“When do you find time to write?”
“Where do you come up with ideas?”
“Help! I want to be a writer but I don’t know where to start, what do I do?”
These are the top three of the most often asked questions I’ve heard or read (on social media or personal texts I’ve received) and they always give me a grin. Not because they’re silly or foolish questions but because I’ve heard the same questions presented to one of the most famous writers of my age, Mr. Stephen King.
I was fortunate enough to attend a public lecture given by Mr. King when he came to Wichita, Ks., in 2014. He’d come to my hometown to promote his latest book, at the time, "Revival" and a dear friend of mine bought me the ticket to attend as a birthday present. The line for admittance was long, the day was bitterly cold, and we waited well over an hour in the cold to get inside. The overflow of the conference was herded into another room where we were able to watch the interview style lecture on closed circuit camera. It was fascinating.
Right away, he got those “usual” questions out of the way and I was interested to hear his reply. I was surprised to find his answers predictable, at least for me, and I believe, for most writers. I found myself smiling and nodding, given that his answers were quite similar to my own with a few exceptions.
When do I find time to write? It’s not when but when do I not? I don’t think I ever stop. I may not be physically writing – and especially now that my disabilities have caught up with me so that I can’t type or write as fast or as much as I have in the past. I find it more difficult to find time to cook, clean house, or do laundry, than I do to write, so it’s a matter of prioritizing what’s important. Writing helps me save my sanity, even if it does disable my hands for several hours or days later.
I think it’s more difficult for the novice writer because family and friends don’t always take their attempts to create dedicated time for writing very seriously. Often, if someone enters the writer’s “work area,” they may find them “just sitting there.” People may even say, “I’m not bothering you am I? I mean, you were just sitting there.”
Believe me, when writers are “just sitting there” they are thinking over something; a plot point, a character arc, a twist in their tales, something that has put a stop-point in their creative process that needs to be ground through the grist-mill of their imagination for a bit.
Writing is an on-going art. When writers aren’t physically writing, they’re thinking about writing. They’re listening, observing, remembering, reflecting, comparing, and they’re storing up snippets from all of these varied sources that are revisited through their writing through the mouths or actions of their characters. It takes time, environment, and for some it takes rituals.
When I began my first published novel, my desk was in a laundry room. I would sit down and write between loads of washing, drying, and folding. That gave me breaks and time to contemplate my next move for my story while I folded, sorted, or put away clothing. To this day, every time I smell laundry detergent or fabric softener, I think of the character’s in my book, “Mr. Pockets: Love Never Dies.”
Smells and sounds are a strong trigger for many of us, so new writers should be aware of those things with which they imprint themselves as they write. They should also remember it’s a vital part of the life experience and to include their reader in the scents, sights, and sounds, of or experienced by their characters as well. For example, how many vampires kissing young excitable women are there now days? Too many to count but how many of them really think about how foul the vampire’s breath would be from living on a diet of blood, whether obtained from livestock or humans. I think I’ve made my point. If the oversight of the authors to this matter had been attended, there might be fewer twinkling vampires and more serious attention given to the matter of the undead swains. Again, it’s just my opinion, after all.
Where do we come up with ideas? From our lives, from our experiences and the lives and experiences of others. From history, both personal and cultural, from movies, television, radio, songs, music, and work. Ideas sprout from every aspect and avenue of life as we confront or accept it. We find ideas in all of those aforementioned sources as well as our own reading. For me, reading is an important part of the writing process that’s as vital as the pen.
I’ve heard of writers who’ve said that they never read but I don’t understand how that’s possible. Surely, they must read their own work – but I suppose with success one could pay others to do their reading for them. What a loss. Mr. King also said, “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” I believe that. I began writing because I’d read almost every fiction and most non-fiction book in our small town local library when I was young and couldn’t find “THE” book I wanted to read, so I started writing it.
“Help! I want to be a writer but I don’t know where to start, what do I do?” Also, from the wisdom of Mr. King, who stated, “How to start? One word at a time.” That’s basically it. Writing doesn’t have a standard set-up except the tools with which one comes to the table. Some write by short hand, others by long hand, while some, (as I’m considering) are using speech-to-text programs. It doesn’t matter what medium one uses as long as it is used, frequently and habitually. Writing, like any other work or exercise must be given a dedicated place or time in which one can allow free rein to one’s imagination and not be afraid to let loose of it on the page.
Some people light candles, listen to particular music, wear a certain outfit. Some writers have to clean their entire house before they can sit down and write “guilt-free”. I usually have to make sure my dishes are done but I try to avoid any “must do’s” so that I don’t leave myself another imprint such as the detergent scent that still triggers my mind to cast back to that particular novel once more. I do make myself playlists of music that prompts my muse to recall the mood or settings of the project on which I’m working and that helps jump-start my mind to get it “in the mood” to go back to that momentarily disrupted conversation, interrupted love scene, thwarted argument, or heinous murder, I was about to explore before I ran out of time for that 24 hours.
I think that it differs for everyone and it should. Each writer should bring to the table a unique voice and perspective that makes their story their own. Whether writing fiction, non-fiction, writing journals, magazine pieces, or diaries, it doesn’t matter, each writer has their own voice. Finding it is half the battle when first writing, keeping it is harder. That’s why I don’t read anything but my own work while I’m writing. When I’m done writing or taking a hiatus because my project has become stale or forced, I’ll set it down for a month or two and start up reading again.
Since I’ve taken up beta reading and editing for new writers, this provides me an ample supply of new books to read, see “Fiction/Authors” tab. I’ve also met wonderful new writers along the way. You can check them out in the “Fledgling Fiction Writers” tab. I know they’d appreciate a word of encouragement from you or I’ll be happy to pass on any words of support.
Whether you’re a writer or a reader, it comes back to this. We write because we must. We write because it’s important for us to get either one or multiple messages out of our heads and onto paper, or the digital facsimile thereof. We are one of the few workers who spend hours, weeks, months, and sometimes years working our craft, revising, honing, and polishing our work before ever getting paid. Imagine going to the doctor and telling him/her that you’ll pay him only if you get well or like the taste of the medicine? It would never happen, but that’s the life of a writer.
The chances of becoming a best-seller, in a field that is flooded with competition, is like winning the lottery. Rare, but it does happen. A good story is still a good story. I hope you’ll take a look at some of the one’s we offer here and lend your support to the writers. Writers are the unsung heroes of your entertainment, give them the credit they deserve and support their work by buying it, reading it, and reviewing it. It’s the only way they’ll know you’re reading their work and their efforts aren’t in vain.
I’ll close with another favorite quote of mine of Mr. King’s.
“Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn't carry a book around for those inevitable dead spots in life.”
― Stephen King
Until next time – Ta Ta For Now (TTFN).
~Faintly~
“Where do you come up with ideas?”
“Help! I want to be a writer but I don’t know where to start, what do I do?”
These are the top three of the most often asked questions I’ve heard or read (on social media or personal texts I’ve received) and they always give me a grin. Not because they’re silly or foolish questions but because I’ve heard the same questions presented to one of the most famous writers of my age, Mr. Stephen King.
I was fortunate enough to attend a public lecture given by Mr. King when he came to Wichita, Ks., in 2014. He’d come to my hometown to promote his latest book, at the time, "Revival" and a dear friend of mine bought me the ticket to attend as a birthday present. The line for admittance was long, the day was bitterly cold, and we waited well over an hour in the cold to get inside. The overflow of the conference was herded into another room where we were able to watch the interview style lecture on closed circuit camera. It was fascinating.
Right away, he got those “usual” questions out of the way and I was interested to hear his reply. I was surprised to find his answers predictable, at least for me, and I believe, for most writers. I found myself smiling and nodding, given that his answers were quite similar to my own with a few exceptions.
When do I find time to write? It’s not when but when do I not? I don’t think I ever stop. I may not be physically writing – and especially now that my disabilities have caught up with me so that I can’t type or write as fast or as much as I have in the past. I find it more difficult to find time to cook, clean house, or do laundry, than I do to write, so it’s a matter of prioritizing what’s important. Writing helps me save my sanity, even if it does disable my hands for several hours or days later.
I think it’s more difficult for the novice writer because family and friends don’t always take their attempts to create dedicated time for writing very seriously. Often, if someone enters the writer’s “work area,” they may find them “just sitting there.” People may even say, “I’m not bothering you am I? I mean, you were just sitting there.”
Believe me, when writers are “just sitting there” they are thinking over something; a plot point, a character arc, a twist in their tales, something that has put a stop-point in their creative process that needs to be ground through the grist-mill of their imagination for a bit.
Writing is an on-going art. When writers aren’t physically writing, they’re thinking about writing. They’re listening, observing, remembering, reflecting, comparing, and they’re storing up snippets from all of these varied sources that are revisited through their writing through the mouths or actions of their characters. It takes time, environment, and for some it takes rituals.
When I began my first published novel, my desk was in a laundry room. I would sit down and write between loads of washing, drying, and folding. That gave me breaks and time to contemplate my next move for my story while I folded, sorted, or put away clothing. To this day, every time I smell laundry detergent or fabric softener, I think of the character’s in my book, “Mr. Pockets: Love Never Dies.”
Smells and sounds are a strong trigger for many of us, so new writers should be aware of those things with which they imprint themselves as they write. They should also remember it’s a vital part of the life experience and to include their reader in the scents, sights, and sounds, of or experienced by their characters as well. For example, how many vampires kissing young excitable women are there now days? Too many to count but how many of them really think about how foul the vampire’s breath would be from living on a diet of blood, whether obtained from livestock or humans. I think I’ve made my point. If the oversight of the authors to this matter had been attended, there might be fewer twinkling vampires and more serious attention given to the matter of the undead swains. Again, it’s just my opinion, after all.
Where do we come up with ideas? From our lives, from our experiences and the lives and experiences of others. From history, both personal and cultural, from movies, television, radio, songs, music, and work. Ideas sprout from every aspect and avenue of life as we confront or accept it. We find ideas in all of those aforementioned sources as well as our own reading. For me, reading is an important part of the writing process that’s as vital as the pen.
I’ve heard of writers who’ve said that they never read but I don’t understand how that’s possible. Surely, they must read their own work – but I suppose with success one could pay others to do their reading for them. What a loss. Mr. King also said, “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” I believe that. I began writing because I’d read almost every fiction and most non-fiction book in our small town local library when I was young and couldn’t find “THE” book I wanted to read, so I started writing it.
“Help! I want to be a writer but I don’t know where to start, what do I do?” Also, from the wisdom of Mr. King, who stated, “How to start? One word at a time.” That’s basically it. Writing doesn’t have a standard set-up except the tools with which one comes to the table. Some write by short hand, others by long hand, while some, (as I’m considering) are using speech-to-text programs. It doesn’t matter what medium one uses as long as it is used, frequently and habitually. Writing, like any other work or exercise must be given a dedicated place or time in which one can allow free rein to one’s imagination and not be afraid to let loose of it on the page.
Some people light candles, listen to particular music, wear a certain outfit. Some writers have to clean their entire house before they can sit down and write “guilt-free”. I usually have to make sure my dishes are done but I try to avoid any “must do’s” so that I don’t leave myself another imprint such as the detergent scent that still triggers my mind to cast back to that particular novel once more. I do make myself playlists of music that prompts my muse to recall the mood or settings of the project on which I’m working and that helps jump-start my mind to get it “in the mood” to go back to that momentarily disrupted conversation, interrupted love scene, thwarted argument, or heinous murder, I was about to explore before I ran out of time for that 24 hours.
I think that it differs for everyone and it should. Each writer should bring to the table a unique voice and perspective that makes their story their own. Whether writing fiction, non-fiction, writing journals, magazine pieces, or diaries, it doesn’t matter, each writer has their own voice. Finding it is half the battle when first writing, keeping it is harder. That’s why I don’t read anything but my own work while I’m writing. When I’m done writing or taking a hiatus because my project has become stale or forced, I’ll set it down for a month or two and start up reading again.
Since I’ve taken up beta reading and editing for new writers, this provides me an ample supply of new books to read, see “Fiction/Authors” tab. I’ve also met wonderful new writers along the way. You can check them out in the “Fledgling Fiction Writers” tab. I know they’d appreciate a word of encouragement from you or I’ll be happy to pass on any words of support.
Whether you’re a writer or a reader, it comes back to this. We write because we must. We write because it’s important for us to get either one or multiple messages out of our heads and onto paper, or the digital facsimile thereof. We are one of the few workers who spend hours, weeks, months, and sometimes years working our craft, revising, honing, and polishing our work before ever getting paid. Imagine going to the doctor and telling him/her that you’ll pay him only if you get well or like the taste of the medicine? It would never happen, but that’s the life of a writer.
The chances of becoming a best-seller, in a field that is flooded with competition, is like winning the lottery. Rare, but it does happen. A good story is still a good story. I hope you’ll take a look at some of the one’s we offer here and lend your support to the writers. Writers are the unsung heroes of your entertainment, give them the credit they deserve and support their work by buying it, reading it, and reviewing it. It’s the only way they’ll know you’re reading their work and their efforts aren’t in vain.
I’ll close with another favorite quote of mine of Mr. King’s.
“Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn't carry a book around for those inevitable dead spots in life.”
― Stephen King
Until next time – Ta Ta For Now (TTFN).
~Faintly~
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