Writing Tip #12: Set boundaries

Some writers make their living through telling excellent stories. They develop awesome characters, create unbelievable worlds, weave plots that stick you to your seat better than four rolls of duct tape, and have unforgettable dialogue.

Then there are the authors who write smut.

You know what I'm talking about. So-called "love scenes" that would make an adult film star blush. More blood spilled in the first chapter than is collected for a year's worth of donations by The American Red Cross. Language more colorful than Joseph's technicolor coat.

These people appeal to mankind's basest instincts. They bombard your senses with more and more shocking material to either impress their perverted peers or their twisted audience. However, this not only shows a lack of skill and class, but is also foolhardy because you can only shock someone so much before they stop reading out of disgust or boredom. Just like light that is too bright with make you blind, writing that burns with f-bombs and graphic descriptions of female bodies will eventually sear the retinas of your reader. I'm not saying that all sex and violence must be avoided in literature, but just like a bonfire must be surrounded by stones to prevent the entire forest from going up in smoke, boundaries must be set. Most of your readers will thank you for it, and, quite frankly, you can do without those who won't.

"Whitey" Bulger Gets Collared, "Princess Eirian" Finished

I woke up this morning to discover that James "Whitey" Bulger, the last great Irish-American mobster, got busted in California. I was shocked because he had eluded the Feds for over a decade and a half, having had a tip off from John Connolly to give him a head start. His capture is proof that sometimes justice does prevail in this world.

I read two books about Bulger. One, titled "Brutal", was written by his protege, Kevin Weeks. It revealed just how boring organized crime really was. Basically, they would wake up in the afternoon, go around and shake down drug dealers for money, then drink all night and do the same thing the next day. They sounded more like overgrown college kids with a violent streak than the dashing figures romanticized in films. A more exciting book was "A Criminal And An Irishman" by Patrick Nee, who was Bulger's nemesis and later, business partner. Reading about those two trying to gun each other down was more entertaining and similar to the movies. That being said, it still took away the mystique of mobsters, revealing them as nothing more than crooks who are smart enough to know that they can rob more people together than they can on their own.

I finished "Princess Eirian" today. It broke another record: twelve drafts. It turned out very well, though, and I got to explore Max's character more and figure out how much Sandra means to her. It touched on her rivalry with Sandra's elder sister, too, which was key in developing her as a warrior and a sorceress. It was also a chance for me to throw in some Greek mythology references. Granted, I feel that those motifs are overused in fantasy, but the reason why they are used so much is because they are really good! Come on, who doesn't like Achilles, Perseus, and Hercules running around kicking butt?

Anyway, I need to edit "The Battle of Khorsabad." It features Magnus and also references Greco-Roman mythology, only with a bit more subtlely. I can't wait to finish it.

Writing Tip #11: Submit, Submit, Submit...

Once your story is revamped and at its literary peak, it's time to submit it to publications. This is everyone else's least favorite part about writing because they can't stand the inevitable rejection slips. I was prepared for it ahead of time and got enough praise for my writing from my classes and my friends that it really didn't affect me that much. However, I still got rejected six times before "Heart of Flesh" got accepted and another 12-15 times before "Daughter of the Seven Seas" was published. Here are some things to remember when you submit your stories:
1) You're going to get rejected. It's just like dating: you're going to get a lot of nos before someone says yes.
2) It doesn't necessarily mean that you are a bad writer. Most of the time, the editor simply doesn't think that it's a good fit for their publication. Even if you are a bad writer, you will get better as long as you keep at it and get a lot of input from your friends and mentors.
3) If an editor gives you feedback, take it very seriously. Most editors won't do this because they don't have the time or are sick of taking flack from writers with big egos. An editor who takes the time to offer you advice is genuinely trying to help you 99% of the time, so be humble and express your gratitude for their aid.
4) Be a good sport. Many writers burn bridges unnecessarily by personally attacking editors who reject them. This is not only foolhardy (they have more leverage/power than you do), it's also uncalled for and childish. If you really think they made a mistake, prove it by continuing to write until you get so good that you blow them away.
4) Don't give up. The greatest writers in the world have gotten rejected numerous times. For example, Stephen King's book, "Carrie", got so many rejections that he gave up and threw it into the trash. His wife actually fished it out and submitted it for him and he got published. Stephenie Meyer got 7-8 rejections for "Twilight." J.K. Rowling was rejected 12 times before "Harry Potter" got published and...you get the idea.

Obviously, the best way to get published is to have an "in" at a magazine or company or to know someone who does. That being said, don't let a lack of connections impede your dream. Keep sending your work out, no matter what, and one day, you will see your work in print.

Writing Tip Wednesday #10: Revamp Your Story

Ah, editing, the most important part of the writing process. Of course, it also has to be the most excruciatingly boring aspect of it as well. Nonetheless, it must be done. Like budgeting for an awesome vacation to Europe or the Caribbean islands, you better do it properly, or you'll wind up broke, miserable, and possibly stranded (figuratively speaking for the last one). So how do you do it? Follow these seven steps:
1) Always keep a copy of the first draft. That way, you can harvest ideas to us in other stories, recover important details and scenes that you accidentally cut in haste, and remind yourself of your humble beginnings.
2) Review the criticism that you have received. Accept the advice of the people who know what they are talking about and who are consistent with your vision of the story. Shred everything else.
3) Toss the junk. Fire characters that are lame, dull, or annoying. Remove scenes that put you to sleep faster than Benadryl. Cut dialogue that sounds like it was written by a dirty-minded middle schooler. Get rid of plots that go all over the place to wind up absolutely nowhere.
4) Polish the gem that remains. Tweak details, refine grammar, and do other minor fixes to make it as good as possible.
5) Seek more feedback and repeat steps 1-4 if necessary. This is a definite necessity if you are writing a book.
6) Leave it alone when it has finally reached its peak. Revising is like lifting weights: if you do it too much, you will only make yourself weaker. Trust your gut to tell you when it is ready and submit it.
7) If an editor offers to buy it if you make more revisions, do what they say unless it violates the integrity of the work. For example, if they feel that you are overbearing in the delivery of your pro-life message and want you to be more subtle, find a way to express the theme through the character's actions and their consequences instead of preaching. If they want you to change your pro-life message to a pro-choice message, find another magazine or publisher. Immediately.

Follow these steps and you will not only revise your story. You will revamp it and make it awesome!

Zombie story first draft finished, Baruir debuts, "Princess Eirian" has become awesome

I finished the first draft of my Christian zombie story, titled "Light of Dawn." I like the way it turned out, but there is still a lot of work to do. Also, I'm probably going to set it in another world, because I get bored writing about fiction set on earth really quickly. I also love the freedom creating another world gives me, because I can basically do whatever I want and make my own rules as long as I don't contradict myself. I also created a new male character for "Fionnuala": Baruir. The book needs a serious shot of testosterone because all the well-developed characters are female and, quite frankly, they need interesting men to banter with, fall in love with, and to teach them how to fight. The prequel story which I wrote about Baruir, titled "My Nation and My God", is a step in that direction, full of awesome swordfights, explosions and spell-casting duels.

I also got really into "Princess Eirian", a short story about Max and Cassandra that takes place soon after "Daughter of the Seven Seas." In doing so, I discovered that Max actually has three different names, which I thought was pretty cool. I also discovered how evil Cassandra's mother was, got to reveal more information about Lammy's spiritual beliefs, and introduced a key player in the shady underworld of Nineveh Academy who has a vested interest in Cassandra's well-being. I'm considering putting a miniseries on this blog called "Nineveh: Battle for Cassandra", which explains why she was able to survive in spite of having so many enemies. However, I want to finish my current projects first.

That's it for now. Until next time, stay posted.

Hiatus over!

Hello everyone!

My hiatus from writing is finished, so now I am writing new material. It's great because for me, writing is as important as breathing. Now I can complete all the ideas which I built up during my break, such as the Christian zombie story.

While looking at vampire vs. werewolf videoclips on Youtube, I came across an awesome song called "Midlife Crisis" by Faith No More. All of my characters have unofficial theme songs which I listen to when I write about them. For example, when I write about Cassandra, I listen to "Savin' Me" by Nickelback. When I write about her brother, Lammy, I listen to "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot. I used to listen to "Head Like A Hole" by Nine Inch Nails when I wrote about Max, but after I heard Trent Reznor's song, "Heresy", I decided to replace it with something else. I haven't found anything that fits her yet, but currently, "Suffer" by Staind is the strongest contender. There is also a group called Bauhaus that might have a song that is a good fit. I'll just have to see. I listen to "Midlife Crisis" when writing about Max's obsession with Cassandra's other brother, who is the polar opposite of Lammy. He fascinates Max because he is the only student at Nineveh who is more violent and twisted than she is. However, in spite of that, he does have redeeming qualities that make him likeable, which I will reveal in future tales.

That's it for now. Until next time, stay posted.

Writing Tip Wednesday #9: Deal With Criticism

For many writers, nothing is worse than getting a critiqued on their work. They cringe and squeal in writer's groups and creative writing classes, gasping as though they are watching the murder of their firstborn. Or they become defensive and stubborn, either ridiculing those who dare suggest that they improve anything about their "masterpiece", or pouting and crossing their arms, turning a deaf ear to advice that would be beneficial if they would only be mature and listen. However, the fact is, constructive criticism is the best way to improve your work. Like exercising, it will leave you sore and exhausted, but ultimately, it will make you stronger. So here are some dos and don'ts when it comes to dealing with criticism.
1) Do listen to what everyone has to say. After all, they are trying to help you and can provide a more objective viewpoint about your work than you ever could.
2) Don't try to please everyone. It's not possible and will only leave you frustrated.
3) Do realized that it's not personal...most of the time. Generally speaking, whether or not they like your writing has nothing to do with how they feel about you as a person.
4) Don't sink to the level of the few bad apples who are taking cheap shots at you. This is fighting fire with fire: everyone will end up burnt to a crisp. If someone is really hitting you "below the belt" in their critiques (such as calling you names or insulting your family) it's better to go to the teacher or group leader to handle it. If they turn a blind eye to the behavior, leave. Immediately.
5) Do pay particular attention to the people who most closely resemble your target audience, or who have the most in common with your characters. For example, if you are writing about a teenage boy and you are a woman, or you are a man writing about a teenage girl, pay extra attention to comments made by the opposite sex.
6) Don't argue with the experts. For example, if one of your critics is a black belt in karate and he says that your fight scenes need to be fixed, don't challenge him on it. You'll just look obnoxious and silly. Seek a second opinion from another expert or do some research on your own if you want to prove yourself right that badly.
7) When it's your turn to do a critique, be honest and tactful as well. Your goal is to help them become a better writer, not to massage their ego or crush their spirit.
8) Don't be offended if they don't take your advice. Since it's their work, they have the final say, and they will face the consequences sooner or later if they refuse to fix the errors in their work. Also, sometimes people "see the light" after letting your advice sink in, so just because they don't accept it now doesn't mean that they won't accept it later.

When done right, critiques can skyrocket your writing talent. For example, when I was in college, I took a creative writing class in which there was not just one, but five or six people who ran circles around me when it came to telling stories. That was the first (and last) time in my life that that has ever happened and my writing ability soared afterward because they led by example and provided excellent feedback. So work out your writing muscles and find a group of great critics. Your readers will thank you for it.