Category Archives: Writing

It’s been a crazy summer with so many things going on that I just haven’t had time to think about writing.  My mind has been constantly chewing over one thing or another and I haven’t been able to focus on anything.

Now that things are settling down I find that I lack any inspiration at all to write.  Maybe it’s like a muscle that you need to exercise all the time otherwise it gets weak and lazy.  That’s what my mind feels like right now.  Apathetic and uninspired.

This is part of my self prescribed therapy to get back on top.  Writing about my non-writing.  I hope that just getting something down on the page will help me snap out of it.

It’s amazing to me that once you get an illness or an injury how long rehabilitation takes.  I mean you might be walking down the street one moment and the next you can’t walk, or can’t speak, or in this case can’t write and it all takes a long rehab process to get you going again.  Less than a month ago I was doing this freely and now my mind is an empty closet.

I might as well start watching reality shows and sitcoms.  But that’s a short and pointless path that leads nowhere.  I will get out of this but it’s going to take time.

Some hints and ideas I picked up at the convention this weekend from some writing workshops.

First and foremost, know how to write.

The first cursory editing pass will focus on spelling, punctuation, and grammar.  Sure you won’t pick up everything but it’s a courtesy to your editor that they will appreciate,

Next will be the active vs the passive voice.  Technically this is part of the grammar check but it is often trickier to spot and I am frequently guilty of this sin.  Most editors and writers discourage the use of the passive voice so it is vital to minimize the use of it as much as possible.

Next, try reading your work out loud.  Most of the writers agreed that if you are unsure of a sentence or paragraph that reading that section out loud will often help a lot.  You can apparently tell if a phrase or sentence is awkward sounding or not just by hearing it.  They also advocated the use of text to speech programs for this as well.

Now your work is ready for another living soul to go over.  The editor or beta reader.  Who should be your guinea pig?  Keep it away from family and friends.  These folks love you and think the world of you and for the most part will never give you the honest criticism that you need.  Who else need not apply?  Anyone that doesn’t like the type of story you wrote.  Those that don’t like horror will be somewhat hesitant to read horror and really won’t appreciate the nuances in your story.  Same with other genres.

What criticisms are and are not valid?  If someone tells you “I really don’t like the way you’re writing your story” then that is clearly the wrong person to edit your story.  You must love what you write.  After all you wrote it.  I mean don’t go and refuse any changes at all.  Be flexible but recognize that what’s on the page is a part of you.  Anyone that doesn’t like what you are writing is not a person you want editing your story.

What should they say?  “I see what you are trying to do here but I don’t think this is the right way to do it”  That is a professional trying to help you.

In many ways the editing process is harder than the writing process.  You put yourself down on paper and someone comes and leaves bright red gashes on your body of work.  Each scratch out and note is like a new scratch on your own body.  But remember, at the end of the process you will probably come out with a much better story and it will tell the tale you want told in a much clearer and smoother manner than you could have possibly done on your own.  That’s the power of a good editing process.

I have always been a short story guy.  I suppose I always want to get to the point and not waste time.  I have written short stories, chapters, bits and pieces, and even a novella but have never been able to put together something really large and meaningful.

I never put too much detail or get too wordy in any of my scene or character descriptions because I can see them so clearly in my mind.  Another consideration is that I want my readers to populate some of the story themselves.  I hate it when writers insist on explaining and detailing every little grain of sand in the story.

Last November I did a writing challenge called NaNoWriMo and had to come up with a 50,000 word story.  I typed and typed and typed and as I neared the end of the month with 35,000 or so words I realized that I was not going to make it.  The story was nearing its conclusion and I had nowhere else to take it to.  I went back and added minor characters.  Gave them some scenes and some dialogue and ended the novel at around 42,000 words.

I then had to start at the beginning and as I read through it I began realizing that I was leaving readers flat.  I had tons to write!  Character descriptions, location descriptions.  internal monologues.  The story was half written!

So with hours to go I crossed the 50,000 mark and had my novel.  The story sits on my hard drive untouched for now but I may soon go back and edit it.  The real success of course was improving my writing skills.  I no longer look at descriptions as mindless space filling fluff.  I’ve a long way to go to be sure but with time and friends support I think I will be ready for this years NaNoWriMo challenge.