me love them.
It was that examination that made me realize I can't just think about my genre and its "rules," I have to focus first on telling a story I'm passionate about and that has a strong story.
It's important to read the genre you write, but I think it's more important to read good books and, once you've taken time to enjoy them, then take a moment to think about what you loved. Every genre needs strong characters and an engaging plot, not just your chosen genre, and reading widely exposes you to different techniques you can try out for yourself.
Thoughts, anyone?
'Til next time,
J.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Monday, June 2, 2014
It Begins
And with a bang, a crash, and a lightning flash...it's Monday again. The working types are off to another day on the job, and we home-lurkers are either enjoying a morning to ourselves or sleeping in. Or maybe something else--obviously I don't know. But however you're spending your Monday morning, I hope it's treating you well.
It's been a while, hasn't it? But it's a fresh month and the beginning of a promising summer. I've been writing away between reblogging cool pictures on my tumblr, and I'm nearly 30,000 words into my behemoth of a WiP. I've got a few other projects bubbling away on the back burner, but for now, this lovely thing I call From Dust to Ashes holds my heart.
I have a few plans for the impending summer, though for us the routine isn't disrupted much. The husband's schedule stays the same through the heat, and I don't have to worry about keeping any kids entertained. All that's really going to be different is the heat, and that can be handled with the miracle that is central air. So...what's a girl to do?
The answer: write my ass off.
My best good pal Mireyah Wolfe and I did some number crunching, and they made a real pretty sound. We can't make any definite calls yet, but it looks like the two of us might be able to grace the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers conference with our presence this year. We've both set a goal of having, if not finished books, at least finished drafts of our WiPs by the time we fly out (assuming we can go).
According to my word count meter, I'm approximately 19% toward my word goal, with an estimated finish date of November 10th at my current pace. Obviously November comes after September, so starting today I intend to pick up the pace. This is my summer of writing. Between a trip to see my family, a barbecue or two, and whatever other distractions summer brings, I will finish at least the first draft of this book. It's going to happen. I believe in me.
So what are you folks planning for the summer?
'Til next time,
J.
It's been a while, hasn't it? But it's a fresh month and the beginning of a promising summer. I've been writing away between reblogging cool pictures on my tumblr, and I'm nearly 30,000 words into my behemoth of a WiP. I've got a few other projects bubbling away on the back burner, but for now, this lovely thing I call From Dust to Ashes holds my heart.
I have a few plans for the impending summer, though for us the routine isn't disrupted much. The husband's schedule stays the same through the heat, and I don't have to worry about keeping any kids entertained. All that's really going to be different is the heat, and that can be handled with the miracle that is central air. So...what's a girl to do?
The answer: write my ass off.
My best good pal Mireyah Wolfe and I did some number crunching, and they made a real pretty sound. We can't make any definite calls yet, but it looks like the two of us might be able to grace the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers conference with our presence this year. We've both set a goal of having, if not finished books, at least finished drafts of our WiPs by the time we fly out (assuming we can go).
According to my word count meter, I'm approximately 19% toward my word goal, with an estimated finish date of November 10th at my current pace. Obviously November comes after September, so starting today I intend to pick up the pace. This is my summer of writing. Between a trip to see my family, a barbecue or two, and whatever other distractions summer brings, I will finish at least the first draft of this book. It's going to happen. I believe in me.
So what are you folks planning for the summer?
'Til next time,
J.
Friday, April 11, 2014
Bounce House
Being sick is such a drag. I've spent the past week or so curled up in bed with a stack of books, napping off-and-on and hoping the constant supply of cough drops and cold medicine will be enough to exorcise the snot demon in my chest.
I'm feeling loads better today, though, so that's good.
In the writing-o-sphere, between enjoying well-crafted tales from others, my brain's been doing a lot of thinking about the final third of my own WiP. I'm still mired in the beginning of chapter four, but I've been itching to bounce around out of order, which is something I've never done before. Yesterday I sat down and churned out over a thousand words for a scene that I haven't even gotten set up yet in the main document. It's toward the end. It's not anything I have many notes about. It just...happened.
And I have to say, it was a lot of fun.
I've always been the type of writer who keeps copious notes, reference images, scribbles, and timelines. It's how I keep my thoughts organized long enough to get them down in what sometimes resembles a cohesive story format. I've never, however, used those notes to write my scenes out of their proper order. It's always been a possibility, since I'm usually so organized with my writing thoughts, but not anything I've ever played around with. I've actually gone out of my way to avoid bouncing around, because the thought of going out of order has always made me feel awkward. Stories go in order, and writing them out of order is weird, or so my brain has always insisted.
Thing is, now that I've written some scenes out of order, I can't say I'm so against it anymore. I've got the notes to keep everything straight, and forcing myself into writing the next scene in chapter four hasn't panned out very well thus far. Playing around with the later political intrigue, arranged marriage, and bloody battles has been more entertaining and productive than plowing through the task of getting my main characters from the safety of their home and into the strange new place.
Slowly but surely, I'm letting myself write what feels natural and fun rather than forcing myself to stick to the rigidity of the linear timeline. It's getting me writing more often than one a week or so, and that can only be a good thing, yeah?
'Til next time,
J.
I'm feeling loads better today, though, so that's good.
In the writing-o-sphere, between enjoying well-crafted tales from others, my brain's been doing a lot of thinking about the final third of my own WiP. I'm still mired in the beginning of chapter four, but I've been itching to bounce around out of order, which is something I've never done before. Yesterday I sat down and churned out over a thousand words for a scene that I haven't even gotten set up yet in the main document. It's toward the end. It's not anything I have many notes about. It just...happened.
And I have to say, it was a lot of fun.
I've always been the type of writer who keeps copious notes, reference images, scribbles, and timelines. It's how I keep my thoughts organized long enough to get them down in what sometimes resembles a cohesive story format. I've never, however, used those notes to write my scenes out of their proper order. It's always been a possibility, since I'm usually so organized with my writing thoughts, but not anything I've ever played around with. I've actually gone out of my way to avoid bouncing around, because the thought of going out of order has always made me feel awkward. Stories go in order, and writing them out of order is weird, or so my brain has always insisted.
Thing is, now that I've written some scenes out of order, I can't say I'm so against it anymore. I've got the notes to keep everything straight, and forcing myself into writing the next scene in chapter four hasn't panned out very well thus far. Playing around with the later political intrigue, arranged marriage, and bloody battles has been more entertaining and productive than plowing through the task of getting my main characters from the safety of their home and into the strange new place.
Slowly but surely, I'm letting myself write what feels natural and fun rather than forcing myself to stick to the rigidity of the linear timeline. It's getting me writing more often than one a week or so, and that can only be a good thing, yeah?
'Til next time,
J.
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