Blogger KRISTI HOLL is the author of 35 books, both fiction and nonfiction, including WRITER'S FIRST AID.

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Be a Hero Writer!

December 7, 2009

foolheroAre you a hero

              

 

              or a fool?

 

 

 

 

I had never considered the question in regards to writing–until this past weekend when I was reading James Scott Bell’s new book, The Art of War for Writers: fiction writing strategies, tactics, and exercises.

Fools Rush In…

This book is written in very short chapters, just right for my weekend, which entailed a multitude of car trips back and forth across town. I just read as I was carted from place to place. You may be familiar with Bell’s other writing craft books (one of my favorites is Plot & Structure), but this book is different.

In addition to the section where Bell helps writers pull their stories up another professional notch or two, he has sections on how to plan and behave in the writing world. I was particularly struck by his comments on heroes and fools in today’s writing world. I’ll describe both, according to Bell. I hope you find yourself much more in one category than the other!

You’re a Fool If…

You’re a Hero If…

warI think you get the idea. I’m sorry to say that in our “instant gratification” world, I’ve seen a faster growth in fools lately than in heroes. However, if you’re a writer who recognizes himself in the “fool” category above, it’s never too late to change. If you haven’t alienated editors and agents with your foolish behavior, so much the better.

Be honest with yourself. If you recognize yourself in the foolish description, resolve to change. Choose humility and hard work instead of arrogance and laziness. You’ll endear yourself to other writers as well as agents and editors. And you’ll prepare yourself for a long and satisfying writing career.

Be a hero.

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Dare to Be Real!

August 6, 2008

Let’s talk some more about voice. I’ve been re-reading Finding Your Voice: how to put personality in your writing by Les Edgerton this week. (See Chapter Four: “It’s Okay to Be Yourself. I Mean—It’s REALLY OKAY!”)

The chapter starts with a thought-provoking quote by J.F. Stephen: “Originality does not consist in saying what no one has ever said before, but in saying exactly what you think yourself.”

Les says that because of well meaning teachers (and other writing “experts”), writers learn to distrust their own basic writing instincts and personal writing voice. I know as a writing teacher that I was guilty of teaching what worked for me as “the” way to do something, whether it was how to write a rough draft or sticking to “write what you know” or any of the other rules that really worked well for me personally. It took me years to realize that many writers didn’t work well under those “rules,” and there was no right or wrong way to do things. Les says the same thing applies to voice. We try to follow the rules, try to sound like “real writers” when we write, and we end up with bland stories in some generic voice that does NOT make editors sit up and take notice.

What should we do instead? To quote Les again: Your mama was right: Just be yourself, honey, and everyone will love you, pimples, bad haircut, gap teeth and all. Just be yourself, compassionate or ironic, flirtatious or embarrassed, imperfect and real; with your style, your tone, and your sense of humor. Write as you would to that little (big? huge? stupendous?) group of admirers who is really interested in what you have to say and laughs at your jokes. Loosen up, improvise, relish the sensuality of words. Your words, your language. Not language borrowed. Remember this above all else: Readers enter many (if not, most) pieces of writing not for the story or idea so much as they do to hear the author’s voice and through it to enter his or her world. The principal appeal is the writer’s distinctive voice.

Do you find it hard to throw out writing rules you’ve learned, even when it would benefit your story? Do you feel safer writing in a blander “writerly” voice, one that won’t rock the boat or make you sound weird? Or do you feel pressured to abandon your authentic voice–and the way you see the world–in favor of “what editors want”? Share your thoughts, please!
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