What to Do When Your Plot Falls Apart. Imagine this: you’ve written the first (or second, or third…) draft of a novel and it’s going well. You’re editing and rewriting at a good pace, happy with your progress. But suddenly the realization hits you that a major plot point of your book is all wrong. For whatever reason a part of your story–maybe even one the entire book hinges on–no longer works. Now what? This happened to me recently. I wasn’t happy with the ending of my current book and I wasn’t sure why. Then the crushing awareness that it was all wrong and had to go. I think it’s safe to say most writers experience this situation at some point, but if it happens to you it can be disheartening to the point of making you want to give up. Take a Break: It doesn’t need to be a long break. Brainstorm: If the thought of ignoring your writing (even temporarily) stresses you, then brainstorming might be more your style. Think About It: Is there actually a problem with your story?
Update: My book is available, and has friends! Writers' Advice on Writing. As with so many of my posts, this one is inspired by an article I read. In this case, the article shares advice on writing from famous writers. I don’t know about anyone else, but what I find most valuable about advice from other writers isn’t necessarily the advice itself (although it’s often helpful) but the chance to bond over writing, and to affirm that I’m doing something right. Whether you enjoy the advice, the bonding, or the affirmations, here are some of the best tips from other writers, as well as a couple of my own… Get a Cat (Muriel Spark via her character Mrs. As someone with three cats, I can’t argue with this advice 🙂 Cats are a source of joy, laughter, and purrs (and my lap cat makes sure I sit and focus). Stop While the Going Is Good (Ernest Hemingway) Stop while you’re on a roll and let your subconscious keep working on it until you start again. Writing Anything Is Better than Nothing (Katherine Mansfield) Just write.
Some advice of my own: Take up needlepoint. Cheers, Is Blogging Dead? [Updated] Short answer: not really. But it also depends on what you want out of it. If you spend any time around the internet, you’re bound to come across at least one headline declaring that blogging is dead (those headlines have been around for years at this point). As a writer and long-time blogger (you may have seen my other blogs, Blood Lines and Whimsy Bower)*, this causes me some anxiety. But is there any truth to the rumours? *[11/25 Update: After a too-long hiatus, I’ve recently updated and revived Whimsy Bower! Feel free to check it out. From my research on the topic, if your aim is to earn a living solely from traditional blogging (that is, written articles on specific topics), you might want to hang on to your day job.
On the other hand, if you’re a writer who wants to share your work (and maybe market your books while you’re at it), carry on. If you’re concerned your blog isn’t getting as much of an audience as it should, you can do a few things to help: Promote it on social media. Another tag snagged from the lovely blog A.M. Molvik’s Ramblings If you’ve ever wondered about what it’s like to be a writer (or what I do), this post is for you. 1. What type of writing do you do? Over the years I’ve written pretty much everything, from magazine articles to poetry to blog posts to novels.
If I had to choose only one type, though, it would be novels. I have a lot of stories inside me, waiting to come to life. 2. My writing is a mix of literary fiction, gothic fiction, and fantasy, with hints of horror and magical realism. 3. I started when I was about six and never really stopped (although there were a few long breaks). 4. Yes! 5. The first story I wrote (when I was around six) was a tale of woe about a flower that doomed anyone (in this case, Mary, Queen of Scots, although I have no idea how I knew about her) who picked it. 6. I don’t feel I have much of a choice. 7. You find time for the things that are important to you. 8. 9. 10.
Silence. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 19. The Sexism that Writers Endure. From the start, women writers have had to endure an unending slew of sexist attitudes and commentary. Pick a writer and she’ll tell you about comments claiming women aren’t serious writers, that they don’t write “important” works, and aren’t worthy of awards or acclaim. Women writers can tell you about how there is a constant assumption that they must write romance or “chick lit,” that they don’t write anything a man would want to read, that they can’t write certain genres, or that women’s fiction is fluffy and sentimental. We can tell you about how we’re questioned in a way male authors never are about work-life balance, how we can possibly work and take care of our children and homes and partners.
The list goes on. And when we dare complain about any of it, we’re accused of being “whiny” and “privileged.” On this International Women’s Day, I’m sharing a few of the sexist remarks said to, or of, women authors: Sci-fi author Gérard Klein about Ursula K. Author V.S. N.S. Find Out More: Should You Write What You Know? It’s been repeated so many times it’s cliché: write what you know. But is it true? Do you agree with William T. Vollmann, who said that you should indeed write what you know, and that you should also have as many experiences as possible in order to expand your knowledge? Or do you believe Kazuo Ishiguro, who said writing what you know results in writing “a dull autobiography,” and essentially leads authors to stunt their imaginations and potential? Or maybe you side with Ursula K.
Le Guin, who absolutely agreed that you should write what you know, as long as you have a flexible definition of “know” (she happened to know quite a lot about alien planets, dragons, and the distant future). You might even think Nathan Englander has a good point when he says you should write what you know–emotionally. For me, I think American author Meg Wolitzer sums it up best: write what obsesses you. And I’ll also add: because writing should be about passion. Cheers, Aspasía S. Get My Books Love Lies Bleeding. Reasons to Keep a Writer in Your Home. I retweeted this on Twitter and I thought I’d share it here, too along with a few additions.
Original Tweet (via @PaperFury): • they know weird facts • they’re low maintenance because all they do is eat and write • great for midnight chats because they don’t sleep • if they have to edit they’ll procrastinate by cleaning your whole house I’ll also add: They almost always come with cats (if you don’t like cats, then you should probably avoid writers in general)Amazing book collection/personal library, which they’ll (most likely) shareWill never say no to a cozy night inLifetime (and then some) supply of pens, paper, and blank notebooks.Always have coffee and/or tea on hand. If you’ve got more to add, share in the comments…