Question the Revision Premise

Becca Symes has a great podcast where she discusses assumptions authors make about the process and if they are valid. Every month she debates a new notion, or premise, that many authors act as if it is fact without even considering why or if it was right, such as books can’t market without being on social media or writers have to write every day. She asks why this belief exists, if it’s true, can it be changed, and if this premise is serving writers.

I’ve listened to Becca Symes question these premises for years, and I’ve learned a lot. As someone who has a less traditional writing style, I’ve always thought I was good at questioning the ideas that I have. The notions that have been unintentionally spread by the masses. But this month, I realized I had a huge belief of my own that I’ve never questioned, and that definitely wasn’t serving me.

Revising has always been my least favorite part of the process. I love writing. The exploration, the fun, the lack of limitations in the first draft. But having to turn all that enjoyment and free creation into something that makes sense to everyone else has always been a struggle for me. While writing flows out of me fast and exciting, revisions take forever and can be painful. Especially that first revision.

One of the reasons I think writing goes more smoothly for me is because I allow myself to work on whatever part of the story I want to work at that time. I usually start in the middle, with a sexy scene, and work my way out (though not in any kind of organized manner). I allow myself to explore whatever scene I want to write that day. But when it comes to revising I’ve always thought I had to start on page one and work my way forward. It makes sense. Or does it?

As I’m staring down the barrel of a lot of revisions (not just the books I’ve written over the last few years, but also all of my older works that I am trying to republish), I’m desperate for a way to not only speed up the revising process, but to make it less painful as well.

That’s when I thought back to Becca Symes, and her QTP podcast,  and wondered do I have to revise this way? Do I have to revise starting on page one, or can I move around, working on whatever scene I’m inspired by?

It’s an interesting idea. I’m not sure yet if it will work. I certainly think that I’ll have to do a round of revisions the whole way through at least once. But maybe starting out with revising certain scenes, especially the fun ones in the middle, might help speed up the process, or at least make it more enjoyable.

As I get started on revising these next few books, I’m going to give this a try, and revise in the order my brain and heart want to go and see how it goes. It might blow up in my face, or just simply not make enough sense to keep going, but it’s worth a try. And even if it doesn’t work, at least I’ll know I questioned the premise and the premise is correct. At least for me.

What beliefs do you have in your head that you’ve always assumed have to be true? What can you question about your processes that might open up a whole new world?

Not All Tools Are For Everyone

Online I see a lot of authors using gorgeous tools for their writing. Beautiful laptops, monitors and keyboards. Journals full of stickers and mood boards just like their stories. Pens and post-its that match color exactly. Every time I see those beautiful plot journals and character inspiration sheets, I am jealous. I wish I could be that person. I wish I could make everything pretty and surround myself in the vibes of my story. But every time I try, I either get so intimidated by all the choices of making inspiring plot cards and character sheets, or I get frozen with fear of making a choice I can’t unchanged later, since they are on paper and permanent.

Unfortunately, no matter how much we might try, not all tools work for all of us. Everyone’s brain works a little differently, and we need to accept that about each other and ourselves.

Personally, I’ve always done better with digital tools. I like the ability to change things. To constantly adapt my process if it isn’t working without guilt. There is nothing truly permeant in my tools, and there for I can always change it match my current needs. Besides the time to set it up, I’ve lost nothing.

And I’m sure I’m not the only one out there that feels this way.

As a result, over the years, I’ve learned to use digital tools to give me some of the same effects that those beautiful plot journals and vision boards, while having the flexibility that my brain needs to explore and be creative. There are just as many fantastic resources out there for those of us who work better digitally. Most are a lot easier to find and create than a notebook or happy planner.

Spreadsheets, whether in Google sheets or excel, are one of my strongest writing tools. And one that doesn’t get enough love from the writing community. Spreadsheets malleable nature means they can be used for so many functions. Here are a few ways I use spreadsheets, but I’m sure there are hundreds more that others could add to the discussion. 

Series Binder/World Building Dictionary – using multiple sheets within excel file I keep track of every aspect of my world building. From what characters look like, to family trees, names and descriptions of locations, or anything else that I want to be able to find at a moment’s notice. I even sometimes add rules to have cells to color them for certain aspects of a story or world, so I can follow a family or storyline through all my sheets (though this might be a more advanced skill, and not necessary). Spreadsheets also have a find function, which makes it easy to search information quickly if you need to know a character’s eye color or last name in a pinch. And images can be added to still give that character reference and even story vibe that some of the prettier plot sheets that others create.

Vision boards– While I do create most of my vision boards and aesthetics in Canva, so that I can then add them to my computer, phone and tablet backgrounds, a spreadsheet is another great place to add all this information. They can be placed wherever needed on the spreadsheet to give the same appeal as a journal, without any commitment.

Outlining – since I’ve started writing longer and more complex books, I’ve needed a way to keep the story straight, since it doesn’t all fit in my head anymore. I use spreadsheets to track my progress and the story together. I can note what scenes I’ve completed, which ones need more work, how much of the whole story they represent. I even add columns to the spreadsheet to note where the characters are in their romantic relationship, and to track any subplots that might be happening. I add notes of things that I need to check or change when it comes time for revisions, all in one place. It’s great to be able to look at the whole plot in one quick glance.

Time tracking and goal setting – I use spreadsheets a lot to track time and goal setting. I love to create bar charts and line graphs and all that fun stuff to track my progress. I also like to track my time and determine how long I work on a story or scene. I find that tracking my time keeps me more productive and focused, while also offering me a lot of interesting information to analyze.

Tracking sales – This one is an obvious one. I’m sure most authors track their sales, progress and expenses in a spreadsheet, but it is valuable to be able to see your data so closely. I’ll track what series have the best follow through, what tropes are most successful for me, and even what projects I plan to work on and when.

There are plenty of other things that can be tracked in a spreadsheet as well, such as influencers and bloggers that have been contacted, who reviewed your book, where it’s published, and probably a million other things I haven’t thought of yet.

Another invaluable digital tool for authors is a word document.

In the past I have been a Scrivner girl. I wrote most of my books in Scrivner (though I have always revised in word). Since I am an inspiration writer—which means I don’t usually write in chronological order—I often find it distracting to have the words of other scenes and parts of the story I am not currently thinking about on the page before me. I loved Scrivner’s corkboard and the ability to not just work on one scene at a time, but also to move them around if needed. But for convenience and availability I’ve moved to using google docs. Especially since they have created the new tab function, where you can do the same thing as Scrivner with different scenes being on different tabs, unconnected and moveable. You do need to collect them into one document at the end, instead of the compile function of Scrivner, but a small price to pay for the convenience.

I’ve also used word documents the same way, with each scene being its own document to eventually be merged into one giant document. Just like with google docs, it’s more convenient if not a little more troublesome with the pasting.

Series Binder/Worldbuilding dictionary – Word documents are also a great place to create a worldbuilding document. With their bookmarking tool you can easily move to different locations in the document with just a click. And just like spreadsheets they are searchable, allowing you to find information quickly. Images can also be added easily, including a whole title page of a vision board or aesthetic, though images can’t be easily nested so you might need to do create the graphic in another product like Canva first, and just copy the image to your word document.

Character sheets/Plot sheets – whenever I want to write a character sheet, I find a writeable word document the best place to do it. Any questions desired can be asked and answered in the sheet, a grid can even be created for plotting if necessary. And images can be added. For anything, where I know the questions will be the same each time, setting them up in word is a great way to play with the characters without being afraid about the permanence of writing in on paper. They can be set up once and used over and over again.

These are just the digital tools I use to write my novels. Each one is easy to adapt and change depending on the story and current place I am in my head. What tools do you use to create your stories, worlds and characters?

Location, Location, Location

When it comes to writing a romance series, there's many elements that need to come together. Most of them are fairly obvious. There needs to be great characters, fantastic stories with lots of love and pining and banter and tension, some defining similarity between all the stories, whether it's taking place in the same place, or the same group of people, whether they are family, friends, coworkers, on the same team, something like that.

But one of the elements I see forgotten most often is the setting. The location where the stories take place is just as important as any of part of the story. Setting gives the reader a place they want to return to for multiple books. A place to escape to when they want to check out from the real world. And as the world gets more and more crazy, having that escape is more and more essential to all of us.

Not focusing on location is a missed opportunity for any author. Building that world in your story allows you to create depth, complexity, excitement, and conflict that might not be there otherwise. 

When I approach writing a series, I try to think of the setting as another character. A character I can grow, expand, explore. A character I can use to show the different facets of any of the other characters, just like how your heroine might react differently to her big brother than her best friend does. Wink, wink. A character I can use to increase the conflict and tension when it’s needed, or add levity. Whatever the story needs.

The more real and vibrant the location feels, the more the world is grounded for readers, and the more they can escape into your world and away from their own troubles. A place nothing like the world they live in.

But one of my all-time favorite parts about creating a locations is that I get to make up the rules. I can create a world where anything and everything is possible. I can write a small town that holds massive Christmas Ball that is attended by everyone in town. That isn’t happening in my town, or any I know, but it can happen in the ones I create. When I’m in charge, anything can happen.

And if in one mysterious small town, the town’s inhabitants can find love through mysterious letters that grant the opportunity to explore their deepest desires, I can do that. And that’s exactly what happens in Snowedin, VT. A small town where everyone knows everyone's business and fantasies come true, because I want them to.

In each of these Snowedin fantasies, a mysterious letter arrives for the characters that allows them to enjoy a night of fantasy with someone, or multiple someone’s depending on the fantasy, that wants to explore the same desires they do. And in my world, every fantasy always ends in true love.

If this sounds like the perfect way to spend a day, you should check out my Snowedin fantasies series. The first book, Reunion Makes Three, is currently on sale for only $0.99 at bookstrand.com.

Buy Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/reunion-makes-three

Blurb: Beth Lewis has always had a fantasy to be with two men who also want each other. For her birthday, her sister gifts her with a subscription to Fantasies Fulfilled, an exclusive online service to help connect people with the same desires. After losing her job and her fiancé, she deserves a little fun and to live out a dream that's been tempting her since high school.

Since his reunion invitation arrived, Dell Harrison hasn't been able to stop thinking about his high school sweetheart, Beth. When he and his live-in boyfriend Marcos Vitagliano receive a mysterious invitation to participate in the exclusive Fantasies Fulfilled services, they decide to add a woman to their dynamic duo. What Dell couldn’t have guessed is that the woman they connect with is the same woman who's haunted him since graduation.

Will Marcos be able to accept Beth in their bed and their lives? Or will adding an old flame to their couple turn their duo into a crowd?

Authors are the Best Teachers

It’s back to school time in my neck of the woods. The kids are running around to get the bus, the smell of freshly sharpen pencils and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches is in the air. The temperature is getting cooler. As I watched all the kids around me get excited for a new school year, I can’t help but reflect back on how many great teachers have made me the person I am today. And many great authors have made me the author I am by sharing their knowledge and experience and helping me to grow.

Here are a few of the authors that have proven to be fantastic writing teachers to me over the years and have turned me into the author I am today.

Stephen King’s On Writing is my favorite writing book ever. When I first read it, back in my high school days, it was transformative. Not only was it the first book that I’d read written an author I loved (before that all the writing books I’d ever read were more informational and written by people I’d never heard of before), but it also had such a different take on writing.

Just like the rest of Stephen King’s work, his writing advice was grounded in reality, realism, and wasn’t always rosy or optimistic. But I loved that. He made writing sound difficult but doable. He was the first author I heard make a word goal for the day and talk about grinding out the work instead of waiting for inspiration. It may sound obvious today, but at the time I’d never heard anyone detail how to become a writer in as plain terms as he did.

I haven’t read the book in quite a few years, I don’t know how well its held up over time. Especially when it comes to writing style, which is always evolving. But the advice on achieving your goals and improving your art are timeless.

I took Becca Syme’s Write Better Faster Class when I was going through a low point in my career. I’d completely burnt myself out trying to write fulltime after an unexpected job loss, and it was doing a number on my head. She’s the first person who I ever described my writing style to and didn’t think I was insane. She looked at the tests I’d taken for her class, and said my style made sense according to what my tests revealed. That was a vindication I never realized I needed but has helped me accept my style more than I can express.

Also, her advice to write like yourself is something I use every day. Whenever I start to get down on myself that my style isn’t like someone else’s that I love, or I can’t write like some author that is amazing, I always remember her advice that readers don’t come to your work for a copycat of someone else, or for perfect grammar and prose. They come to you for what makes you different. What is special about you. And you can’t do anything better for your writing than embracing who you are. That always encourages me to continue when writing is tough. Or more often, I’m tough on myself.

I don’t remember how I found Sarra Cannon’s Heart Breathing channel on YouTube. I must have watched enough other author vlogs that the algorithm sent her to me, but I am grateful. In the last few years, writing has become a lot for me to handle. All the millions of things you have to do on top of the writing. Maintain a website, create an online presence, promote on social media, self-publish books, liaison with vendors….it can be overwhelming. But her 90-day planning system, called HB90, has been a godsend. It helps me focus on what’s important and move projects forward instead of running around trying to do everything at once and getting nowhere. And her writing advice on plotting, and characterization is fantastic.

One of her recent videos on reverse outlining, or grid outlining as I’ve seen some others call it, might have changed my writing process for good. It combines the writing part of my brain, with the analytical data part of my brain, so perfectly I can’t believe I’ve never thought of it before. It’s been so helpful, especially with my frazzled mom brain, to have a way to focus my whole story displayed on one sheet, instead of trying to keep it all in my head.

Back when I had a commute, I loved podcasts. Music is great, but podcasts really help me make a long commute fun. The time flies by when I’m learning something new. Stephenie Holmes podcast was one of my favorites. She has such great tips on writing and marketing, that I couldn’t wait for her podcast to drop each week. I love how clear she is in her own goals. Unlike other authors that give advice, she’s very clear in what works for her and doesn’t hedge. She’s a high production author—meaning she writes a lot, and feels that’s the best way to make enough money to write full-time. And she gives advice in that vein.

I loved to hear how her different marketing projects went. From Kickstarts, to merchandise and special editions, to exploring new genres, she detailed every turn she took with her writing. What was successful, what wasn’t, how she might do things differently to avoid pitfalls in the future.

While she hasn’t offered a new podcast in some time, the old ones still have a lot to offer. From marketing tips and tricks, to mindset resets. If you haven’t checked them out, they are definitely worth a listen.

These are the authors that have been great teachers to me. They have all taught me so much, and I take their wisdom with me everywhere I go. If you have any other authors you have learned a ton from, drop them in the comments below. I can’t wait to find others that will open my mind and expand my insight, just as these fantastic authors have.

Writing: Trying a New Genre

We all get stuck in ruts at different stages in life. I'm in a writing rut right now. I've been writing in romance sub-genres for a few years. If I say how many, I date myself. :)

I'm sick of writing romance and writing sex scenes. How many different ways can you write a sex scene? Don't answer that. I'm sure there are many options for sex scenes, but I just don't want to do it anymore. At least right now.

Maybe if I try something new, that will wipe away my creative cobwebs and bring me back to romance writing with a fresh outlook. Maybe not.

I have this idea for a vampire thriller that's very relevant to all the rising hate and fear we are experiencing here in the U.S. Writing this story is a good way for me to deal with my anxiety and anger over the sorry state of our country. It's cheaper than paying for therapy.

Anyway, I'm working on the first draft, and it's refreshing to write non-romance, but it's also a challenge because I'm not used to it. I'm also writing this in first person from a jaded, grief-stricken, old male vampire's POV, so it can be dark at times to be in his headspace.

I'm excited to see where this new direction will take me.

Stories with fearless females and the men who dare to love them.

www.kelleyheckart.com

How Divination Cards Can Improve Your Writing

Image by Melissa G from Pixabay

The Story Of Johanneke and Bóinn Cəfərova

Happy New Year, fellow writers! Today, I'd like to tell you the story of twin sisters, one a writer with a mind open to esoteric and alternative concepts, the other a writer skeptical of esoteric and alternative ideas.

Johanneke and Bóinn Cəfərova were born on May 15, 1958, into a multicultural family that valued academic pursuits and tolerant attitudes. Although possessing radically different personalities, the charming twins with their cardinal-red hair and sea-green eyes were always close and always supported one another's aspirations.

After completing their medical training, the sisters returned to the rural community of where they were raised. Johanneke became a highly respected paramedic who saved many lives. Meanwhile, Bóinn began her working life as a medical assistant but became an art therapist who incorporated Jungian psychology into her practice. The archetypal images depicted on Tarot cards fit perfectly into her methodology.

Regardless of what else was going on, the sisters met every weekend to share the stories they were writing. Following Johanneke's retirement and Bóinn's transition to part-time practice, the pair began exploring the possibility of self-publishing their stories. Naturally, they supported each other 100 percent, even though they wrote in different genres.

Johanneke and her wife Shirlee ran a small ranch. With her love of Westerns and cowgirls, she gravitated to writing Western romance stories featuring spirited lesbian couples triumphing against the odds. Meanwhile, the experiences of Bóinn's husband Bert, a former soldier who counseled veterans experiencing PTSD, inspired Bóinn to write action-packed yet sensitive military romances with a guaranteed Happily Ever After.

One day during their afternoon story meet-up, Bóinn noticed Johanneke was frustrated. She typed a paragraph only to erase it. Her brow was furrowed, her expression sour. When this scenario repeated itself for three days in a row, Bóinn asked her sister what was wrong.

"I just can't get deep with Olof's motivation," Johanneke admitted. "Yes, he's obsessed with Moriah and wants Stephanie out of the way, but what is the reason beyond him being an entitled manbaby who can't take no for an answer?"

To Johanneke's surprise, her sister smiled and hurried off. When she returned, she had a Tarot card deck in hand. Johanneke sighed.

"Bo, I don't need you to tell my fortune," she insisted. "You know I don't believe in that stuff."

"You don't need to believe the cards have any sort of metaphysical power for them to be useful," Bóinn explained. "Here, just humor me and shuffle the cards."

"If we're going to play cards, you might as well pour me a whiskey," Johanneke quipped. "All right, here are your shuffled cards."

"Here's your firewater, Ma'am," Bóinn said, handing her sister a tumbler of whiskey on the rocks. "Now, turn over the top card."

"It's the knight of cups," Johanneke revealed. "What does that mean for Olof?"

"Let's look at his expression," Bóinn suggested. "He's a serious fellow looking to get a job done. He's concentrating on an idea but doesn't know how to proceed. It appears from the description that the knight is passionately pursuing a new direction in his life. Olof's new direction leads to Moriah. He thinks she can give him what he desperately needs. He doesn't consider her wishes."

"He sees her as an NPC in the scenario where he plays the lead," Johanneke realized. "She is supposed to fulfill the role of love interest, saving him from a miserable life. He sees Stephanie as a temptress with an agenda. Meanwhile, he's the one with the agenda. Thank you, Sis! This helped so much! Why have we never used this method before?"

"I just learned about it myself," Bóinn replied.

"Well, it's a wonderful tool! There may be something to your metaphysical mumbo-jumbo after all."

Johanneke laughed at her sister's flabbergasted expression.

"I think I may need a glass of firewater myself to survive an afternoon with you," Bóinn smirked.

The sisters returned to their stories with renewed inspiration.

The Practical Side

There are many people who dismiss divination cards as superstitious or nonsensical, doubting their ability to assist a writer in their creative endeavors. Additionally, some writers may be hesitant to incorporate spiritual practices into their writing, for fear that it may undermine the authenticity or seriousness of their work. Others may struggle to understand how seemingly random card pulls can provide valuable insight or inspiration for their writing projects. Using divination cards in the creation process can unleash untapped creativity, provide unique storytelling avenues, and enhance intuition. This leads to more inspired and authentic narratives that resonate with readers on a profound level.

Writing stories has been a major part of my life since I was six years old. I began using Tarot cards for divination at seventeen. It was only last year that I became aware of the benefits of using cards as a tool for creativity. This practice has brought back a lost sense of wonder and magic to my writing.

I used the Cthulhu's Vault Tarot in today's exercise. I pulled the card at random. It happened to be the perfect choice. Coincidence or...

You decide!

As Bóinn advised Johanneke, you don't have to believe the cards have any metaphysical or supernatural applications for them to guide you in your writing practice.

You can purchase the Cthulhu's Vault deck through this link.

https://amzn.to/4iZmpdw

I hope this post provided new possibilities for making your writing practice more enjoyable.

naughtynetherworldpress.start.page

Finding That Writing Mojo Dojo

I have always felt like physical places have energy. Sometimes its inherent to the place itself, and sometimes it can be created by what happens there. When buying all my houses, the second I stepped into the building I could just feel it was the place for me. Realtors would tell you they created that feeling (and I don’t think that’s completely untrue) but I think that the buildings themselves have a certain energy that I picked up on. Energy that welcomed me and soothed me and made me feel like this place could be my home.

I’ve also always believed that places have writing energy as well. Not that I can’t write anywhere, if properly motivated. I’ve written in some weird places throughout the years (during hockey games, in closets, on the couch while my whole family watched avatar), but when I settled down to writing in a place with that good writing mojo it always feels like the words flows better. It’s easier for me to get in that right headspace. Like everything just clicks a little faster, a little easier, a little deeper.

As a result, I tend to frequent places with good writing energy far more often. Especially when getting into that writing headspace can be even harder, due to stress, or real-life complications, or a strict deadline.

Here are a few of the places I like to write. Either because they have inherent great writing energy or because I’ve created it, by writing in these places enough that I can pick back up on that mindset the second I walk in the door.

While it may sound boring, my desk is one of my favorite places to write. Not because there is anything special about my desk. In fact, it’s pretty bland. Every year I think about fixing it up, getting some new stuff to make it more exciting and conducive to writing, but I always put it off. Regardless of how blah my desk might be, it’s a great place to get work done. Without any windows, and far away from the rest of the house, there are limited distractions to disrupt my flow. On a day when I don’t have the time to go anywhere else, I’ll put on some sounds (I need sounds instead of music, because lyrics can distract me when I’m writing, especially if it’s a good song), and shut off the world. 

After my desk, the most common place for me to write is my couch. I’m not sure it’s the best. It probably horrible for my wrist or back, but it’s the most well used spot in my house for everything. For eating, for reading, for writing/working, probably even for sleeping (I’m a big napper, which most often happens on the couch). But while it might not be the best for my body to write, the positive energy on my couch has served me well. Not to mention, there is something really nice about how writing on the couch connects my writing to my everyday life. While it can be freeing to escape from reality into my writing, sometimes it’s also nice to see my writing world as not a separate entity, but as a part of my life. An extension of the real me.

Barnes and Noble is one of my favorite places to write outside the house. I think being surrounded by all those books is great motivation. I look at all the books around me, at all the people who love those books, and it fills me with motivation to bring my characters into the world to be loved by readers just like the ones around me. Not to mention the snacks and coffee really help lubricate the writing process.

After Barnes and Noble, Panera is my next favorite place to write. The food is great, and the atmosphere—at least at my Panera—is focused. Maybe it’s because I live close to a large college, but most days I write at Panera at least half the restaurant is filled with other people on their laptops, writing presentations, trading stocks, editing videos. It can be quite a communal feeling, to see so many other people working to their goals, just like I am. And they make a mean grill cheese. What could be better than that?

I’ve always found walking very helpful for my writing process. It gives me time to think, to let my mind wonder and the ideas to flow. If I am going through a period of increased productivity it is almost always a time when I am consistently walking. And when I walk it isn’t uncommon for me to find a nice grassy spot to sit down and write. There is a perfect spot I used to tuck away into near my evil day job, just beyond the building I can’t see my office, or any other part of the realities of home, and I can just escape into my writing, with nothing to distract me from the world and characters I’m creating. I wrote most of my Frostbite Falls series in that spot, and to this day it is one of my favorite places to write. The wind, the trees, the birds, the sunshine, all only add to my enjoyment and my writing mojo.

These are the places I like to write the most. That have offer me just that little extra energy to make my words come to life. Where do you like to get your work done? What places have the best energy to you? Or help you be even more productive? Leave them in the comments below. Maybe we have some of the same places in mind.

10,000 Hours to Mastery

They say it takes 10,000 hours to be a master at anything. I’m not exactly sure where that number came from, I guess it’s just one of those things people say. And I understand the logic behind it. It does take a lot of work and a lot of determination to master any skill. More time than most people want to put in. 

That’s why masters of anything are so rare.

I am not about to call myself a master of anything (nor do think I have put 10,000 hours into anything) but it is certainly something I aspire to when it comes to my writing. Though I’m not sure if I believe anyone can truly be a master of writing, as a artform it is constantly evolving. What readers want, what they expect, even the words we use and the way we use them, is always changing. But that doesn’t stop me from trying. Even if I end up falling short, someone a little short of a master is still pretty damn good.

This is what I’m doing to try and work towards my 10,000 hours to master writing. Read. Both books of fiction and craft. I think reading fiction books, especially books in my genre is so vital to increasing my knowledge. Not just good books, but the bad ones too. There is so much that can be learned about the craft of writing from reading other books. What worked, what didn’t, what made you love a character, what made you hate them, how the authors style set them apart and why you loved or hated it. I’m often amazed by how much I pick up from reading without even realizing it. And as far as homework goes, it’s not to exactly a hardship to have to read a bunch of amazing books.

Reading craft books is also important (though I won’t lie, it’s not nearly as much fun). I try to read at least one craft book a year. Ones on writing, storytelling, plotting. My writing process is always evolving, and I love to get a different perspective and see how others are do what I love. All their tips might not be for me, but it’s impossible to tell when you might stumble upon that one idea that changes everything.

Take courses. Getting to mastery is about always learning. I love to take new classes, to learn a new tip or a new technique that can improve my writing. Even new knowledge that can expand and deepen my world. I don’t see myself ever writing a gory serial killer thriller, but you never know when I might write a character obsessed with murder podcasts, and all those police procedural workshops I attended will come in handy.

Listen to podcasts. I love to listen to podcasts by other authors. To hear what is working for them and what they are struggling with. Not only does it give me new ideas, I love the camaraderie that I get hearing about others in my profession. It’s comforting to know that others struggle with that exact thing that I have been struggling with. Or have a big success in a genre or project I’m considering pursuing. Some of my favorite podcasts are Six Figure Authors, Rage Against the Manuscript, and the Self-Publishing Show. Though I’m sure there are many more fantastic ones to discover.

Watch YouTube videos. Just like classes and podcasts there is a whole array of authors that create videos for YouTube. Content on what they are working on, what they are struggling with, how they are getting stuff done (these are my favorite, I’m a huge productivity nerd), even craft. There is a whole world to be discovered and explored on YouTube, and I love to do it.

Critiques. Getting critiques, or receiving a beta read, can be incredibly helpful. Getting a fresh new set of eyes on your work can help you see your writing more clearly than you could ever do on your own. Whether it’s a character trait, a writing crutch, or a confusing passage, getting feedback is vital to improve. Sometimes critiques might just find errors in this manuscript, but often they can bring to my attention bad habits and crutches I lean on far too often. Not just helping me improve this one work, but to improve my writing from this story going forward.

Just having a friend look over a few chapters or receiving a beta reader on the beginning of a book can be so eye opening. Though it can be tempting to skip this step, and plow through to the end (especially in this high-pressured publishing environment) I have learned from experience that nothing is more valuable to my work, and my mastery of this art, than feedback. No matter how hard it might be to hear sometimes.

Not only do I learn from receiving critiques and betas, but I learn from giving them as well. Seeing where someone else is succeeding that might be a struggle for me, or where someone else might be struggling that I am as well, can be valuable. Without the emotional attachment to the work, it can be easier to see the cause of the issue, as well as ways to apply it to my own work. It can offer the opportunity to meet other authors, and find others to not make you feel so alone in this crazy writing thing we are all doing together. Writing can be lonely, it’s nice to have someone to go to when the struggle gets too hard.

Edits. Getting edits from a professional is invaluable. My writing really improved when I started to receive edits from my publishers. True honest feedback, not tainted by friendship or imposter syndrome, is worth its weight in gold. If you get the opportunity to receive such valuable insight, take it with both hands.

Network with other authors. I am always amazed by how much I can learn from fellow authors. Even just having a writing group to bounce ideas off of can be a huge help. It’s impossible to do everything yourself. To go to every course, read every book, experience every conference. Having other authors to bounce ideas off of, to listen to and to commune with goes a long way to filling in those holes that might exist in your knowledge. We are all different, we perceive things differently, and I love to get those other perspectives.

And of course, writing. There is no other way to learn than to sit down and get your fingers on those keys. To write the book, to find the processes and stories that are working for you. The ways that don’t. To figure out how to push through a sticky situation. To persevere even when it gets hard. And then open a blank document and do it all over again.

These are the ways I’m working towards my 10,000 hours to master writing. And becoming the best writer I can be. What ways are you working towards your goals? What skills are you trying to master?Tell me in the comments below.

The Challenge of Writing Short Fiction

 

Image by Vijay Hu from Pixabay

Does writing short stories make you feel a little bit something like this?

Image by Min Maw Khant from Pixabay

Or does writing short stories make you feel more like this?

Are you the kind of author who excels at keeping your stories as tight and compelling as a pair of Speedos on an Olympic swimmer? Or are you more the sort of author who stuffs every idea they imagine along the way into their pocketses, until their trousers have bloomed into a new ecosystem? Every idea is this kind of writer's Precious, and they will bite, fight, and gut like a fish anyone who suggests maybe leaving a few preciouses behind for another day.

I'm the second kind of writer. 

I've had several stories, varying in length from true short stories to short novellas, published in anthologies over the past several years. I consider these stories to be triumphs, and I love each of them. However, I can't deny that despite providing a compelling read, these tales of wonder and imagination have their problems. 

I began speaking in Gollum in the first paragraph because nearly all of my short stories try to turn into the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I start with a couple of compelling characters and end up trying to include the entire cast of extras. There is an allure to delving deep into intricate plots and expansive world-building, which causes writers like me to lose sight of the powerful impact a well-crafted short story can deliver.

Including an excess of details and characters makes a short story bloated, rushed, and difficult to follow. It's like stuffing the ingredients for a footlong submarine sandwich between two slices of the cheapest grocery store brand bread. The story falls apart because too many items were crammed into too small a package. 

I participated in a short story challenge last month, and I really struggled with it. I sidelined four ideas and was down to my last try before giving up. The following advice from a writer friend, Marie Tuhart, helped me to triumph with my final piece. Marie writes very effective steamy and erotic fiction. You can find her books on her website.

https://marietuhart.com/all-books.html

Marie gave me the only suggestion that has ever helped me rein in my tendency to cry out dramatically: "Yes, but I MUST include all the hobbits in the Shire, all the people in Laketown, every dweller in Mirkwood, all the dwarves and elves, Smaug, Shelob, Sauron, and Saruman, too! And don't you dare expect me to forget Gandalf! I would never!" 

I'm passing this nifty little trick on to anyone else who struggles to keep their short stories from morphing into 500,000-word epics packed into a 5,000-word package.

Hone in on no more than two or three characters. Other characters may appear in passing, but you shouldn't focus on them. Confine the events in the story to 24-48 hours, not a week, a month, or a year. Any flashbacks supporting the plot should be kept brief.

Keeping this advice in mind, I completed the challenge with a story that was just shy of 2000 words. I don't know if it will be one of the winners, but I don't really care. I'm just proud that I got 'er done. 

Happy writing!

I am the deranged brains behind Naughty Netherworld Press. I write cheeky erotic novelettes as Lil DeVille and horror, literary fiction, Lovecraftian fantasy, science fiction, speculative fiction, and sweet romance as C. L. Hart.

https://naughtynetherworldpress.start.page