Kate Elliott ([info]kateelliott) wrote,
2007-10-02 22:11:00
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Advice for first-time sff novelists?

Some months ago [info] asked:

any advice for first-time fantasy novelists?

The two short answers, which are not as contradictory as they may seem:

If you can quit, do.

Never give up.

But who ever said I wrote something short?

Really, what can you do except to write as well as you can, revise to the best of your ability at the time, allow yourself room for growth, and nurture the joy you feel in the process?

But if I were giving cold-hearted advice to a first time sff novelist, it would go something like this.



First, if you’re not willing to work hard at writing, don’t bother.

I am sure we can find the exception that proves the rule, but every writer I know who has been successful

- however we are defining that term today, and I tend to be ecumenical in my inclusiveness, so let’s just assume that I mean in a pretty broad sense not limited to the pots-of-money sense and frankly just about every working writer I know will laugh sadly or even perhaps a tad hysterically when you ask her or him about the average annual earnings of working freelance writers -

has worked immensely hard, turned or churned out a lot of pages in the journey through apprenticeship toward some level of mastery, and kept writing despite setbacks, rejection, cold feet, and those soul-sucking periods of doubt.

By that I don’t mean quit writing for enjoyment. Anyone who wants to write because it pleases them or soothes them or excites them, should absolutely write.

Please never let anyone stop you from writing.

Writing is a gift, a blessing, a catharsis, a joy. It’s yours; cherish it.

Also, writing is just too difficult for it to be worth doing, in my humble opinion, if you don’t love the process or feel driven to write (which are not quite the same thing).

But if you’re not willing to work, and work hard, and work stubbornly, then don’t make plans for a brilliant career. That is, be realistic about what you’re willing to put in, and therefore what you can potentially get out.

I have seen cases where people
1) talk about the novel or book they want to write that is really fabulous
2) write and rewrite the first 50 pages of that novel but never move on
3) write the first draft of a novel but never revise it - or revise it sufficiently - while meanwhile expecting that naturally a publisher is going to pay them pots of money (see above) for their fabulous soon-to-be-bestselling manuscript
4) never write a second novel, and a third, or multiple short stories, in order to continue learning and improving
5) say to themselves, ‘well, if s/he could publish, then it can’t be *that* hard’


The way to succeed as a writer is - to write. To write something new. To write more. To keep writing.

It's as simple, and as complicated, as that.



But wait! There's more. Tomorrow: part two.
Tags: writing as career

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  • 34 comments

[info]karenmiller

October 3 2007, 08:58:07 UTC 4 years ago

Exactly! Brilliant!

[info]kateelliott

October 3 2007, 09:01:43 UTC 4 years ago

Thanks!

I have some partially finished interview questions for you - I'll work on finishing them up this week.

btw, congrats on your US launch!!!

[info]karenmiller

4 years ago

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[info]mizkit

October 3 2007, 10:46:32 UTC 4 years ago

Having just posted something along these same sorts of lines, I suddenly wonder if professional writers, seeing NaNoWriMo on the horizon, are feeling prompted in some way to talk about this sort of thing. :)

[info]kateelliott

October 3 2007, 18:46:04 UTC 4 years ago

I'd forgotten about NaNoWriMo! Which I think is a fabulous idea. A national movement to . . . write. I can't argue with that.

[info]triciasullivan

October 3 2007, 10:58:02 UTC 4 years ago

Thanks for the post. It all rings true with me. Especially about the working hard part. If I had known from the getgo how hard the work would be and how fleeting the 'rewards' then I might never have gone this route. On the other hand, as you rightly point out, if you love the process then that becomes its own reward.

But you can't buy much cat food with the process.

I will be looking forward to future installments!

[info]kateelliott

October 3 2007, 18:46:54 UTC 4 years ago

I don't buy cat food at all! (but that's because we don't have a cat)


I'd be writing anyway. Because I just have to.

[info]birdhousefrog

October 3 2007, 11:00:37 UTC 4 years ago

I thought you summed it up very well in the opening with your two "contradictory" statements. Which aren't. Nice post. Growing in one's writing ability is such an important part of the process. And it's different for every writer...how they grow and how they will write. One gets a real 'charge' interacting with other artists. I find my self fired up after a session where we threw ideas around and talked shop.

Oz

[info]kateelliott

October 3 2007, 18:47:31 UTC 4 years ago

I do love talking to other writers\artists for the reason you cite.

[info]athena799

October 3 2007, 11:44:42 UTC 4 years ago

*opens a new document, copies advice, pastes it there for future reminders*
Thank you so much for the advice, its always great to hear it from someone I admire so much and strive to be like :)

[info]kateelliott

October 3 2007, 18:47:53 UTC 4 years ago

Thanks.

[info]makoiyi

October 3 2007, 11:44:53 UTC 4 years ago

That sums it up beautifully. To get as far as I have, which is to the point of, out of the slush, but not 'there' yet, I must have written seven novels twenty times each. Just 'learnin'. I once asked Elizabeth Bear (naively) well how do you know when something's publishable? She kinda gave an ether shrug and said, 'you just do'. At the time I thought, well, that doesn't help much, but I am beginning to see why she said it. Things click into place and the excitement of getting it 'right' shows in the confidence of the writing. That is what I was missing.

The publishing process though, it does make you wonder why so many folk go at it. A combination of obssession and love and passion that makes one stubborn as hell, I guess. Every so often the dh will say, 'You know, I'd like to see your face some days instead of the back of your head.' And one frequently thinks, 'why am I doing this?' The short answer is, because I love it.

[info]kateelliott

October 3 2007, 18:45:11 UTC 4 years ago

There's really no other reason to do it. The health benefits suck.

[info]bevhale

October 3 2007, 11:57:30 UTC 4 years ago

I've actually tried to quit writing, but I kept going back to it. Now(knowing I can't quit) I'm just trying to be the best writer I can. With each story/novel, I try to stretch myself, and I try to grow. There are lots easier ways to make money. Don't be a writer unless you absolutely have to, but if you have to, work like crazy to be the best one you can.

[info]kateelliott

October 3 2007, 18:48:08 UTC 4 years ago

Exactly.

Deleted comment

[info]kateelliott

October 3 2007, 18:48:34 UTC 4 years ago

I learned a lot of this the hard way, having strange expectations back when I was young.

[info]joncwriter

October 3 2007, 13:35:45 UTC 4 years ago

There was a time about twelve years ago when I was in financial dire straits and depressed as all hell (and about to move back in with the parents), and I STILL wrote. I had actually forced myself to do so as catharsis, but it was the best thing I ever did. Added to the fact that I'd pasted random "WRITE NOW--Stop *bleep*ing whining and just write the *bleep*ing thing" post-its all over my apartment to kick my own butt. And it worked. ;)

Best thing I ever did. I'm still not published, but I still love the writing...it's not for catharsis anymore, it's for the joy of creating something new and unique. I'm still working on it every day, and even when the creative well's run dry for the night, I'm at least making an attempt.

[gets off of soapbox :p ]

[info]kateelliott

October 3 2007, 18:50:02 UTC 4 years ago

I have found that writing works best for me when I need it to get through a difficult time. Not that I necessarily write my best work then, but that it gives back the most to my psyche.

[info]joncwriter

4 years ago

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[info]madrobins

October 3 2007, 16:10:18 UTC 4 years ago

Or, as an old friend used to say: "Don't forget to write."

[info]kateelliott

October 3 2007, 18:50:13 UTC 4 years ago

heh.

[info]muneraven

October 3 2007, 18:18:06 UTC 4 years ago

/agree but with some sadness

Does anyone besides me ever wonder how many fabulous stories are lying unpublished in a drawer somewhere simply because writers have to have an almost pathological level of stubborness in order to write a book, revise a book, and most of all get that book published? Oh I know, some people are going to say that people don't deserve to be published if they can't tough it out, if they can't suck it up and deal with the harsh realities of getting their work out there. But I don't agree. I don't agree at all. The ability to tell a great story or paint a wonderful picture or otherwise make art is not always accompanied by the sort of abilities one needs to navigate the harsh make-a-buck world.

It makes me sad. I sometimes wonder if the only books available to me are those created by a certain type of person. And I am not at all sure that that sort of person writes the very best books.







[info]sartorias

October 3 2007, 18:29:02 UTC 4 years ago

Re: /agree but with some sadness

I don't agree at all. The ability to tell a great story or paint a wonderful picture or otherwise make art is not always accompanied by the sort of abilities one needs to navigate the harsh make-a-buck world.

Word.

[info]kateelliott

4 years ago

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[info]shalanna

4 years ago

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[info]kateelliott

4 years ago

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[info]muneraven

4 years ago

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[info]onyxhawke

4 years ago

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[info]ellen_denham

October 4 2007, 21:12:04 UTC 4 years ago

Excellent post. I'm struggling to edit my first novel, which I've been working on in some form or other since 2003. People ask me when it will be done.

Well, several writing workshops and classes later, I'm still honing my craft and learning to diagnose what needs changing, so I can't say exactly when it will be "done." I'd rather take longer and write something really good than write something that is pretty ok.

As it is, I have a 140,000 word draft of a fantasy novel in need of some reworking and trimming, but it has a beginning, a middle, and an end, a coherent plot, and it is pretty ok. That's more than a lot of people manage, so perhaps I should not beat myself up too much for not getting it "done" faster.

[info]kateelliott

October 4 2007, 22:03:02 UTC 4 years ago

Rule #5: don't beat yourself up.

First, there's no benefit, and second, you're doing what you are doing.

The real question is: why do we beat ourselves up so much? (I do it; others do it; etc). Be kind to yourself!

Good luck!

[info]firebirdrequiem

October 5 2007, 04:04:52 UTC 4 years ago

"Also, writing is just too difficult for it to be worth doing, in my humble opinion, if you don’t love the process or feel driven to write (which are not quite the same thing)."

I'm really, really glad you brought that up.

I've heard a lot of writers talk about how much they love what they do. For a while, I was concerned about the fact that I don't always 'love' writing. I often delay from working on the novel (my first!) because that moment of sitting down and committing is so hard--it's not even remotely fun sometimes. Once you're in, it's shiny good times, but getting there is tough.

I've really loved both your recent posts, and I look forward to more of your advice.

[info]sci_o_biscuits

October 15 2007, 19:04:31 UTC 4 years ago

writing = sickness

Nicely put.

I always think of the drive to write as a sickness. If you're infected with it, then you will be driven to write by an internal force that gnaws at you. I gave up a long time ago trying to ignore the fact that I'm infected with this illness for (apparently) my entire life.

If I had my way, I would devote my time and energy to reading, writing, and just...well, THINKING. Oh, what luxury that would be! But like many people, I must earn a reasonable living and cover health insurance, and for most fulltime writers, that's tough to do.

It would be easier for me to stop writing and enjoy some leisure time. But somehow, I have never been able to do that. (And believe me, I've tried! I stopped writing for an entire year after pumping out 5 books in 2001...while working fulltime. I was exhausted. On Dec. 31, the day the final book was due to my publisher, I literally could not pry open my eyelids without soaking my face in warm water.)

As you say, what are our choices? (1) Give up now if you aren't totally driven to read and write; or (2) never stop because, if writing is important to you, then stopping means giving up a huge part of yourself - which is not good.

And I would add, fwiw (and only personal opinion, etc etc), that you won't be making this choice entirely by free will. If you are meant to be a writer, then you cannot avoid it, and you will write. If you are not meant to be a writer, then you will cease making the effort as obstacles and rejections and life get in the way. I honestly don't think the choice to write is necessarily under our control.

What do you think about this strange notion? Are you compelled to write? Or do you think that you are capable of saying, "No, I refuse to write another book. I've lost interest in the craft and ideas."

Babbling too much, as usual -
Sci O'Flintstones


[info]kateelliott

October 18 2007, 07:54:45 UTC 4 years ago

Re: writing = sickness

I like the idea of the drive to write as a sickness.

[info]onyxhawke

October 16 2007, 17:45:13 UTC 4 years ago

Fantastic, per usual.

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