The Three Ds of Writing

Achieving goals in any field takes more than just desire, but if you possess even a small amount of the following three qualities, it will increase your chances of success.

Determination

Yesterday I took a day off, because I needed some social life to balance my writing life, although if your life is like mine (and most people I know), getting that work/leisure balance right is a juggling act, that despite endless practice, is rarely easy. My experience is that determination varies, like waves hitting the shoreline. Sometimes huge crunchers thunder onto the beach, and on other days, tiny wavelets lap gently at the shore. Yet as long as the wind pushes over the surface of the sea, those waves will keep coming. So consider determination in the same way: as long as you keep trying, you'll get closer to realizing your dreams.

Discipline

Developing the habit of writing regularly takes discipline.

     'Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes,

     a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers,

     like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.' – Jane Yolen.

Each writer has their own rhythm, their own way of tapping into their creative process. I’m still learning what works for me and change my schedule from time to time. Sometimes I write as soon as I get up, stick at it for as long as I can, then leave my imaginary world and return to this one. I’ve also had periods of working later in the day when I've given myself a word quota and not stopped till I’ve reached my goal. Sometimes words flow, at other times I have to encourage my hesitant, reluctant sentences onto the page. Sometimes when they do come, they’re not what I want, but at least if there are words on the page, I've got something to work with.

Drive

I found the following explanations of the word 'drive' in my dictionary:by compulsion, force along, impel, urge, compel, energy, initiative, go along before an impelling force.
You get the drift.
When you write, determination and discipline combine to keep you going, but it is the act of writing itself, the act of creating something, that is so satisfying, and which generates the momentum that keeps you moving forward. 

Writing Update

I'm forty three thousand words into the first draft of the final book in my urban fantasy trilogy, Samsara. Mapping out the scenes in more detail is helping, but I still find, especially when I've written something like, 'hand to hand fighting', I have to go back to square one and figure out the choreography of the action. On the whole, though, the more detailed the scene, the easier the words flow. 

Even though I've some way to go, I'm already feeling sad that this is the last in the series, and I'll be saying goodbye to these characters before the end of the year. Still, on the upside, I'll have room for some new ones to occupy.

Links:

If you're a Wattpad member, I have several short stories posted on the site: https://www.wattpad.com/teagankearney

https://twitter.com/@teagankearney
https://uk.pinterest.com/teagankearney

I've also (finally) made it onto face book, though I'm still not sure what I'm doing there: https://www.facebook.com/teagankearney

Thanks for visiting my blog, and please do leave a comment. 
To all story lovers out there, good reading, and to those of you who write, good writing. 

NANOWRIMO: THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS

I know there’s a plethora of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month – aka the nano) posts out in the blogosphere at the moment, but as I am participating in the challenge, I thought it appropriate that I dedicate one of my November posts to this writing marathon. 

If you take on a demanding challenge, it’s usually because there is an upside which outweighs the downside. The nano is no different. Deciding to write 50,000 words in thirty days – one thousand, six hundred and sixty seven words a day – is a test, but for many of us, achieving the first draft of a novel is something we think a worthwhile endeavour.

 

Refill frequently

THE LOWS 

To start with, that final word total can haunt you – if you let it – creating a seemingly unattainable goal. But, as with everything else in life from kicking a ball to getting a PhD in astrophysics, patience and determination will get you to your destination, even if it doesn’t produce an instant masterpiece. 

There may be novelists who can write their first draft in eleven days (Catherynne M. Valente, The Labyrinth) but for most us there are any number of factors which prevent our achieving this feat. Though it has to be said, as an example of what’s possible, it is a good one. Consequently, the pace at which you work can be one hurdle to overcome, especially if you are a deliberate, thoughtful writer.

There is also a moment when you realize the time and effort involved takes more commitment than you envisioned when you sat in your armchair or the local coffee shop planning your novel.  You doubt your resolve, wonder if you have what it takes to make it, stare at how much you’ve done that day, and think about how much more you still need to do before you can stop. Again, sheer dogged refusal to give up will get you passed this stumbling block. 

As the days go by, your word count does increase, your story starts to shape up, and you feel encouraged. The hope you started out with becomes conviction. You will make it.

Take a break and cloud watch

THE HIGHS

Each time I've participated in the nano I've had a different experience. Three years ago, my first nano try, I didn’t complete the challenge. Two years ago, I put my head down and ploughed through, surprising myself by writing the required number of words (I’ve yet to return to and complete that novel); last year, though, I had a lot more fun. 

I realize one of the reasons I shot out of the starting post last year was because I’d been thinking about the beginning section of the story for several months. My initial outpouring did slow considerably as the month went on, reflecting the fact that I didn't outline the rest of the story till a few days before the nano started. A valuable part of what I’ve learned from the nano is what works for me as a writer.

This year I’m putting down the rough draft of the second in my paranormal series. I have done a fair amount of incubation of the story, plus more planning than last year. What is different is writing another novel with the same characters, which for me is a first.

The best word I can think of to describe my nano experience is immersion. Immersion in the writing process; immersion in watching the flow of my imaginings manifest on the screen in front of me; immersion in my story. As a result, when I stagger from my seat, stiff-limbed and exhausted, I'm also exhilarated, and all I can say is, brilliant, just brilliant!

                                    

Today’s Haiku 

AUTUMN EVENING

dark Prussian blue sky

sly dusk slinks after day - leaves

deepest umber earth below 

Useful Links:

NaNoWriMo:

http://nanowrimo.org/

Join me on Twitter at: teagankearney@modhaiku

To all story lovers out there, good reading, and to those who write, good writing.

 

 

SIX TIPS FOR DEALING WITH REJECTION

This week's post is a light-hearted look at what is, for writers, a serious subject.

Definition of rejectionitis: state of mental and emotional health a writer experiences after work is rejected. Symptoms may include excessive chocolate, pizza and alcohol intake, as well as the sudden desire for a new wardrobe or other material items not normally viewed as necessary. Wringing of hands, banging of head, overreacting to events with screaming fits, floods of tears or utter silence for weeks on end are quite common.

None, but a blessed few (and nobody I’ve ever met), go through life without having to deal with rejection because it’s part of life. When you want something, you generally have to work hard, experience some rejection along the way, learn and move forward. 

Attempting to put your short story, poem or novel out into the public arena is no different. 

If, after you’ve polished your work till your eyes bleed and your fingers are worn to stubs with typing, you decide to go the traditional route, submitting your piece to publishers and agents can be a painful, and sometimes brutal, experience. If you decide to go the self-publishing route, and despite your best efforts at marketing, your book etc., fails to sell, it can leave you equally disheartened. Rejection is a possibility that has to be considered, as there is no guarantee of success. 

In preparation for the next stage of this writing adventure – submitting my ms to agents and publishers (and simultaneously preparing the document for epublishing),  I’ve come up with a plan of action for dealing with the rejection which I’m sure to receive - I'm working on the premise that you can’t please all the people all of the time. I hope it will be of some help to others experiencing this condition. 

1.

Publishers and agents are people. They have chosen to work in this field because there is something about stories, words and books that attracts them, but – and this is a big but – it is a job. The question they have to ask themselves is - will this author/book make money for me? A Bengali proverb says, ‘when in doubt, don’t’ and if you make that ‘when in doubt, and in an economic downturn’ that becomes a double don’t. The emergence of digital, indie and self-publishing success stories is making the big publishing companies more cautious as their profits shrink. All of which makes breaking into the market harder for unknown writers.

2.

Publishers and agents are human and therefore are subject to making mistakes, just like everyone else. Memorize some facts from this list (see links below) of successful authors who were refused any number of times, before ultimately finding a publisher and a readership. This doesn't automatically put your work into the same category, but don't dismiss or sneer at the opportunity to find consolation - it can reinforce your determination.

3.

Think about how you felt when you were writing. Did you enjoy it or wish you’d done something else with your time? If it’s the former, then move on, you’ve lost nothing by your efforts to get your work out there; if it’s the latter, then maybe you should be doing something else.

4.

Stop playing Pink’s ‘Mean’ and start playing Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Stronger’.

5.

Compile your own list of positive aphorisms – repeat them often. It takes a little time for messages to penetrated the subconscious, but persevere and you’ll be up singing with the dawn chorus in no time.

6.

Start your next project – immediately. The excitement and absorption of writing a new story/poem will rekindle your enthusiasm, as well as reminding you of why you started to write in the first place.

On a final note, here's a quote from Isaac Asimov: 'You must keep sending work out; you must never let a manuscript do nothing but eat its head off in a drawer. You send that work out again and again, while you’re working on another one. If you have talent, you will receive some measure of success – but only if you persist.'


Today’s Haiku

ORKNEY

only tourists have

umbrellas on Orkney Isle –

horizontal rain 

Useful links: 
The comments given to authors with the return of their manuscripts makes for humorous reading.

http://www.examiner.com/article/30-famous-authors-whose-works-were-rejected-repeatedly-and-sometimes-rudely-by-publishers

This link has the sales of some very famous authors who were rejected.

http://www.literaryrejections.com/best-sellers-initially-rejected/  

Join me on Twitter at: teagankearney@modhaiku

To all story lovers out there, good reading, and to those of you who write, good writing.