The Difference Between a Writing Problem, and a “Not for Me” Issue

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Sometimes the problem is with the reviewer, not the book.

Not every book is for every reader. Readers have topics they dislike no matter how well written a book is, and nothing you do is going to change that. Sometimes, the problem with a book isn't the quality—it's just a "not for me" issue. 

This is an important distinction in writing. I’ve read many a novel that was a “good novel,” even if it did things I don’t particularly care for as a reader. I didn’t like it, but I could see that others would. 

For example, I’m not fond of distant narrators. It’s nearly impossible for me to connect with a distance third-person omniscient narrator, because I never feel like I’m in the protagonist’s head. I just can’t lose myself in the story.

How Writing a Novel Is Like Gardening

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Grow your novel into something beautiful.

For every orchid or African violet that takes meticulous care and stringent rules to thrive, there are wildflowers that bloom along the side of the road that just wound up there, blown on the wind. Each flower is beautiful, but every one found life through a different path.

Novels are the same way. They usually have to grow into beauty, often from a steaming pile of, um…fertilizer.

Luckily, even if you’re a terrible gardener (like me), you can still write a great novel. Because…

Not every (story) seed requires the same care to grow.

When I plant lantanas or impatiens, I can practically ignore them and they grow out of control. I can’t keep basil alive unless I’m constantly out there checking the soil and making sure it’s getting the right amount of sunlight (though I am having good results with hydroponic herb gardens—so maybe I need to write in the pool -grin-).

One Key Question to Ask Before You Start Writing

By Shanna Swendson, @ShannaSwendson

Part of The Writer’s Life Series 

JH: Writers write for many different reasons, but there's one reason we don't usually consider when we start a novel. Shanna Swendson discusses this unexpected question every writer should ask when considering a new idea. 

Shanna Swendson earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas but decided it was more fun to make up the people she wrote about and became a novelist. She’s written a number of fantasy novels for teens and adults, including the Enchanted, Inc. series and the Rebel Mechanics series. She devotes her spare time to reading, knitting, and music. Her newest novel is the paranormal mystery Interview with a Dead Editor. 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Take it away Shanna…

The Pros and Cons of Studying the Writing Craft

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Studying the craft of writing is useful to improve your skill, but at what point does it become a hindrance?

I received an interesting email last week from a woman who’s taking advantage of her quarantine to study up and improve her writing. She’s been reading a lot of craft books, and was wondering if a writer could read too much—could their education outweigh their skill?

Short answer: Yes, absolutely.

Long answer: Still yes, but with more detail (grin).

When I was starting out, books and school were pretty much the only ways to get a writing education. There were writing conferences out there, but they were harder to find since the Internet was still new and just becoming the behemoth it is today (and for the record, this was early ’90s. I’m not a dinosaur yet).

Writing Takes Work, Even When You're a Pro

By Joyce Sweeney

Part of The Writer’s Life Series 

JH: Writers are always learning, and sometimes, we need reminding of the basics like everyone else. Joyce Sweeney shares thoughts on facing the things you stink at, even when you know how to do it.

Joyce Sweeney is the author of fourteen novels for young adults and two chapbooks of poetry. Her books have won many awards and honors. Joyce has recently switched to writing adult fiction and is represented by Nicole Resciniti of the Seymour agency.

Joyce has also been a writing teacher and coach for 25 years and offers online classes. In 2019, she, Jamie Morris and Tia Levings released Plotting Your Novel with The Plot Clock (Giantess Press). At this writing, 62 of Joyce’s students have successfully obtained traditional publishing contracts.

Joyce lives in Coral Springs with her husband, Jay and caffeine-addicted cat, Nitro.

Take it away Joyce…

Teens, Dark Chocolate, and Surviving Writer Limbo

By Veronica Mixon, @WriteVMixon

Part of The Writer’s Life Series

JH: Publishing is full of waiting, and waiting for an agent or publishing to get back to you is stressful for any writer. Veronica Mixon visits the lecture hall today to share tips on surviving this writer's limbo.

Veronica began storytelling at a young age, somewhere around three, when a host of imaginary friends lived in her bedroom closet and encouraged her penchant for spinning tales. A career in marketing, twenty years of world travel, and a large and boisterous southern family supply her with ample material for the mysteries she loves to write. She lives on the Georgia coast with her husband and her nine-year-old Standard Poodle, Jasper.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Take it away Veronica…

Lessons Learned from a Decade in Publishing

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Looking back on ten years as an author—and what I’d have done differently if I could have.

This week marks the tenth anniversary of the release of my debut novel, The Shifter. The cliche is to say, “Wow, I can’t believe it’s been ten whole years!”, but I have no trouble at all believing that. A lot has happened since I published my first novel.

Although no two writers have exactly the same experience, we do have experiences in common. This gives both a unique perspective and a shared common ground about being an author and a writer.

If I had the opportunity to do it all over again, here are some things I’d do differently.

And yes, I know some of these contradict each other, but that’s just life. Being an author is difficult at times, and part of the challenge is identifying when we need to do X instead of Y and not let Z distract us. Also knowing when we need to ignore that and do Y anyway. Or maybe Z.

How I Stay Grounded: 7 Realities of Traditional Publishing

By Susan Dennard, @stdennard

Part of The Writer’s Life Series

JH: There’s a veil of mystery surrounding publishing, which can make it hard for new authors (and soon to be authors) to know how their careers are doing. Susan Dennard visits the lecture hall today to offer a candid and close look at the realities of traditional publishing. And definitely check out her article links for more eye-opening reveals.

Susan Dennard has come a long way from small-town Georgia. Working in marine biology, she got to travel the world—six out of seven continents, to be exact (she’ll get to you yet, Asia!)—before she settled down as a full-time novelist and writing instructor.

She is the author of the Something Strange and Deadly series, as well as the New York Times bestselling Witchlands series, and she also hosts the popular newsletter for writers, the Misfits & Daydreamers. When not writing, she can be found slaying darkspawn (on her PS4) or earning bruises at the dojo.

She lives in the Midwestern US with her French husband, two spoiled dogs, and two grouchy cats.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram | Newsletter

Take it away Susan…

How Writing a Novel Is Like a Romance

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

A writer’s love affair with the story is often a bumpy road—but worth the trip.

A good novel is a well-blended mix of questions and reveals, tease and reward, love and hate—especially during a first draft. If we’re lucky, that first spark results in a long and rewarding relationship, but we shouldn’t mourn if it fizzles out. Not all pairings are meant to be.

When a story works, it’s magical. It makes us feel invincible and capable of moving readers with our words and imagination.

When it doesn’t, it can crush our souls and leave us unwilling to ever try again.

But no matter how many times our storyteller’s heart is broken, we keep going back, because we believe in the power of story. We know that all it takes is the right story and the right time and all our dreams can come true.

Rising Above the Average as a Writer: Regression Toward the Mean

By Dario Ciriello

Part of The Writer’s Life Series

JH: So much of publishing success is blind luck, and getting lucky twice (or more) can be harder than getting published in the first place. Dario Ciriello is back at the podium today to share thoughts on keeping success going.

We all want to succeed at our writing and produce that breakout book that hits big. And it is possible, for all of us. But it’s also necessary to understand success comes with its own challenges.

Not at first, of course. Faced with a sudden, maybe unanticipated hit, a writer, musician, or other creative will be overjoyed and exuberant. Recognition, validation, even money: what’s not to like?

But once the wave crests and the initial happy surprise gives way to considering the next project, that’s when apprehension can set in, and with good reason: how do you do it again?

Why a Well-Written Novel Can Still Stink

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

A writer can do everything “right” and still have a novel that doesn’t engage readers.

I recently finished a novel by an author I like. Their previous series was wonderful and I eagerly dived into the new one, expecting to enjoy yet another exciting tale. Instead, I found a technically well-done novel that left me flat. From the reviews I later peeked at online, I’m not the only one who felt this way.

It was sad, because this author went from “auto-buy” to “wait and see the reviews” with one so-so book. And it didn’t have to happen.

Taste vary, of course (which is why I’m not sharing the title), but the first series was wonderful for several reasons:

The Circle of Write (Or Why Some Books Kick Our Butts)

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

I was chatting with a fellow author recently, and we were commiserating over manuscripts that drove us crazy and were hard to write. I’m in the middle of rewriting one of those manuscripts right now, but this time around, the writing is going really well. It made me think about what changed, why some books are harder to write than others, and what we can do when we’re faced with a book that makes us want to yank out our hair and throw away our keyboards.

I’ve loved and wanted to write this particular YA fantasy idea for close to ten years, but it’s been a hard book to write. The core of it has stayed the same—an undercover spy and the emotional stress it causes—but the plot and the character arcs of the two main characters has changed over and over. Draft after draft just didn’t do what I wanted it to do.

Everybody Has a Story

By Sherry Howard, @SherLHoward

Part of the How They Do It Series

JH: No matter the writer, I think we all do it for roughly the same reason--we can't not write. Please welcome Sherry Howard to the lecture hall today to share some thoughts on what makes a writer a writer.

Sherry Howard lives with her children and crazy dogs in Middletown, Kentucky, a stone’s throw from the beautiful horse farms Kentucky is always bragging about. In her previous life Sherry was a teacher, consultant, author, and principal in one of the largest urban/suburban school districts in America. She wrote in the educational field for years, and she’s seen her poems and stories appear in multiple journals and anthologies. After writing endlessly, she finally decided to see about getting things published.

Sherry’s first books for children are coming in 2018. The first, Rock and Roll Woods is a lyrical fiction picture book for children ages 3-8, a rollicking read that embraces the ability to accept change and the value of friendship.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Author Page

Take it away Sherry...

Writers Are Competitive

By Dario Ciriello

Part of the Indie Authors series

A chance comment by a friend on Facebook today got me thinking on the 2011 Woody Allen film, Midnight in Paris. If you’ve seen the movie, you’ll surely remember the wonderful scene in which Hemingway’s character tells the protagonist, a young writer transported back in time,that “writers are competitive.” (For those of you’ve not seen this gem, I’ve linked the scene here.)

My friend, who had just joined a writers-helping-writers group on Facebook, wrote, “It has been a while since I've read entry level stuff.”

The Persistent Taint of Self-Publishing

By Dario Ciriello

Part of the Indie Authors Series

One of the signs of Napoleon's greatness is the fact that he once had a publisher shot.
—Siegfried Unseld1

It's ten years since Amazon launched Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and changed the face of publishing forever.

Today, indie/self-published books make up around 40% of the total US eBook market. Authors who started off as indies—Amanda Hocking, Andy Weir, and Hugh Howey, to name just a few—have sold books well into the millions and are close to household names. Although numbers are hard to come by, there’s definitely a sizeable “middle class” of probably a few thousand indie authors who make a comfortable living upwards of $50,000 a year. I know several myself.

Paying Your Dues

By Dario Ciriello

Part of the Indie Author Series

Since my first column in this series, two years ago, I’ve taken every opportunity to question conventional beliefs and dogma and to suggest taking a fresh look at things, for three reasons.

First, nothing remains static, and what worked yesterday may not work today; second, I believe that a lot of the so-called rules and dogma about writing and publishing are limiting and often downright wrong; and last, I’m hardwired to question conventional wisdom and think things through from basic principles—I’ve done that all my life. And, really, shouldn’t an indie be an indie in their thinking, too?

Writers: Ignore This Writing Advice. If You Want.

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

This might seem like an odd topic for a writing site to address, but don’t listen to every piece of writing advice you come across—even good advice.

I’m a firm believer that there’s no right way to write, and what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another. Heck, what works for one novel doesn’t always work for the next novel by the same writer. Writing is a fluid process.

The clearest example of this is the classic outliner vs. pantser debate. Two solid techniques at opposite ends of the spectrum, with a myriad more in between—and all of them "right" depending on the writer.

Can We Know Too Much About the Publishing Industry?

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

If we want to have a career in writing, it’s a good idea to understand the publishing industry. There’s plenty of informative sites and publications out there to keep abreast of what’s popular, who’s working where, what authors and editors are doing, and which agent is selling what. Educating ourselves, prepares us for being a published author and helps us avoid mistakes along the way.

However, knowing too much can just as bad as not knowing anything. Reading articles on how your favorite genre is no longer selling might cause you to abandon your novel. Seeing stats on how many debut novels sold fewer than 500 copies last year can make you want to give up before you begin. Reading an interview with a first-time novelist who got a seven-figure deal can give you unrealistic expectations, and make you feel like a failure because you "only" got enough to pay off your mortgage.

How Much is a Book Worth?

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

A recent article got my husband and I chatting over lunch about the value of a book (more of an intellectual debate really), and Jody Hedlund’s post on books vs. burgers got me thinking about it even more. My husband made a very interesting comparison I felt was worth more open discussion, and I'd like to hear what you guys think.

Let’s imagine two people who have day jobs and work on projects at home in their spare time. One is a writer, working on her novel. The other is a programmer working on his app. Both projects take skill, knowledge, and creativity, and both take a year to complete.

Do Writers Practice Their Art?

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

I spent the weekend at the Turner Cassity Literary Festival in Douglasville, GA, teaching a workshop on world building (A great writers’ festival, by the way, so look for it next year). Friday night, keynote speaker Stephen Corey said something—I believe he was quoting Marshall Thomas—that really stuck with me.

Other artists practice their art—musicians, dancers, painters—but what about writers? Do we practice or are we always “just writing?”

I can’t tell you the last time I wrote something that didn’t have a specific purpose. I'm either writing an article for the site, a writing book, or a novel, and the intent is always to share it or sell it.