Real life is not the same as fictional life. Real life is lived in real time, boring bits and all. Fictional life is the edited highlights. Summary is a useful tool for this:
'Have you seen the new film?' Bertram asked.
'No, not yet,' Agatha said.
'Do you want to go?'
'Yes, sure.'
Bertram cleared his throat. 'What about Friday?'
'Friday sounds good.'
'Great. Do you want to meet for a drink beforehand?'
'Yes, why not?'
'About 7?'
'That should be okay.'
'See you then.'
This is b-o-o-o-ring! All they're doing is arranging to go out one evening. Why not summarise to:
Bertram phoned Agatha and they arranged to go out on Friday.
Or, if you want something a bit more:
Bertram finally plucked up courage and asked Agatha if she'd seen the new film.
'No, not yet.'
'We could go on Friday if you liked, perhaps meet for a drink beforehand.'
Agatha liked, and Bertram put the phone down, not sure how he was going to last until 7 on Friday evening.
Other boring bits come when you go into great detail about what characters are doing that don't add anything. This is sometimes called 'sandwich making,' as in 'Agatha went to the cupboard and got out the bread and butter, then went to the fridge and took out the ham. She took out two slices of bread and spread them with butter, then carefully put a slice of ham on one slice. Then she put the other slice of bread on top, butter side down. Then she ate the sandwich.'
or in summary: Agatha made herself a ham sandwich.
Summary is such a useful tool. It leaves you free to concentrate on writing the interesting bits which are the only bits really worth reading.
Thursday, 31 May 2012
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Advice For Writers: Don't Read Advice
This blog is all about dishing out advice to writers. I hope it's helpful. But there comes a point where you've got to stop reading about writing, and just get on with doing it.
Yesterday afternoon was free. I'd written in the morning, then decided I'd have a quick scoot round the internet over lunch before returning to editing the never ending book. I scooted. I read lots of interesting articles about writing, from how to structure a novel to writing flash fiction. I had a good time, because reading about writing is one of my favourite things.
But lo - when I finally looked up from my lunch time visit it was no longer lunch time, it was tea time and my lovely free afternoon for my own writing had evaporated. So here's another thing I've learned about writing:
You can read all the advice you like, but at some point you have to get on and do some writing. There's a time for reading and a time for action, and the time for action is probably right now.
Yesterday afternoon was free. I'd written in the morning, then decided I'd have a quick scoot round the internet over lunch before returning to editing the never ending book. I scooted. I read lots of interesting articles about writing, from how to structure a novel to writing flash fiction. I had a good time, because reading about writing is one of my favourite things.
But lo - when I finally looked up from my lunch time visit it was no longer lunch time, it was tea time and my lovely free afternoon for my own writing had evaporated. So here's another thing I've learned about writing:
You can read all the advice you like, but at some point you have to get on and do some writing. There's a time for reading and a time for action, and the time for action is probably right now.
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Characters Need An Agenda
A scene that crops up frequently is the one where the main purpose is for Character A to meet with Character B, and for Character B to tell Character A something that changes their perspective. So you write it - A bumps into B, they chit chat for a bit, then B tells A the relevant info, and A thinks differently.
That's fine. But what I see writers forget is that A can't just stand there like a lemon waiting for B to come along and tell them the relevant info. In other words, you as the writer have an agenda - that B passes on the info - but you've forgotten that A needs to have an agenda too.
If A doesn't have an agenda they can appear passive and one dimensional, which is a problem given we're usually trying to write active, multi-dimensional characters. The solution is to give A their own agenda.
For example, A might be on their way to an urgent doctor's appointment when they bump into B. They start the chit chat with B all the time wondering how quickly they can escape without appearing rude, then B starts to talk about something interesting, and the doctor's appointment goes out of A's head as their focus goes onto B's new information and what it implies.
It doesn't really matter what A's agenda is, what matters is that it's there. In effect, A having an agenda of their own brings in some conflict to the scene which otherwise lacks it, and by doing so, A appears active and multi-dimensional. What's more, you can usually add the relevant agenda with just a few additions so it's easy to do. Result all round!
That's fine. But what I see writers forget is that A can't just stand there like a lemon waiting for B to come along and tell them the relevant info. In other words, you as the writer have an agenda - that B passes on the info - but you've forgotten that A needs to have an agenda too.
If A doesn't have an agenda they can appear passive and one dimensional, which is a problem given we're usually trying to write active, multi-dimensional characters. The solution is to give A their own agenda.
For example, A might be on their way to an urgent doctor's appointment when they bump into B. They start the chit chat with B all the time wondering how quickly they can escape without appearing rude, then B starts to talk about something interesting, and the doctor's appointment goes out of A's head as their focus goes onto B's new information and what it implies.
It doesn't really matter what A's agenda is, what matters is that it's there. In effect, A having an agenda of their own brings in some conflict to the scene which otherwise lacks it, and by doing so, A appears active and multi-dimensional. What's more, you can usually add the relevant agenda with just a few additions so it's easy to do. Result all round!
Monday, 28 May 2012
10 Things I've Learned From Writing
1. That the work you're proudest of gets slammed in workshops.
2. The work you tossed off just before turning up is praised in workshops.
3. You will think your work is rubbish and a waste of time, usually at around the 25,000 word mark.
4. If you persist, writing gets easier.
5. No one will respect your writing time unless you do.
6. Writers are generally friendly and hugely supportive.
7. You will never know what to say when someone asks "Have you written anything I've read?"
8. Sometimes writing is easy, sometimes it's hard. When you look back, you can't tell the difference in the work.
9. There is always something else to do instead of writing.
10. If you start writing, the words will come.
2. The work you tossed off just before turning up is praised in workshops.
3. You will think your work is rubbish and a waste of time, usually at around the 25,000 word mark.
4. If you persist, writing gets easier.
5. No one will respect your writing time unless you do.
6. Writers are generally friendly and hugely supportive.
7. You will never know what to say when someone asks "Have you written anything I've read?"
8. Sometimes writing is easy, sometimes it's hard. When you look back, you can't tell the difference in the work.
9. There is always something else to do instead of writing.
10. If you start writing, the words will come.
Friday, 25 May 2012
Networking For Writers
To my surprise I was listed as a top publishing industry tweep (aka Twitter person) by The Bookseller even though I don't think I'm much good at networking and am hopeless at technology. This makes me think that if I can do it, anybody can.
Twitter is best thought of along the same lines as a drinks party. At this party it's socially acceptable to eavesdrop on conversations and join in if you've something to say even if you don't know the people talking, but generally the party operates on the usual lines: only the most socially inept people bang on about themselves all the time, conversations are about give and take, and no one likes being sold things at a social event.
At this drinks party you wouldn't suddenly tell people you'd just met all about your private life, nor would you feel obliged to speak to absolutely everyone present. And you certainly wouldn't badger people just because you thought they might be useful for your career.
The sort of things you'd talk about would be things you thought might be either amusing or informative. You might indulge in a bit of moaning about, say, a tradesman who hadn't turned up when they said they would or if things weren't going brilliantly, but you wouldn't start ranting or being mean.
In general, behave as you would at any real-life social event and you won't go far wrong.
Blogging is different. With that you have to think about what you offer a potential reader, such as entertainment or information. Blogs that are basically Me Me Me don't pick up many followers unless 'Me' already has a following. I think it's quite hard for a writer to have an interesting blog unless they blog about craft because what else is there apart from your personal life? I'm not happy with blogging about my own life - and frankly, it would make for dull reading as I don't do much except read, write, teach and trundle up and down the A30.
If I was unpublished so didn't feel confident about dishing out advice about craft (not that that stops some writers) I would concentrate on the business of publishing from a new writer's perspective and book reviews.
What I don't think blogging or Twitter or Facebook do is sell books, at least not directly. They are about networking - building up contacts with people who are active in publishing (or whatever industry you choose to get involved with), which in turn raises your profile and that may lead to other things such as speaking at events or free books (especially if you do book reviews), or may help to find an agent or get an article published.
I started blogging and being on Twitter because my publisher told me I 'had' to, and then I found I liked it so have carried on. If I didn't find it enjoyable I would have quietly drifted away. There are lots of authors who have very successful careers without bothering and if I had a choice between writing a good book or spending time on social media, writing a good book would win out every time.
Twitter is best thought of along the same lines as a drinks party. At this party it's socially acceptable to eavesdrop on conversations and join in if you've something to say even if you don't know the people talking, but generally the party operates on the usual lines: only the most socially inept people bang on about themselves all the time, conversations are about give and take, and no one likes being sold things at a social event.
At this drinks party you wouldn't suddenly tell people you'd just met all about your private life, nor would you feel obliged to speak to absolutely everyone present. And you certainly wouldn't badger people just because you thought they might be useful for your career.
The sort of things you'd talk about would be things you thought might be either amusing or informative. You might indulge in a bit of moaning about, say, a tradesman who hadn't turned up when they said they would or if things weren't going brilliantly, but you wouldn't start ranting or being mean.
In general, behave as you would at any real-life social event and you won't go far wrong.
Blogging is different. With that you have to think about what you offer a potential reader, such as entertainment or information. Blogs that are basically Me Me Me don't pick up many followers unless 'Me' already has a following. I think it's quite hard for a writer to have an interesting blog unless they blog about craft because what else is there apart from your personal life? I'm not happy with blogging about my own life - and frankly, it would make for dull reading as I don't do much except read, write, teach and trundle up and down the A30.
If I was unpublished so didn't feel confident about dishing out advice about craft (not that that stops some writers) I would concentrate on the business of publishing from a new writer's perspective and book reviews.
What I don't think blogging or Twitter or Facebook do is sell books, at least not directly. They are about networking - building up contacts with people who are active in publishing (or whatever industry you choose to get involved with), which in turn raises your profile and that may lead to other things such as speaking at events or free books (especially if you do book reviews), or may help to find an agent or get an article published.
I started blogging and being on Twitter because my publisher told me I 'had' to, and then I found I liked it so have carried on. If I didn't find it enjoyable I would have quietly drifted away. There are lots of authors who have very successful careers without bothering and if I had a choice between writing a good book or spending time on social media, writing a good book would win out every time.
Thursday, 24 May 2012
How Not To Approach An Agent
Once there was a man called Mark who was looking for an agent for his novel. He told his friend, Joe Bloggs, who suggested Mark could try his friend Ginny who was a literary agent.
So Mark rang Ginny up.
'Hi, Ginny,' he started. 'I'm a friend of -'
'My name is Virginia,' she cut in, and put the phone down.
Who do you think was rude - Mark or Virginia/Ginny?
Consider these points:
1. To Mark, his book is important. In fact, it's been the central feature of his life for some years. He's thrilled to have finished it.
2. Ginny is deluged with manuscripts every day, and has been for years. She already has all the clients she can cope with.
3. Mark has just retired and has time on his hands - that's in part why he wrote a novel.
4. Ginny is in the middle of a busy working day. She's waiting to get a call from an editor about an existing client's manuscript.
5. Cold calling is annoying.
6. Cold calling is especially annoying when they get your name wrong.
Mark didn't think what it was like to be Ginny. He forgot that publishing is a business. If asked, he might have imagined her day to be like something from an Ealing film - a large empty office with a leather Chesterfield sofa, an assistant called Emma or Felicity, the morning spent pottering around before a long boozy lunch and a book launch in the evening. It really isn't like that any more, if it ever was. Publishing is a meaner, leaner machine and no one has time to potter.
So who was rude? In a lot of ways, questions of rudeness aren't really the issue here. What I think Mark showed was ignorance, and in his ignorance he put his foot in it. He forgot that, although his novel was terribly important to him, it wasn't important at all to Ginny.
What Mark should have done was a bit of research (via The Writers and Artists Yearbook or The Writers Handbook) and found out what Ginny's professional name was. Then he could have contacted Ginny by mail or email and done it properly:
Dear Virginia Smith,
Our mutual friend, Joe Bloggs, suggested I contact you....
Publishing is a business, and the people who work in it take it as seriously as anybody else who takes their day job seriously. I think we writers get so caught up in our stories that we sometimes forget that.
Wednesday, 23 May 2012
5 Elements Of A Good Title...
1) Easy to say, easy to spell, easy to find.
Who wants to look stupid when ordering or discussing a book? Make your title easy to say. The spelling matters because if someone is searching on Amazon or Google and they get the spelling wrong, then the search engines won't find them. You can help people find your book by using uncommon words. My name, Sarah Duncan, is fairly common. If someone does a Google search for me, my website does come up first, but there are lots of other Sarah Duncans around, as well as things like "...said Sarah. Duncan, on the other hand..." If your title has lots of common words then it's going to be harder to find on search engines.
2) Fits in with the genre
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society doesn't sound like it's a thriller or teenage vampire book, In Cold Blood doesn't say romance, Twilight couldn't really be anything but a vampire story. Titles need to match the genre. Go into a bookshop and and look at the titles in 'your' section. You're looking for patterns, for example, lots of one word titles or titles which contain place names. Are there puns or plays on words? Slightly risque? Your title needs to fit in here.
3) Has some originality or quirkiness
Would Captain Corelli's Mandolin have done as well as The Italian with the Guitar? I think not. Strong nouns are the answer here. If I say "the book about the tractors", I bet most of you will know the book I mean. Penguin used that line to advertise Marina Lewycka's next book, which shows what a powerful technique this is.
4) Uses 'special' words.
There are some words that have more power than others. Lucky. Secret. Desire. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is one of my favourite titles ever (it's a good book, too), and all those nouns are special words. Numbers and colours work well, although some numbers and colours are better than others - 12 Shades of Beige doesn't have quite the same ring.
Deconstruct some of your favourite and least favourite titles and analyse what makes them work (or not). Then try to apply the same principles to your own. I think the 5th element is time - good titles rarely come easily or quickly in my experience, but when the right one comes along it's easy to spot.
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