September 29, 2005
They Shoot Authors, Don’t They?
Hadn’t planned to blog, but have a couple of things on my mind…
First of all, I don’t have a lot of time for reading, so I’m not generally one to recommend books (unless they’re my own, of course…)
But I read one this weekend that interested me. PBW’s thumbs-up made me check out the link, which made me read the excerpt, which led me to the bookstore. I absorbed this sucker in one day. It won’t interest everyone, of course–but if you’re into paranormals with big, cocky, bold vampires who sport tight black leather and lots of ammo with all too-human hearts, you will love J.R. Ward’s Dark Lover.
This is the second thing (yes, I only have room for two things in this busy little brain of mine)…
An e-friend of mine recently asked if I planned to start dispensing advice to wanna-be writers, lost souls wandering the desert seeking enlightenment, now that I have an e-book published and a blog.
My response? “Why in the name of God would I do something like THAT?!”
Listen–I’ll be honest with you. If you’ve wandered into this oasis for career advice, better hit the sand. I probably can’t help ya. Want advice? Go ask somebody you consider successful at what you want. Your 75-year old spinster aunt probably can’t tell you how to have a successful marriage.
(And I know very few people who actually consider THEMSELVES successful).
But if you held a gun to my head and threatened to shoot, and I absolutely HAD to offer fledgling writers advice?
I’d say consider the basics first. Fundamentals like grammar, spelling, and punctuation ARE important. Even if you DO happen to find an already-overworked editor who’ll run interference for you, they won’t appreciate it. And chances are a busy agent won’t give you a second look.
Beyond that…
1) Write a good book. A book that grabs YOU and won’t let go. A book that entertains on many levels. A book that somebody, somewhere will say, “damn–that’s a good book.”
2) Write a great book. Not the Great American Novel. You’re too late. It’s been done & done & done. Don’t seek to please the literary critics, or your eighth-grade English teacher. Even Shakespeare wrote for the masses (thus the abundance of barnyard humor). Just write a book that’s great to read, in and of itself. Worry about the historical significance later. ![]()
3) Write a Calgon book. That’s what I call them. Books that lift you up and out of yourself, that touch you, that help you experience things you normally wouldn’t. Do it for some poor mother of eleven stranded out on the prarie somewhere, with no other escape. She’ll love you forever.
4) Write YOUR book. Not La Nora’s, not the current rage (which would be on the decline by the time you were pubbed anyway), not Hemmingway, not what you think your mom/dad/hubby/family/crit partner would approve. YOUR book. That’s what will make it special. And that something special, folks say, is what’ll make it sell.
There now. You can put the gun away.
No, really! I swear, I didn’t give away the secret!! I didn’t, I didn’t tell them about the secret query code words that make all editors and agents accept your………………………………………………………..
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