Day 14 - If It Bleeds, It Leads

When setting programming for the news or doing layouts for print and online media the saying "If it bleeds, it leads" is sort of a mantra. For those not familiar with this motto it basically just means that whatever is the most dramatic and / or violent that will capture the attention of the viewing audience, that is what you begin with. It is the news version of a hook.

That same idea is used when writing a book. The hook is what draws your readers into the story and hopefully captures their imagination enough to make them want to finish the book. Murder mysteries, thrillers and many dramas will begin with a dead body, a whodunit. By putting that violent scene right up front and asking the reader who could have committed the crime we help make them a part of the story and they get to solve everything right along with the main character.

For romance novels there can be an affair or some kind of an ultimatum stated immediately within the opening pages. Paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi stories usually place the reader into the world the story is set in. It will either start by drawing the reader into their new setting or will put them into a major Battle Royale giving snippets of the setting as the fight plays out. No matter what we do as writers our main job is to get the reader interested when they first open the book. If it bleeds... we shock our readers and make them have to know what happens next.

I am working on several books right now and I knew I wanted to draw the reader in, that is my job as an author. The problem is that I haven't written many books and so haven't had a great deal of practice putting in that shocking and captivating beginning. After reading more, not only as a reader that enjoys taking in new stories but also as a writer to see how those I admire craft their words, I am beginning to see more and more some of the effective ways to create that scene.

I am also working on writing books that have more of a dark side and violence within the pages such as murder mysteries and thrillers. These allow me to showcase that side of writing easier because they are genres I am familiar with and they are based in that more action-packed realm. There is a learning curve to anything and writing is definitely no exception. Having prose that hold the reader and an ending they have to reach are extremely important but you have to bring them in first. You must capture them and make them need to turn the page. Shock them, grab them and bring them to the edge of their seats as they enter the world you created.

Day 13 - Write What You Know

I have heard the advice my entire life that authors should write what they know. It is a great suggestion in a way but it is also open to a tremendous amount of interpretation. For many years I believed it literally meant to only write about things I knew first hand or had experienced personally. The problem with that can be the ability to inject imagination into a story that is otherwise simply a recounting of what you personally did. In order for a story to be relatable it is important to not make it too specific. People need to be able to picture things through the glasses of their own life experiences so in this case writing what you know means to use real life to inspire imaginative tales.

The second interpretation I eventually adopted was to write in a genre you know well. What do you read the most? Who are authors you know more about than a normal person probably should? Is there a genre of book, movie and television you can't get enough of? For me it is thriller / suspense. I love scary movies, drama television shows and books that keep me turning the pages as fast as possible to find out what is coming next while at the same time slightly afraid of whodunit. Many start out writing fan fiction, stories involving characters from those same shows, movies and books with their own spin on it. This is one way to break into the writing world with characters and worlds the writer already feels comfortable with before beginning to create their own.

The third is one I got more in touch with at a writer's conference recently. I was speaking with J.A. Jance the murder mystery bestseller. We were talking about her books and the fact that she sets them in places she has lived because it is a world she knows. She incorporates traits and quirks form people she has me because she knows how those people would act in the situations the characters find themselves throughout the story. She then asked me what my unique view is. I am a novice so I simply shrugged and told her unfortunately I didn't know. She asked what kinds of books I write and if any of them were series. I told her that I write in several genres but at this point only one series has truly come to life for me. It happens to be a thriller / suspense (go figure).

Over coffee we began discussing murder mysteries. They are her world but also something I love to read. As we chatted we got on the subject of where I live, Las Vegas. There are a number of shows and crime dramas about Las Vegas (CSI is one of the biggest) so that didn't lend itself to anything fresh until I mentioned that I am a casino dealer part time. The conversation then turned to murders in a casino and how it would look from the perspective of a dealer or casino employee, how it could revolve around a former casino employee turned detective but still maintains connections in the casinos. It could be a series with gambling related titles. Suddenly a series in my head was born.

Writing what we know is advice that works best when we incorporate all these aspects and turn it into something we have a personal ability to write but can be relatable and entertaining to a large audience as a whole. I have an incredible amount of reading to do in order to more fully verse myself in the murder mystery world but I am looking forward to writing one for my Nano novel later this year.

Day 12 - Becoming More Visible

You can write the greatest book on Earth. It can be powerful, moving and emotionally fulfilling to anyone that reads it. You could be an unsung hero of a movement or an expert that flies under the radar and just wants to share your view on a subject close to your heart. The problem is that no matter how qualified or talented you are, no matter how incredible your work is, if no one can find you or knows you exist than your book will never get into the hands of those that need or would want it.

There are a number of ways to grow your visibility in the writing world, I am working on implementing several in the next month or so. The number one way to be seen of course is to attend live events. I attend as many as by budget and work schedule will allow. However if you want to be seen there you must let people know you will be attending. This is where the first two parts I am implementing come into play, newsletters and a website.

I recently (about a week ago) finally launched the website I have been toying with for almost a year, writingforces.com. It is simple at the moment with a basic contact page, calendar for any upcoming events, my social media contacts and links to the two books I currently have available. More books will be added when the time comes and events will be updated as I sign up to attend but at the moment it has all active information. On the contact page there is even a place to sign up for my newsletter.

I have never sent out a newsletter so I am in the learning process of that as well. I have recently subscribed to a few in order to get a feel for what other authors include as well as the style and layouts they use. I do not want to copy them so much as learn and then use my own personal style when making my own. It is similar to my previous post about learning the craft. You can wade through the water only so far before you ask someone to help you learn how to swim. Splashing around isn't good enough for me anymore, I want to have a strong technique.

Once you are at the events and have let people know you are coming it is important for them to be able to find you. Table banners and signs that designate your table become imperative when someone is looking for you. You want something professional and represents you and your brand. It helps you stand out from the crowd which can be difficult when you are attending a large event with a number of authors. We all have our ways of standing out but the better you do it the easier it will be for your fans and readers to find you as well as new ones to discover your work.

Day 11 - Studying The Craft

I have been writing short stories, poetry and recently novels for as long as I can remember. It was always something I loved and has become so much more than just a hobby to me in recent years. In school I wrote because I was assigned to but would still get some time in for my own ideas. I did not participate in challenges like Nanowrimo back then but when I was assigned to write a short story or create my own ending for a story for creative writing class I would usually write two or three things then turn in my favorite.

I never joined a writing group even though part of me thought about it. To this day I have only attended one writer's group meeting. I am planning to try getting more involved but my insecurities are something I am going to battle when taking on that challenge. I know that joining a group can give insight as well as additional perspectives on your work but it is also very difficult to take that constructive criticism sometimes, especially face to face.

It is important to reach out and network with the community though and going to writers' groups, critique groups and conferences are a great way to branch out in the industry. When I attended a conference a few months ago I took almost thirty pages of notes but never asked a single question. It wasn't that I was afraid of sounding silly by asking a dumb question, I had no idea what questions to even ask. I realized just how much of a novice I still am when it comes to writing. I needed to learn so much more before trying to attend something like that again.

I read the book On Writing by Stephen King and it opened my eyes in a tremendous way. There were so many things that, even though a lot of it was his opinion, spoke to me and told me I was doing ok. It also showed me volumes of items I needed to add to me so-called writer tool kit. I have been woefully unprepared and what is worse I did not know it. I blindly took on the world as though I had all the answers when the fact of the matter was I did;t even know the questions.

I have since added books by Bob Mayer and KM Weiland to my books on the craft in order to help me learn more about the hobby turned potential career. this is what I want to do with my life so it is imperative that I do it well. Fingers crossed I am able to get past my fear and attend some writing group meetings in the near future as well and gain the information in the books. If anyone reading this has any suggestions of books I can read to also improve my writing I would greatly appreciate it!

Day 10 - 25% Of The Way

Today is the quarter of the way mark for my challenge. I have successfully managed two full classes and one day of home exercise, failing grade. I have written a blog post everyday and gotten approximately four hours of extra writing in so still failing but slightly better. I have managed to avoid all of the things I gave up food wise completely and stayed within my daily allotment of calories for all but two days, pass but not perfect. I like having milestones so I can see how I am doing and make adjustments as time goes on.

When I do challenges like this the adjustments have nothing to do with modifying goals. I look back and say ok I need to make up eight full hours of exercise in the next round which means the majority of the time will be two hours of workouts, this is still possible if I alter the exercises that I do. Instead of a one class and leave I can add in swimming, weights or an additional class to get the extra time.

Writing works the same way. I need to figure out how much time I still need to make up, in this case six hours and then track time until I have reached that goal. Family time is important so on the weekends I try to limit doing much else so I can be with those important to me. My challenge is important but so is finding that balance. On the upside I have several projects to complete so I am not hurting for something to write.

One adjustment I am making is to have a written chart moving forward that shows me how much time I need to complete for each part of my challenge. I also cannot get ahead, meaning if I needed to make up three hours of writing but ended up in the office working for five hours, that is not two hours ahead. It would just be extra time I worked. Part of the reason for doing the challenge isn't just to get a certain amount of time and words in, that is Nanowrimo. The challenge is to help instill writing and working out as part of my daily routine so the habit stays with me after the challenge is done.

It doesn't work for everyone but for those that find having a deadline or a challenge helps push them, I highly recommend doing something like this. I know I am not on target at this point but I also know having those goals in the back of my mind keeps me going when I do fall behind. It helps me to overcome and push through the obstacles that caused me to fall back in the first place. Now I am off to create my chart so I can see how to make up for may current shortfall. Visuals can be a wonderful aide for goals. In the past they have been a major contributor to my success.

Day 9 - Writing In Random Places

Many times I have sat in my home office staring at my computer hoping to get some work done. Most times I end up squirming around in my chair trying to find a comfortable position but it never seems to happen. At most I will end up getting a short blog post done or I will just grab a book and read instead. I always have the best of intentions when I head into the office but I seem to end up rarely accomplishing half of what I set out to do.

Several years ago during one particular November I was doing my best to get my words in for Nanowrimo but I struggled to write at home. Whether from the lack of comfort I was finding in the office or the television that seemed to refuse to stay off the end result was the same, I was getting next to no writing done and falling further behind. That was when I started looking at the online groups and saw people talking about going to write at coffee shops or different places. I wasn't feeling up to the possible interactions that could come from a Starbucks or Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf but I wondered if getting out of the house would help me concentrate.

I drove around one day looking for somewhere I could go to write. I kept coming up empty but as I searched aimlessly I got an email sent to my phone telling me that a CD I had requested was in at the library near my house. I turned around to pick it up before going home. When I went inside I saw plastic tarps hung up because there was construction happening as they remodeled a conference room. I didn't even know they had the meeting spaces. I asked the lady at the customer service counter and she mentioned that most locations around town had them and some even had computer rooms for students to get homework assistance as well asquint rooms to study. 

The quiet rooms sounded exactly like what I was looking for. She directed me to the closest one so I could go see it. When I go there I saw several tables set up with people working. There were power strips built in to the table tops and most of the people had snacks and beverages that would keep them going as they studied or worked. In the back was an empty table. I knew it was meant for me. I started trying to write my Nano novel on November 9th that year so I was thousands of words behind from the beginning. With the help of the quiet room however I made up time and words. I even finished a day early that year.

In the years since I have branched out from the library. I have found a home at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf a few miles from home as well as gone to a group write-in during Nano though I am a very social person so I tend to end up talking if people let me. At the coffeehouse I plug my headphones in drown out the real world with a book-related playlist. I have trained myself to not wait for inspiration but instead to find ways to draw it out and be able to move forward in some way no matter where I am working.

Today I am sitting at the Ford dealership having service done on my car while I take over a small office area to get some writing and editing done. I planned to work at home but since that silly television has the power to pull my attention I will probably be more productive here anyway. It is not the comfortable, writing in my pajamas while I lounge around drinking delicious cups of coffee from my personal coffee bar situation so many of my friends seem to envision when I tell them I write but it is the reality of the job. We write anywhere and anytime we can. 

There are still some situations I struggle with like people that can take a tablet to work to write on break and then transfer from Google Docs to word or something like that during the day. I cannot get myself to do that. I can barely get myself to write longhand on a break since they are so short. I either eat or try to relax and give my brain a moment to recuperate before I head back to work. I went weeks without writing a word at all, even posts here because I had so many things going on and I was not willing to sacrifice anything in my already packed schedule to make room for additional writing but now I am choosing to leave openings so I can incorporate a part of my life that is truly important to me. It is all about the choices we make. When, how and where are just things to figure out to make it happen.

Day 8 - Burning Out

Every year there are several times I get burned out at my day job. The first one is usually when it first slows down following the holidays, the second is right after March Madness and the last happens toward the end of the summer after it has been so slow. It is in the down times when I am standing around staring at the other casino employees that I begin thinking about all of the other things I could be doing. I recently realized that I go through a similar pattern with my writing as well.

The most noticeable time I feel burnt out is immediately after the Nanowrimo challenge in November. After dedicating hours upon hours to complete the fifty thousand words, a goal I have successfully met on every attempt no matter what lengths it required going to, I will fall into a need for break mentality. This past year it lasted longer than I had anticipated. I never even finished the first draft of that story, the second in a four book series. I needed time to rest and step away because even as I neared the climax on the book I was already looking at things to change.

The break that was supposed to last for a week ended up being over a month. It wasn't until I attended the San Diego State University Writer's Conference that I found myself once again inspired to jump back into the fray of my writing. However when I got home, pumped full of motivation and inspiration I knew I had to put it on the back burner until the charity book signing event I was in charge of was over. That event took place on February twelfth yet I still managed to not write. I thought, planned and outlined but I did not write.

I came up with my forty day challenge that involved an hour of writing per day which I am currently struggling with. I find that even when I have time to sit and write I still end up planning other things, researching books that are so far down on the to do list they don't even have titles yet, or taking part in additional activities that have nothing to do with my writing. I felt that my writing was becoming stagnant which was causing the burnout sensation I experience at my day job as well. Recently though, I had a breakthrough for one of my books and I am excited to finish the revisions.

My goal now is to finish the rewrite and have it to betas but the end of this challenge which will be Easter Sunday. I am hoping that having that deadline and getting ready for shows later this year and next year. I want to have at least four books available for those shows and right now I only have two. I do have five that are at the revise and rewrite stage though so all I have to do is finish that secondary part. I also want to submit at least two for agents and publishers by the end of the year. Now all I have to do is fight off that new diagnosis of A.D.W.D. and keep myself focused and not get burnt out.