We previously discussed about your writing as a business. Because if you want to succeed to the next level in your writing (from the "playing around" stage to publication) and are serious about doing it, then that is the mind-set that you need.
First, what I am about to discuss is a variation of a motivational talk by the great Earl Nightingale. In his excellent audio collection "Lead The Field" he talks about the four components of a successful business, which can be shifted to how one can learn to succeed at whatever you put your mind to do. I take this one step further, but at an elementary level I still credit Mr. Nightingale for the knowledge I am about to share.
Think of yourself as the CEO of your company. Or, better yet, the CEO of your life. There are three main components to it, which, depending on how successful you put them to work, influences the fourth. Since we are in the writing business, you are the CEO of that business and how successful your writing will become, will largely influence how much . . . money you are able to earn.
The three main components of any successful business are as follows: Research and Development, Production, and Sales. If any given business works these three areas to the best of its ability, it increases the fourth component: money. If one area is lacking, then the business becomes stagnant and eventually fails.
Earl Nightingale put this in a personal perspective when thinking of your own life, of which you are the CEO. If you look at your own body, the head is Research and Development, the hands are Production, and the legs are Sales. Your chest . . . let's put a huge Superman-like S in the center, but instead of an S let's put a dollar sign. How successful you are in R & D, Production, and Sales will affect how much money you are able to earn.
In the next few blogs, I will break each of these three components down for you.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Sage advice from a former teacher
Last week, at the Red Lake Falls Library, I had the privilege of meeting a former professor of mine from Bemidji State University, one who taught me a lot about writing: award-winning Minnesota author Will Weaver.
Throughout my entire academic career, I can name two teachers who have had an impact on my writing. One is my 6th grade college-prep English teacher Mrs. Anne Olson. (I hope I spelled her name right). Never before in high school was I ever asked to write a creative piece. What? I thought at the time. You mean, make something up? I had always dreamed of being a writer and was always working on something, but this was the very first time I was able to do it for a class. She taught many of the mechanics of creative writing, from character sketches and such, and her advice was always positive.
Will Weaver, on the other hand, took my writing to a whole new level. I took two classes from him: Introduction to Fiction Writing and Intermediate Fiction Writing. (Yes, my Criminal Justice advisor didn't think too highly of my taking such classes when I was getting a degree in Criminal Justice, but oh well - I'll have the last laugh when I'm sitting on top of the bestseller's list). Will Weaver's advice, albeit simple and straightforward, was right on the money. And, last week, proved it once again.
Will Weaver first talked about the art of the short story and how beginning writers can use that format to learn about the craft. He taught about keeping your focus on a small, defined period of time and even a limited number of characters. He even said that a narrow subject matter would also help make one's short story better.
He read several pieces from his books, many of them young adult, and also talked about "writing more about less." This means to write about the finer details of one's story (just the right amount of details, but not too much that would overload one's senses and also not too little where the writers is screaming for more). There was much more advise he shared (and this blog simply cannot name them all) but one that really stuck with me was the following: write well enough so that you don't give the reader a reason to stop. The same is also true with an editor, because if you can keep an editor's attention, you have the makings of a good story.
Throughout my entire academic career, I can name two teachers who have had an impact on my writing. One is my 6th grade college-prep English teacher Mrs. Anne Olson. (I hope I spelled her name right). Never before in high school was I ever asked to write a creative piece. What? I thought at the time. You mean, make something up? I had always dreamed of being a writer and was always working on something, but this was the very first time I was able to do it for a class. She taught many of the mechanics of creative writing, from character sketches and such, and her advice was always positive.
Will Weaver, on the other hand, took my writing to a whole new level. I took two classes from him: Introduction to Fiction Writing and Intermediate Fiction Writing. (Yes, my Criminal Justice advisor didn't think too highly of my taking such classes when I was getting a degree in Criminal Justice, but oh well - I'll have the last laugh when I'm sitting on top of the bestseller's list). Will Weaver's advice, albeit simple and straightforward, was right on the money. And, last week, proved it once again.
Will Weaver first talked about the art of the short story and how beginning writers can use that format to learn about the craft. He taught about keeping your focus on a small, defined period of time and even a limited number of characters. He even said that a narrow subject matter would also help make one's short story better.
He read several pieces from his books, many of them young adult, and also talked about "writing more about less." This means to write about the finer details of one's story (just the right amount of details, but not too much that would overload one's senses and also not too little where the writers is screaming for more). There was much more advise he shared (and this blog simply cannot name them all) but one that really stuck with me was the following: write well enough so that you don't give the reader a reason to stop. The same is also true with an editor, because if you can keep an editor's attention, you have the makings of a good story.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Writing as a business
Greetings fellow writers, and have a Happy New Year!
For one to become a serious writer (when I mean serious, I mean to say that writing is how you want to make a living - as Zig Ziggler would say, "turning your vocation into a vacation" - something you absolutely love doing) you have to treat it as a business.
What! A business! That makes it sound so . . . corporate.
Not really, but if you really want to become a published writer, you do have to be serious about all aspects of writing. In other words, treating writing as of it's a business.
Over the course of the next few weeks and months, we'll explore the various aspects of "writing as a business" one piece at a time. The information presented is largely from research that I've done over the years, and I will give credit where credit is due.
The first thing we need to do is decide, once and for all, what it is you want to do. Sure, we all want to make millions (or billions) of dollars (okay, not every one wants this, which I find incredibly odd, but that's okay . . . we can still be friends). Ask yourself once question: if you were offered, let's say, $100,000 a year (or $500K or even a million dollars) doing something--anything--what would you like to do?
Previously, I talked about Zig's saying of turning your vocation into a vacation. In other words, you need to love doing what you're doing - to the point where "work" isn't really the dreaded W-word. Maybe you love restoring old cars. You may even love building bird houses. Or you love cooking, have a passion for music or writing. Find out what that is. Imagine making money (the kind I noted above) doing exactly that. Could you? Believe in yourself that you can.
But does everything have to revolve around money, you may ask? Of course not. That's not the point, which is getting into the mindset of loving to do something, having the passion to do something every single day. This may come as a shock, but I love writing. I've spent many late nights and early mornings writing or editing stories. I've spent many hours in the car, either going to or from work or even on my commutes home when I was going to college at Bemidji State University many moons ago, thinking about writing or going over whatever story I happened to be working on. That's my passion. That's the reason I plow ahead each day, edging ever-closer to the day I can write full-time and support my family the way they should be.
What is your passion? What is the one thing that you would love to do if you were paid good money to do it?
Let that sink in for a bit . . . you may not get it at first, what you really want to do, but write them down as soon as you think of it. Before too long, you'll discover your meaning . . . your purpose . . .
For one to become a serious writer (when I mean serious, I mean to say that writing is how you want to make a living - as Zig Ziggler would say, "turning your vocation into a vacation" - something you absolutely love doing) you have to treat it as a business.
What! A business! That makes it sound so . . . corporate.
Not really, but if you really want to become a published writer, you do have to be serious about all aspects of writing. In other words, treating writing as of it's a business.
Over the course of the next few weeks and months, we'll explore the various aspects of "writing as a business" one piece at a time. The information presented is largely from research that I've done over the years, and I will give credit where credit is due.
The first thing we need to do is decide, once and for all, what it is you want to do. Sure, we all want to make millions (or billions) of dollars (okay, not every one wants this, which I find incredibly odd, but that's okay . . . we can still be friends). Ask yourself once question: if you were offered, let's say, $100,000 a year (or $500K or even a million dollars) doing something--anything--what would you like to do?
Previously, I talked about Zig's saying of turning your vocation into a vacation. In other words, you need to love doing what you're doing - to the point where "work" isn't really the dreaded W-word. Maybe you love restoring old cars. You may even love building bird houses. Or you love cooking, have a passion for music or writing. Find out what that is. Imagine making money (the kind I noted above) doing exactly that. Could you? Believe in yourself that you can.
But does everything have to revolve around money, you may ask? Of course not. That's not the point, which is getting into the mindset of loving to do something, having the passion to do something every single day. This may come as a shock, but I love writing. I've spent many late nights and early mornings writing or editing stories. I've spent many hours in the car, either going to or from work or even on my commutes home when I was going to college at Bemidji State University many moons ago, thinking about writing or going over whatever story I happened to be working on. That's my passion. That's the reason I plow ahead each day, edging ever-closer to the day I can write full-time and support my family the way they should be.
What is your passion? What is the one thing that you would love to do if you were paid good money to do it?
Let that sink in for a bit . . . you may not get it at first, what you really want to do, but write them down as soon as you think of it. Before too long, you'll discover your meaning . . . your purpose . . .
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Writing a novel in a year - setting goals
Greetings fellow writers. I read a lot of success books. Meaning, books about becoming successful. Successful at whatever your heart desires. And of all the books, from Napoleon Hill and Earl Nightingale to Tony Robbins and Zig Ziglar, they all stress the importance of setting goals.
Goal: write a first draft of a novel.
Seems easy, doesn't it? Well, for those who've never done it, it can seem like a daunting task. Let's break it down, shall we?
Oh, I'm forgetting something. You also need to put a timeline on it. Timelines can change, and they will as you go along. That's okay. Give yourself permission to do it. There is a famous saying that "there are no unrealistic goals, just unrealistic time frames." Not sure who said it, but it's true. Okay, here we go . . .
Modified goal: write a first draft of a novel in . . . one year (365 days).
How does that sound? Terrifying? Exciting? Both? It can be done.
Now that you have your larger goal of writing a novel in 365 days, let's break it down into daily tasks. Let's say . . . write one page a day. "Okay, Mark, I can do that. No problem."
Day one: write that one page. When it's done, look at it and pat yourself on the back. You are one page closer to getting it done. If you do that for a week, you'll have seven pages. Phew! Holy cow! After a month, it's thirty pages (yes, you'll be writing on the weekends too). You are thirty pages closer to getting it done.
But how long is your novel going to be? Who knows? Let's say . . . 400 pages (note: none of my novels have I really known ahead of time how long they'll be but we had to pick a number so just go with me).
"But, Mark, at that rate, I'll never finish the 400 pages in a year."
Ah, ha!
Let's say after thirty days you've started to get a good rhythm and you do two pages in a day. Wow, two pages! If you do that for a month, you'll have sixty pages. All total, ninety pages. Very impressive. Now it looks like you'll finish that novel in a year.
But wait, there's more. You'll find as you go along, there will be days where the one or two pages will just flow and the next thing you know, you've written somewhere between five and ten pages. This doesn't give you permission to take the next few days off. No way! Keep writing. And before too long, if you keep this pace up, constantly writing more and more pages as you go along, three or four months have passed and it'll be done.
Then, comes the next phase of writing: editing.
But that's for another day, fellow writers.
Final note: write down your goals. Post it where you can see it everyday. In fact, even get a calender and write how many pages you write in a day. You'll be surprised how many you can do when you set a goal, write it down, see it, and execute.
Goal: write a first draft of a novel.
Seems easy, doesn't it? Well, for those who've never done it, it can seem like a daunting task. Let's break it down, shall we?
Oh, I'm forgetting something. You also need to put a timeline on it. Timelines can change, and they will as you go along. That's okay. Give yourself permission to do it. There is a famous saying that "there are no unrealistic goals, just unrealistic time frames." Not sure who said it, but it's true. Okay, here we go . . .
Modified goal: write a first draft of a novel in . . . one year (365 days).
How does that sound? Terrifying? Exciting? Both? It can be done.
Now that you have your larger goal of writing a novel in 365 days, let's break it down into daily tasks. Let's say . . . write one page a day. "Okay, Mark, I can do that. No problem."
Day one: write that one page. When it's done, look at it and pat yourself on the back. You are one page closer to getting it done. If you do that for a week, you'll have seven pages. Phew! Holy cow! After a month, it's thirty pages (yes, you'll be writing on the weekends too). You are thirty pages closer to getting it done.
But how long is your novel going to be? Who knows? Let's say . . . 400 pages (note: none of my novels have I really known ahead of time how long they'll be but we had to pick a number so just go with me).
"But, Mark, at that rate, I'll never finish the 400 pages in a year."
Ah, ha!
Let's say after thirty days you've started to get a good rhythm and you do two pages in a day. Wow, two pages! If you do that for a month, you'll have sixty pages. All total, ninety pages. Very impressive. Now it looks like you'll finish that novel in a year.
But wait, there's more. You'll find as you go along, there will be days where the one or two pages will just flow and the next thing you know, you've written somewhere between five and ten pages. This doesn't give you permission to take the next few days off. No way! Keep writing. And before too long, if you keep this pace up, constantly writing more and more pages as you go along, three or four months have passed and it'll be done.
Then, comes the next phase of writing: editing.
But that's for another day, fellow writers.
Final note: write down your goals. Post it where you can see it everyday. In fact, even get a calender and write how many pages you write in a day. You'll be surprised how many you can do when you set a goal, write it down, see it, and execute.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
To outline or not to outline . . .
To outline or not to outline is a definite question.
It was the consensus of today's writers' group meeting, when the subject of outlining came up, that outlining stories is . . . a complete waste of time. For us, that is. I must stress that too. For us.
I know, I know, there are those of you out there who just can't seem to start a story without detailing every minute piece of it before starting your "Once upon a time . . . " If that's you and outlining works for you, by all means do it.
Every author does some sort of planning, in varying degrees, before they start their story. I'm reminded of a Chevy Chase movie called Funny Farm where Chevy plays a sports columnist-turned-author. For some reason, a publisher gave him an advance towards writing a novel (and he hadn't even started it yet - sorry, this would never happen in the real world, for a first-time novelist). Anyway, after Chevy sets up his writing room in their new house, which is in the middle of the New England countryside, he types the title page on his typewriter (yes, a typewriter - not a computer or a laptop or some other electronic do-hickey), then inserts another page and types out CHAPTER ONE. Proud with himself at this point, he inserts the third page, types a "1" at the top, and starts writing . . . "The" he writes and then he draws a blank. Okay, this may seem a bit extreme and one should have a plan, but it doesn't mean you need a mega-detailed outline of each and every chapter, etc.
Bottom line: I do not outline, save for some vague notes on characters and other plot points that I don't want to forget (because I most certainly will, if given the chance). In fact, as of this writing, I have five completed novels and well over a dozen other novels I've started, and none have been outlined. In fact, how I write is a lot like excavating an archealogical dig: who knows what I might uncover, which is half the fun of writing - I never know what comes up the next time I sit down to write.
It was the consensus of today's writers' group meeting, when the subject of outlining came up, that outlining stories is . . . a complete waste of time. For us, that is. I must stress that too. For us.
I know, I know, there are those of you out there who just can't seem to start a story without detailing every minute piece of it before starting your "Once upon a time . . . " If that's you and outlining works for you, by all means do it.
Every author does some sort of planning, in varying degrees, before they start their story. I'm reminded of a Chevy Chase movie called Funny Farm where Chevy plays a sports columnist-turned-author. For some reason, a publisher gave him an advance towards writing a novel (and he hadn't even started it yet - sorry, this would never happen in the real world, for a first-time novelist). Anyway, after Chevy sets up his writing room in their new house, which is in the middle of the New England countryside, he types the title page on his typewriter (yes, a typewriter - not a computer or a laptop or some other electronic do-hickey), then inserts another page and types out CHAPTER ONE. Proud with himself at this point, he inserts the third page, types a "1" at the top, and starts writing . . . "The" he writes and then he draws a blank. Okay, this may seem a bit extreme and one should have a plan, but it doesn't mean you need a mega-detailed outline of each and every chapter, etc.
Bottom line: I do not outline, save for some vague notes on characters and other plot points that I don't want to forget (because I most certainly will, if given the chance). In fact, as of this writing, I have five completed novels and well over a dozen other novels I've started, and none have been outlined. In fact, how I write is a lot like excavating an archealogical dig: who knows what I might uncover, which is half the fun of writing - I never know what comes up the next time I sit down to write.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Purpose
What is the purpose behind "Views From The Outhouse?"
The purpose is simple: to offer my thoughts on writing (either my own or writing in general, including what I've learned in my research) and books.
There will be no politics here, and certainly no current events (unless it has to do with the literary community). There's plenty of that out there, people offering their feable, slanted opinions, and I don't want to contribute to that. I used to be an avid news-watcher. But lately, when I'm trying to improve my life and the life of my family (wife and three kids), I try to avoid watching the mind-numbing news. Instead, I use my focused intensity to write, write, and write.
I may offer, from time to time, a thoughtful criticism or two on a certain book, but those will be far and few between. There are also plenty of people out there who seem to spew with rage at another person's success. I will try not to do that here. And if I do, it'll be for a damn good reason.
The purpose is simple: to offer my thoughts on writing (either my own or writing in general, including what I've learned in my research) and books.
There will be no politics here, and certainly no current events (unless it has to do with the literary community). There's plenty of that out there, people offering their feable, slanted opinions, and I don't want to contribute to that. I used to be an avid news-watcher. But lately, when I'm trying to improve my life and the life of my family (wife and three kids), I try to avoid watching the mind-numbing news. Instead, I use my focused intensity to write, write, and write.
I may offer, from time to time, a thoughtful criticism or two on a certain book, but those will be far and few between. There are also plenty of people out there who seem to spew with rage at another person's success. I will try not to do that here. And if I do, it'll be for a damn good reason.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Better late than never
It's been over a month now and I've been meaning to supply a second post for quite some time. Oh, well. Better late than never, as the oldtimers used to say.
What have I been doing?
Writing, writing, and more writing. I love it. One day, I will do this full time. For now . . . I write whenever the kids are in bed and the usual (and unusual) housework isn't nagging at me.
What have I been writing?
At this moment, I have two short stories that I'm putting the finishing touches on. I am part of a writers' group in Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, called Permanent Ink and our next meeting is the 28th of July (two days away), so one of those short stories is going to be shared. Also, I have a thriller that I'm currently querying out to literary agents (hint!) and I am editing an 800+ page fantasy epic. This fantasy novel, which will remain unnamed here until I am ready to reveal it to the world, is one I am extremely proud of. I first started writing it around 6-7 years ago (although the story idea is one that has been culminating for many years prior) and I am amazing at how complex of an adventure my little friends go on. Complex, yet noble . . . but how would you know unless you read it? In three weeks, I will start to offer tidbits of this novel to the writing group.
My goal at the beginning of the summer was to work on nothing but short stories, perfecting about a good dozen or so for publication, then go back to editing my thriller novel. However, after a literary genius by the name of Ian Graham Leask came to our little library on Wednesday, April 14th, and offered much advise to all of us in attendance about the literary world, I decided to charge on full speed ahead with editing the fantasy novel instead of one of the other ones. Why, you may ask? There is an axiom in the writing community that one should try to publish your best work first. Well . . . the fantasy novel is that one.
What have I been doing?
Writing, writing, and more writing. I love it. One day, I will do this full time. For now . . . I write whenever the kids are in bed and the usual (and unusual) housework isn't nagging at me.
What have I been writing?
At this moment, I have two short stories that I'm putting the finishing touches on. I am part of a writers' group in Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, called Permanent Ink and our next meeting is the 28th of July (two days away), so one of those short stories is going to be shared. Also, I have a thriller that I'm currently querying out to literary agents (hint!) and I am editing an 800+ page fantasy epic. This fantasy novel, which will remain unnamed here until I am ready to reveal it to the world, is one I am extremely proud of. I first started writing it around 6-7 years ago (although the story idea is one that has been culminating for many years prior) and I am amazing at how complex of an adventure my little friends go on. Complex, yet noble . . . but how would you know unless you read it? In three weeks, I will start to offer tidbits of this novel to the writing group.
My goal at the beginning of the summer was to work on nothing but short stories, perfecting about a good dozen or so for publication, then go back to editing my thriller novel. However, after a literary genius by the name of Ian Graham Leask came to our little library on Wednesday, April 14th, and offered much advise to all of us in attendance about the literary world, I decided to charge on full speed ahead with editing the fantasy novel instead of one of the other ones. Why, you may ask? There is an axiom in the writing community that one should try to publish your best work first. Well . . . the fantasy novel is that one.
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