Thursday, December 1, 2011

What's Your Path?

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Yes, there are certain rules and widely held beliefs that we try to use as a guide. But each person - each manuscript is different. We already know that both plotters and pantsers are equally successful. We know that the parts that come easy for one are difficult for another and vice versa. I thought about this as I completed Nano, with the messiest rough draft EVER. So I decided to take a look at what are some pretty solid truths (although I bet you anything you all can, will, and should argue this in the comments) and things that vary. 


Things we find on all paths to publication:

  • The one thing I will never waiver on is behavior on the internet. If you want to succeed, you conduct yourself with manners and you don't lose your cool.
  • You have to keep up on craft. No one knows everything. Everyone can improve. Keep reading posts, books, articles, and attending classes, workshops, and conferences. Whatever works for you. 
  • WRITE. You can't be a writer if you never get around to actually writing.
  • READ. You can't really write in the genre you choose if you haven't read widely. Writers are readers. 
  • Time. Each road is different, it's true. Some have to work at it for a decade and beyond before something happens, some are fortunate to have the right timing and all the stars align. Either way, the thing successful writers have in common is perseverance. If you don't keep trying, you can't succeed.



Things that vary on our own paths:

  • Environment. Do you write in the morning? At night?  Do you work full time? Do you have twelve kids running around? Do you need music? Absolute quiet? A change in scenery? The same spot every time? You get my point. 
  • POV and tense. Some people swear by first person. Some people can only write past tense. Some people can't stand alternating points of view. What do I think? I think it depends on the manuscript and what's important for that one. Also, what your strengths are as a writer. 
  • Background. Our own stories are as varied as the ones we put to paper. And that's something to celebrate because there are so many different readers out there waiting for great books. 
  • Social Media. *gasp* it isn't for everyone. Not everyone enjoys it or feels comfortable with it. And which format you use varies also. I have a fondness for blogging and Twitter for example. 
  • Process. I already mentioned plotters and pantsers. But there are also those whose first drafts are more of a skeleton that needs to be filled in, and those that have to cut down their 140,000 word masterpieces. There are those of us that are great with character, but have to work on world, or the other way around. Each person is different and so is each book.
What are some other variables that change depending on the writer or the book?

19 comments:

  1. One of the most important points you've mentioned here is behavior in cyber public. If we want to be taken seriously then we must act accordingly. Now, that's not saying we need to be sticks-in-the-mud and be all serious. Boring. We need to be who we are and share what's important to us through our writing, but all with being respectful to our craft, each other, and the publishing world.

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  2. The biggest variable from manuscript to manuscript is how many chocolate chip cookies I want to eat. :)

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  3. And I try to share with all my cyber friends!

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  4. Laura's comment cracks me up! I think the stage you're at on the path also leans into this, changing your perspective on some things. But the great thing about writing is that veteran writers and newbies alike face the blank page and engage the creative process ... we all have that fundamental piece alike and I love it! :)

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  5. I'm the skeleton that needs to be filled in type. I'm also the plotting panster. But I'm thinking of trying out becoming a full-blown plotter next go-round. These are great reminders, Lisa! I'm off to get a cookie before Laura eats them all... ;p <3

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  6. Wow, I think you've just about covered it! That's one of the many things I love about writing. We can sift through all the information, try new things, and find what works for US.

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  7. I agree with Julie. For me, the variables change with each manuscript. My process with this year's NaNo novel was completely different than for any other manuscript I've written. I think it's good to shake things up sometimes. But the most important thing is to keep writing.

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  8. I can't agree more with having good social media manners. One of my constants is that I need a full mug of coffee and some music to write, otherwise I'm useless. With my last manuscript it took a while to figure out my process (def a pantser), but now that I know that all my dialogue comes to me first, and I write in a non-chronological way, I HOPE my WIP will go a little easier. Maybe I should add that another constant, at least for me, is that nothing goes as planned!

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  9. Variable: eating chocolate. I see a lot of people claiming that they would never have gotten a draft/ms/paragraph done if it weren't for ridiculous amounts of chocolate. This troubles me, because I love chocolate but if I eat it while I'm writing it makes me terribly sleepy.
    Happy Thursday!

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  10. I've seen so many writers break that first rule and it's so sad because they can ruin their career before it even starts by doing that. I couldn't agree more that social media isn't for everyone. The important thing is to do what we're passionate about and leave the other stuff for someone else. Great post!

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  11. Wow! I love this entire post. I've never seen the issues so clearly divided and stated before.

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  12. Excellent post. I think you covered just about everything. But my favorite is to keep writing, because eventually practice makes pretty good :)

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  13. The manners thing is #1 in my book too. Nothing else is more important! I've heard some writers lately saying they don't read much in their genres. I couldn't handle that - I like it too much for one thing. For another, I love finding out what's new! :)

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  14. I agree with you on the division here, the essentials and the other stuff. I thought it interesting that you talked about background. I'd like to hear more about that.

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  15. Amen to those universal truths! The environment's my biggest variable -- I write anywhere! On the train, in quiet corners, on the back of random pieces of paper, occasionally even in my study...

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  16. Wonderful points, Lisa. I love the fact that each artist's path is a different rich and varied journey. Story telling is the realm of infinite possibility.

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  17. "Writers are readers"

    And that's why we have the best job ever, especially if you're a fiction writer. :D

    Awesome point, Lisa.

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  18. Great post! As a new novelist, it's nice to know what to expect on the publishing journey, but also comforting to know that every writer has their own path, and there are many right ways to write a book.

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  19. This is so well said on so many levels. The variables in my publishing journey seem to change and evolve as I do as a writer.

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