March 15, 2010

Have you ever gone in for your annual check-up, sure that you’re doing fine, only to discover you have some unsuspected condition?

Or have you taken your car in for its periodic tune-up (thinking things are fine), only to be told that you need some major part replaced so you don’t crash and burn? In both cases, discovering the unknown problem is a blessing in disguise.

That may be your feeling if you read the wonderful article called “101 Habits of Highly Effective Writers.” You might–like me–start reading the article with the idea that you’re doing just fine. On the other hand, you might realize that although you once had these habits, some of them have slipped–and you need a tune-up.

Not All Habits Are Created Equal

This great list–and I’d recommend printing it out to save for monthly mini check-ups–is broken down into several categories.

• Routine: habits to help you find and maintain a successful writing routine
• The Process: the actual writing you do–and habits to help you
• Inspiration: habits for finding inspiration to improve the quality of your writing
• Improving Your Craft: habits to improve your skills as a writer
• Business: good business habits to make sure you can pay the bills
• Habits You Don’t Want to Have:  habits to avoid if you want to become a successful writer
• Advice from successful writers: a whole list of gems!
• Habits of Famous Writers: the writing habits of the “greats”

What’s Your Score?

I hope you’ll go through the list thoughtfully and make  a note of the habits you need to work on this year. We all have areas that need improvement, but this list is a great practical place to start.

If you’re really brave, leave a comment and share what habits you have well in hand, plus one or two you know you need to work on. We’re all in this together!

7 Comments »

1. 

   Thanks for the info, Kristi. I am printing the list of 101 now and can’t wait to read it. Seems a great way to re-focus and start a new week.

   Karin
   http://www.karin-larson.blogspot.com

   Comment by Karin Larson — March 15, 2010 @ 7:24 am

2. 

   I’m getting braver, so I’ll go for it.

   After reading your post I was curious to know how much I’d improved from where I was this time last year, and before I read the article I was terrified I might not be doing enough.

   After the article, I was pleasantly surprised how much I’m doing that was on that list.

   I’m not rock solid in every area, but

   As far the business aspects in the article go, I’m still in transition there. It’s kind of hard to think in those terms when I’ve never gotten past the inquiry phase. I still learn what I can from my market guides and whatnot, but some of it doesn’t feel “Real” until I’m actually doing myself, does that make any sense?

   The hardest bits of advice I have issues doing are what Joyce Carol Oates and Neil Gaiman suggest.

   With Joyce, it was about maintaining your composure when criticized. I’m better, but it’s still a failing of mine.

   With Neil, it’s finishing what I start no matter what. Especially when I’ve gone through more than five versions of any given story or novel I’ve worked on. I do make the effort to finish what I start in one form or another, but it can certainly take a long time before it’s readable to anyone besides me.

   Especially since finished to me, can be very different to what an agent or editor would call finished.

   But above all, my biggest weakness is not always handling criticism well.

   It’s especially troubling when I hear conflicting things on the same story and not knowing who to believe.

   I think one thing the article shouldn’t mentioned was that you also have to know when to say no.

   I’ve learned that writers of varying experience can react very differently to the same story. Most of the time that’s a good thing, but sometimes writers starting out have issues with things you know are right, because you learned it the hard way when you started.

   I’m glad I’m not in an in-person group. Mostly for this reason. I’d be too afraid of either losing my head, either in a fit of rage or in tears.

   Granted, I’m known for being a bit of an emotional wreck on the forums I frequent, but I’m really making the effort to control myself in that regard.

   Oh, I almost forgot.

   Two other issues I have is reading more and NOT comparing myself to other writers.

   I never used to compare myself with others as far as writing goes at the start. But when people starting saying things in their critiques in my work like “Read X book by so and so” or “Read similar authors” it nearly drives me off the deep end.

   On the one hand, we’re told to trust our instincts and write the books we would like reading. But at the same time, especially nowadays, we’re being told to know intimately who our peers are.

   It seems to me that once you go from writing to submitting your writing, your forced to compare yourself with others in order know who would be a good fit would be, whether it’s with an agent at an agency, or an editor at a publishing house.

   In my experience, it doesn’t always work. For example, I love stories with talking animals, I did as a kid, still do now. Even as a teen I did, but for the obvious reasons, it was my deep dark secret.

   That’s what I love writing the most. But often when other writers critiqued my stories, they tell me I should think of so and so writer who writes similar subject matter. I often get compared to Brian Jacques or Beatrix Potter, and while I love their books, I really do, I don’t write as eloquently as they do.

   Plus, Brain Jacques’s books are comprised completely of animals, whereas in most of my stories, animals and humans co-exist and interact.

   Or to put it another way. I could write a story about a rat (Which I have) but it would be different than other stories that have been written about rats because of the way I wrote it, and what I focus on.

   Think of all the famous mice characters. Stuart Little, Ralph from “The Mouse and the Motorcycle,”
   and Mickey Mouse. But the only similarity they share is that they’re all the same animal.

   Personality-wise, they’re all different in their own right, just as they all look different.

   I guess my main point is this-

   The same subject matter doesn’t always mean the writer is akin to what you’re doing. Sorry for rambling on, I just couldn’t help myself on this topic.

   C.J.

   Comment by C.J. Rockwell — March 15, 2010 @ 11:28 am

3. 

   Karin, I hope you find it a good list to do a check-in now and also quarterly or so checkups too. It’s an easy way to see when you’re getting off track somewhere.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — March 16, 2010 @ 12:46 pm

4. 

   C.J., this is excellent! You’ve obviously done a lot of soul searching on this subject. And you’re so honest with yourself about your shortcomings as well as your strengths. This is critical. You brought out a point I’ve wondered about myself: how we’re told to look inside and tell the story only we can tell and not compare ourselves to each other–and yet when it comes to selling, you have to compare it for agents and editors and marketing people who want to know “the competition.” Interesting irony!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — March 16, 2010 @ 12:49 pm

5. 

   I know!

   It is irony, isn’t it?

   I’m glad you admitted this. I’ve been known to over think myself at times, especially when I’m upset, but hearing you agree about the irony of things makes me glad I’m not just hallucinating.

   I’ve seen that irony played out too many times to think I’m just making it up. Sometimes I really wonder how a marketer’s brain works.

   How can you be original, yet familiar at the same time. I know it’s possible, but I don’t know how to do it in my own work. We’re told to NOT follow the market trends, because they change quickly. But at the same time told to keep up with the market.

   It’s baffling. Yet somehow I keep moving forward.

   Comment by C.J. Rockwell — March 16, 2010 @ 1:26 pm

6. 

   Yes, “it’s baffling, and yet somehow, I keep moving forward” too! And I’ll admit something else here. I find reading other people’s work very daunting. I have been this way since I was an ICL student. It always makes me feel like “I’ll never write something this good.” I have to keep reminding myself that the finished product is something that has been critiqued a number of times and something that the author has had time to revise accordingly. The finished product ISN’T the manuscript that was submitted to the editor–at least, probably not.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — March 18, 2010 @ 5:37 am

7. 

   Writers sometimes develop poor habits, and end up doing more thinking about writing than actual writing. I know, because although I write for a living, and I still don’t always spend enough time on the writing that I most want to do. And for those people who aren’t writers by trade, but need or want to write for professional or business reasons, then you may need a little help developing your writing habit.

   Comment by Writer Pro — August 11, 2010 @ 12:27 am

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