A work colleague was reading The Artists’ Way by Julia Cameron. I commented that I had never made it past week three. This was fairly typical for my self help reading. I started out with a bang, but didn’t stick with it, usually bailing after three weeks or so.
“Oh, I always read the whole thing first, and then cobble together my own plan,” J said.
My gut was “that’s cheating.” But then I thought, cheating who? So I read the whole book, cover to cover. I realized that I had missed the meat of Ms. Cameron’s message. And that even if I couldn’t keep up with my morning pages, I still deserved to move forward.
Now, there are some plans that should be followed. Like training for an athletic event. But other plans, or rules? I’ve decided my new rule of thumb is to take what I want, and toss the rest. Especially with my writing.
I have taken classes, and bought books, and joined on line discussion groups, and attended seminars. And each time, I approach it like the holy grail, the place/time I will finally find my true path for success. The book will be edited the “right” way. It will be the right length. I will follow all the genre rules. My characters will be perfect. My settings will be spectacular.
Though I describe my mystery manuscript as cozy/traditional, it has been described as literary, so I exorcised the elaborate back story. I changed my beginning when I was told that starting at a funeral wasn’t done. I added a romantic suspense element to my book, because that would help it sell. And I changed it over and over again, following the rules, until it was a vanilla mess of nothing. Boring. It was just fine, but not great. And while I don’t expect great, I’d like to be better than fine.
So I’m going to make my own rules. If Hallie Ephron and Donald Maass offer different advice, why not take both, and them morph it into what works? Can Hallie’s ruthless editing advice and Donald’s make your characters meaner advice work together while I am editing? Answer, yes and no. It requires a rewrite, not an edit. But I keep their advice handy. Along with Dorothy Sayers, Annie Lamont, Bill Tapply, Ray and Remick, and Stephen King. But I’m not going to let them drive the bus.
My new rules?
- Seek advice. And then ignore it if it doesn’t work for you.
- Write the story you want to write. Write it well. Then edit it. And edit it again.
- Give it to readers, and ask for feedback. But be careful about taking it to heart, or ignoring it outright. If more than two readers tell you the same thing, listen.
- Take your ego out of the equation. It is about the work.
- And make sure you enjoy the process. Because the process is all there is. If the rules take the joy way, ignore them.
Any other rebels out there? Or was I the only person who tried to follow all the rules, all the time?
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J.A. Hennrikus is the Executive Director of StageSource. She is a mystery writer who has had stories published in Level Best Books anthologies. She is a huge social media fan, and tweets under @JulieHennrikus. She wrestles with allusions of athleticism, is an avid theater goer and a member of Red Sox nation. Her website is jahennrikus.com
I am a big fan of learning the rules – just so I know what I am about to break…
A good rule itself!
I love it! I believe I have arrived at the same conclusion, with the possible exception of keeping my ego out of it (always a challenge). My second novel is ready – so I am printing proof copies for some of the readers who really enjoyed the first, and am going to ask them to point out the errors. My writing critique group is great fun, with smart people, but I often don’t take their advice- it’s my story. I enjoy the opportunity to use bad grammar and mis-spellings in dialogue.
I have three trusted readers who let me tell my story, but help me tell it better. Best of luck with your second book.
Thank you! You’ve put the bug in my ear to go back and read the entire book, The Artists’ Way. I am a perfectionist and a part of me likes to do exactly what a program calls for so I’ll get the “right” result. Then, I discovered that we’re not all “one size fits all” so I’ve stopped beating myself up for not being perfect and take what I like, and leave the rest. Trial and error. I’ll figure out my own personal magic formula some day.
You will love the whole book. And I hear you about beating yourself up. Which seems counterintuitive to the self help idea, doesn’t it? Enjoy the book.
I can relate to your take on the rules. I’ve felt the same way about some of the changes I’ve made to my manuscripts. Have I taken away from the story, and my voice, instead of improving it? Some cut bits have been reintroduced, and I’m trying to listen to my instincts. But definitely I agree—if two or more readers note a similar problem/difficulty, it’s time to rethink the writing.
The listening part took me a long time to be able to do, but now I am pretty ruthless. But also stubborn about holding on to my voice.
thanks for all the tips
Thanks for reading the post!
I like your new set of “rules.” Writing is about the process, discovering the writer’s heart. Excellent post!
Thank you!
Love this! Thank you. And would love to hear more about StageSource! LOVE Theater!
I love theater too, which is a good thing given what I do. Always happy to talk about StageSource!
Good advice, thanks! I’m the same with the self-help.
Read that book years ago and thought it was a great read then!
Especially when you get past chapter 3.
Gosh this has come at the right time- I’m trying to edit my first draft according to the advice I have been given but I don’t want to end up with vanilla ice cream either. I guess the trick is to know what to ignore…
I also find it heard not to ignore something just because I don’t want to hear it. Best of luck with the editing.
What fantastic advice! I’m so glad to see it expressed openly, and without apology. I’ve reached the same conclusions over the past twelve years and I appreciate your logic. Another thing I’ve discovered is when you want to hire an editor to give your work that “stamp of approval”, you’d better understand exactly where that editor is coming from and what their idea of the perfect story is. I almost got sidetracked by taking too much to heart the advice of a fellow whose mystery writing is definitely NOT in my cozy style. It makes all the difference in the world which “expert” you decide to follow (or at least pay attention to and then do what your instinct tells you!)
Reblogged this on Oregonmike98.
There is never a lack of opinions when it comes to writing! I so relate to your “vanilla mess of nothing” — been there myself. Too easy for those outside opinions to get mixed up with negative internal voices, and wow, then there’s trouble! BTW, I had a wonderful creative U-turn as a result of reading/doing the exercises in Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. Glad you got through the book this time! … Wonderful post. Thank you.
Great post. I don’t remember meeting you, but surely you know me and described me perfectly. I would never have considered ignoring the tasks at the end of the chapter and moving on through The Artist’s Way. I allow others opinions of my writing to grab my insecurities by the scruff of the neck and run with them and end up struggling with thoughts and directions that are not my own. I always get past it, but not without wasting a lot of time and energy.
So glad I am not the only one who likes to take bits and pieces and re-fashion them in terms of my own work. There is some advice that applies well to different types of work too, so that’s always a consideration – how you break tradition with one piece may not work well for another. I think the trick is in knowing when you might fall short and make an ass out of yourself rather than come across as a writer with a unique angle.
But there is truth in the “know thine enemy” approach. You can’t rebel for the sake of it. You have to know what has worked and what hasn’t for those who have gone before, practice technique within traditional rules, THEN go about the business of bending those rules as much as you can! Great post!!!!
Reblogged this on Alexandra Román's Mink and commented:
Advice for Writers
I’m not a fan of rules. They’re not necessarily there to be broken, however, I don’t think they should be followed blindly and without careful consideration in each case they may apply. I believe if you don’t understand the rationale behind a particular rule, find out. Do what it takes to understand it. Only then are you in a position to decide whether or not that rule should be broken in a given situation.
It’s so true, and more so than ever these days, with so many routes to so many destinations, there cannot be just one set of rules. I think sometimes somebody may look at a writer who has written a highly successful book, and try to emulate their path – they followed the rules in this book so I will, then they contacted 4 publishers and 2 agents, so I will, etc etc, as if it is the path alone that created the success, whereas actually the main reason that person had great success was probably because they are a very talented writer who wrote a great book!
I have learned that I can avoid editing myself into nothingness by writing on a yellow pad. I have not always been so lucky with this using a laptop. This way I can always retreive the original feel. I try to follow the rules and when I am not happy with the result I can go back. I like your new rules.
Thank goodness for your post!
I have been blogging (whining) about “the rules” for a while. I took advice from some professionals and my manuscript ended up back to the bare bones. I recently read some excerpts of a few best-sellers and noticed how lengthy (but good) the descriptions were AND they had adverbs! What? I thought they were taking adverb usage out of writing completely? That’s what the editors were saying and that’s what it sounded like to me anyway. So I’ve decided to ignore most of the ridiculous rules and just write. How else can a writer “find their writing voice” if they follow other writer’s techniques constantly? Sometimes, I feel as if most of the advice given is a silent cut throat or a large kick down the ladder of publishing hope. I promised myself not to read any advice until my manuscript is perfected in my eyes. And you know what? Writing is fun again!
Rebels-R-Us. But I followed the whole Artist’s Way program, every exercise, every week, because once I started it I could see how helpful it was. I had more trouble with Vein of Gold, which is more hard-core — that I didn’t finish. I believe that I am my own best critic — I have a strong sense that tells me when something is done, but I have had trouble completing and shaping longer works, perhaps because I started out as a poet and songwriter: I can complete a song, a poem, a letter, but I have a huge memoir manuscript that needs revision and an ending,
This was very helpful. I think I am a rebel like you. I read writing books like Cameron’s and Natalie Goldberg for inspiration. I had a writing teacher say that whatever you need to write is what you should write at that time – and that was really helpful, because after a writing workshop, I was writing morning pages everyday. And then, all of a sudden, I wasn’t. I judged myself for a little while and then I realized that as long as the writing was still getting done, that I could just let go of that self-judgment and let the work happen. So that’s been a tremendous relief. It’s also really encouraging and inspirational to read about writers who don’t follow rules and become really successful, whatever that looks like for them. I love having rules to work from so that I actually get the work done. But beyond that, my one rule is to do whatever works.
Well well well. First off, I love your hair. Secondly, I think you’re on to something. The great writers all have best sellers because they are readable and tell a story that transports their reader. Sometimes we forget that most people holding a book are readers. They dont “grade” us on cadence and grammar. They want an enthralling or informative companion during a dismal commute…or as a night cap…a distraction. Readers dont poke around thru stories subcatagorizing genre. Readers want to melt into another world as a fly on the wall from page 1 onward. Rules are a bit silly. I think creative types get along way better with lists of suggestions to ponder. Call them rules if you want, just dont let them bind up your writing