Writers Write!

"It is not love that is blind, but jealousy." - Lawrence Durell

I'll never be Ernest Hemingway or F. Scott Fitzgerald.  I'll never come close to approaching the richness and sincerity of a John Steinbeck.  And, while I can torture myself by striving for perfection and trying to be the best, the one thing (and perhaps the only thing) I can do is be the best "me" possible.  Time after time I find myself criticizing my works in progress even though I should know better.  I beat myself up for not having a first draft that's as good as a master's finished piece.  Silly, huh?  But we writers do it to ourselves over and over.

A doctor doesn't go through all the rigorous academic training of med school, followed by an intense residency, have a practice of his or her own only to say, "I'm not a real doctor."  Yet, we writers do that all the time.  We study, we read, we hit the blank page over and over yet we negate the fact that we are writers when we don't get published or when our published works don't meet the commercial success of a Stephen King or Anne Rice.  It seems that writers at all levels of their career suffer from similar feelings of self doubt.

The best advice I ever heard was, "Writers, write."  It's that simple.

The days that you sit down to write, you're a writer.  The days you let slip away are gone forever.  You won't be able to get those words and thoughts back.  But, when you're actively engaged in a story problem, when you're focused and involved in creating an intriguing plot or an in-depth character biography then you're a writer.  Set aside some time every day no matter how brief to get your ideas on paper.  All of life's other obligations will stand in the way but your job as a writer is to make time to write.  Every word gets you closer to your finished manuscript.

Whenever I take on a new story, one of the first things I like to do is acquaint myself with the territory.  I like to get a view of the landscape.  What's it like to walk in my character's shoes?  What do they see, feel, hear, smell on their way to work, school, the dentist?  I'll usually do a fair amount of research on a place, especially if I've never been there and want the story to ring true.  Better yet, a trip could be just the thing to really add spice to your prose.  Creating an authentic setting helps to establish a sense of trust with the reader.  I find reading books on nature give me a valuable insight into the topography and wildlife characteristic of a region.  These vital details infuse the imaginary world you create with vividness.

This week's suggested website: Writer's FM - (http://www.writersfm.com/writersfm/) The only radio station created for writers by writers. Writer's FM broadcasts 24 hours a day and features music, live interviews, podcasts and more.


This week's writing prompt: Give yourself five uninterrupted minutes of quiet time.  Capture all the detail you can about the present moment.  Fill a page with the sights, sounds and experiences that are going on around you right now.  There's more available than you may at first realize.  Give your very best and have a great writing week.

Set the Stage on the Page

There exists within our screenplays, fiction, poetry, etc. an invisible character that subliminally reaches our intended audience with surprising force.  And, that invisible character is: setting.  


It's important not to underestimate the relevance of setting in our writing.  Dismissing setting as mere description can undermine your story's emotional impact.  Setting the stage is an essential part of creating a sense of suspended disbelief.

If for example your story is a hard hitting crime drama, your ability to create the appropriate setting, complete with interesting details that reveal human nuances, will make your story sparkle with life and authenticity. A properly imagined setting will not only create the mood for your piece but will also establish your credibility an an authoritative voice.

If the reader/audience is satisfied that you're knowledgeable of your surroundings they'll be more easily lulled into your imaginary story.

There are wonderful examples of stories where the environment is certainly a "voice" or presence in the story.  127 Hours is a perfect example of how the environment plays a major role in the lives of the characters, the decisions they make and the course of action they follow.  Imagine for a moment some other examples of setting playing an important role in a story.   Taxi Driver, Annie Hall, Wall Street, Sex and the City and countless others all paint a different picture of New York City.  Can you imagine how different the stories would be if they took place somewhere else.  The spirit of New York breathes through these stories.

Perhaps no other genre demands a well realized setting as much as science fiction.  Consider how much time and effort went into the planning of the world of Star Wars.  Entire planets, races of sentient beings, all manner of vegetation, modes of transportation, weaponry, etc. all help to create the setting for this magnificent adventure.  Similarly, consider how the pastural settings of "The Natural" helped to elevate this story from just a baseball movie to a mystical allegory of forgiveness, regret and redemption.

Treat setting like an invisible character and add impact to every scene in your story.


This week's suggested website:  The Literary Law Guide (http://www.literarylawguide.com) provides the legal resources and copyright information that every writer ought to be familiar with.


This week's writing prompt: Give yourself five uninterrupted minutes of quiet time.  Write a love letter to yourself.   Sounds easy, maybe even silly but you'd be surprised how many people resist this exercise.  A little self-love can be very powerful.  Pour it on!  Have a great writing week.