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Thanks for this. This is where I live right now, somewhere between tearing down the doors to nowhere and questioning the window placement. Though I do believe I've finally cleared the place of albino raccoons.

I 'get' this. How does one know the right path, the right possilibities?

Maybe when I'm more experienced the 'ghosts' will be friendly. Right now, they make me very nervous.

I guess it's a process of letting go. Evenutally I just have to trust that I am on the right path. But the idea that I chose the wrong one still niggles at me.

Cool post, Bryan.

This is great and so true! I love the raccoon at the end of the hall closet.

So many people think of revising as editing. The good stuff comes when, like you said, you bust out the sledge hammer.

Not only a great post, but it reads like poetry.


We can pick alternate paths
through time in these strange houses
we build, walking through
different series of events. We have

the blueprints for infinity.

And light, lots of light, the house
breathing in
the dawn morning
and exhaling the soft shine of dusk.

This is exactly where I'm at with my novel. But I'm liking this stage and I can see much more clearly where I'm going.

In truth it seems we all write ghost stories, irrespective of what we might actually call them.

Lovely, shining words, Ink.

So poetic ;)

My manuscript is so close - but still not quite there. I keep making revisions and it seems like an endless process. Every time I read it, I make changes. It makes me think about Tolkien and how he kept scribbling changes to the manuscript to the day he died (or so I read).

I wonder if I'll ever feel it's really ready, but I'll have to let go at some point. That point was supposed to be two days from now, but I might postpone it for a week.

Also ... it helps to have another pair of eyes or three. Your spouse, your children, your contractor, the neighbor. Sometimes you get stuck inside and can't get an angle on the roof. Sometimes you get stuck in a room, staring at the walls, and can't remember the smell of wind.

Then someday (I imagine, because I'm not there yet) you're ready to open the doors and windows and invite the world in.

Thanks for that! I always hate the delete key at first, but wind up loving the new structure it creates.

Lovely, lyrical, and always right on target. Very nice!

I think being the master architect requires that sure hand and confidence that you spoke of before, about Voice.

Like any craft, it takes time and patience, and a willingness to break something. :)

I can SO relate. I tend to polish and paint to the detriment of the structural stuff that needs rebuilding. Btw, one helpful thing I do for those "ghosts" is have a Deleted Scenes document, where I throw stuff that I'm hesitant to outright delete. I find I never add those things back in, and when I look them over later on, they sound pretty bad or unnecessary. But it IS a way to save your "babies" until you're absolutely sure you want to make those changes.

Movies do that too--ever watch those deleted Scenes on DVDs? Usually they're not worth watching, and the scenes or bits of dialogue wouldn't have added anything to the plot anyway!

Ah, the two writing blogs most worth reading on the entire net, with their powers combined! What a great idea. Nathan and Bryan, please consider merging your two blogs into a single blog-piphany. No wait, don't, I also love the individuality of each.

Thanks, Ink! Great analogy.

Hey Nathan,

Can I link your blog on the side of mine? The information here is very helpful.

Bryan Russell's piece on writing was right on. Sometimes I think of the world in the same context as the way he simply described rewriting. The descriptions about revision, like the dreaded rewrite, were very well done and I see why he's leaned on for information.

I hate to rewrite! I do, however, usually end up liking the second write better. Oh well,

Draven Ames

It's hard to start over from scratch, but I think it's harder to start over from the basic framework of the stories I've invested myself into.

OMG. This is hilariously appropriate. I was talking with my sis-in-law about my 9 year old niece who's always asserted that she doesn't need to revise something because as soon as she's finished writing it. "It's done!"

This was MOST AWESOME Bryan, thank you.

Bill Roorbach's Writing Life Stories most meaningful point for me involved scaffolding, the temporary structure obscuring the fabric of a story while under construction. Scaffolding provides access to the superstructure of a story. Removing scaffolding after it's no longer needed forms the crux of construction completion.

This is beautiful. It resonates with me... thank you. Tearing down and building back up is just a part of the journey.

Great post Bryan
I would like to digress from the theme and ask you a few questions about how you structure paragraphs. You use sentence fragments very effectively. I love the way the paragraphs flow and much of that has to do with how you break the rules.

We paint over poor choices and design flaws, whitewash those plotholes. We spruce it up. Drapes, a good color scheme. A nice polish on the hardwood floor. Clean windows. Who doesn’t like a good view?

The above paragraph is structured in a very creative and non-standard way. As a reader, I’m willing to overlook the deviations and embrace the emotional connection and flow that come at the expense of grammatical rules.

Do you have any advice on how aspiring authors can break the rules, like you have, and not immediately arouse the rejection reflex of agents and publishers? How can I understand your reasons so that I may utilize them?

Nathan! Thanks for this guest blog.

It's like the three pigs. If you can build a house that can't be blown down, you've got a winner.

Thanks for the kind words, everyone!

Mike,

That's a good question, but not one that's easy to answer! Part of it is instinct, but that instinct is rooted in having read and written a lot of words. A lot lot lot of words. That's the foundation of it, reading and writing across a wide spectrum of forms and styles to find what does and doesn't work.

And one thing I often think of is something Virginia Woolf once said (and I'm paraphrasing): Once I figured out that it was all about rhythm, the rest was easy.

I think there's something in that, in feeling the rhythm and cadence of the words and of how the sentences flow and connect. Sentence fragments have their own rhtyhm. How do they flow when balanced against each other? How to mix a long line and a short line? You have to find the sounds and flow that pull the reader through, sounds that lead words together rather than jar the reader to a stop.

And part of it is voice. The paragraph you picked slips into a voice that's almost like dialogue. Cuts it down to the simplest level. It creates a certain sound, I think, a sort of vocal familiarity that helps pull the reader through the paragraph. The prose is almost a character there.

There's a bit of risk, of course. The casualness of cutting in with "Drapes, a good colour scheme"... well, it's a bit sharp. You might lose someone in that transition. So I always look for clarity. One of the biggest things about sentence fragments is the transition into and out of them. Often it's not the sentence fragment itself that's the problem, but how it's juxtaposed against the prior or following sentence. In context it can be jarring or confusing.

Hope that helps a bit! If you want me to jabber on further, let me know. :)

Off to clean up tornado debris. It's been an interesting weekend!

I do not really revise. I improvise.

I was inspired to dream up new and creative ways to seriously publicize my project. I am 63, and time is of the essence.

I printed out a handful of cartoons and rode the subways. I handed out my cartoons with the blog address attached.

At 59th Street, a group of dudes laughed hysterically. I guess it was the visual of my shtik following the doo wop group... it couldn't be the toons. They are mediocre at best. Maybe it was the twirl I did after I handed out 3 toons. I would cartwheel out that subway door if I could.

Find new ways to pick yourself up and get back in the race.

Six years ago, my husband and I built a house. Hardwood floors. Clean windows. A home we could be proud of.

Now? One leak in the roof. Bugs infiltrating from places we can't find. A window screen is missing.

Perfect? No. Pretty good? Yes. Fixable? You bet your ass.

(Oh yeah, I wrote a book, too :)

Awesome post! It helps to have wonderful critique partners who have the guts to say "I'm not feeling the hot pink color scheme of your guest bedroom."

After tearing down and re-building too many times to count, I think my house is almost ready for company. :)

Mike left an interesting post in my view-

Great post Bryan
I would like to digress from the theme and ask you a few questions about how you structure paragraphs. You use sentence fragments very effectively. I love the way the paragraphs flow and much of that has to do with how you break the rules.

We paint over poor choices and design flaws, whitewash those plotholes. We spruce it up. Drapes, a good color scheme. A nice polish on the hardwood floor. Clean windows. Who doesn’t like a good view?

The above paragraph is structured in a very creative and non-standard way. As a reader, I’m willing to overlook the deviations and embrace the emotional connection and flow that come at the expense of grammatical rules.

Do you have any advice on how aspiring authors can break the rules, like you have, and not immediately arouse the rejection reflex of agents and publishers? How can I understand your reasons so that I may utilize them?

I assume that this takes years of practice and knowing the rules so well that it is like a career criminal who never does hard time caught.

Thanks Bryan:

I’m sure you already understand that it’s hard to develop a voice. Sometimes I think that I am falling into the paint-by-numbers method of writing, following a strict set of rules, and as a result I sound like everybody else. If I don’t write that way my work will never make it out of the slush pile.

Is your style of pacing (working the edges of the grammatical plate) something you grew into once you were published, perhaps with the guidance of an agent or editor, or was it in place when you made your first submission? If so, how was your work initially received?

Do you feel the fragmentary style is more appropriate for certain types of work?

I'm revising my fiction novel right now, so I appreciate the timeliness of your post, Bryan (INK). I'm on the third draft and things are going well.

I like the idea of the novel as a house, but I tend to think of my novel as a road map from here to there. Each chapter takes me further down the road.

Revision is necessary for most of us, so I do it.

Beautifully written! I love the analogies. Cheers!

Definitely!

And what might be...

I feel that. Sometimes you get so caught up in the possibilities, you don't have time to make any of them reality. And what a shame that would be, because noone else can see the fantastic house you've built in your mind.

Mike,

Part of the equation is what Children's Champ said. If you study and write enough the rules are all internalized and you stop thinking about them so much. That knowledge becomes sort of like a springboard for you to jump off.

It's a bit like learning any difficult skill, really, or even a sport. Repetition, repetition, repetition... becomes muscle memory and ingrained knowledge. When you first start playing you're slow, because you try to think through everything. Play long enough, though, and you stop thinking and simply react. Instinct takes over. Except it's not really instinct, but simply that your brain is processing a complex set of equations very quickly, so quickly that it seems almost a subconscious process. Writing's not really that different. The voice comes out. Maybe it only emerges in bits and pieces at first, but it's there.

And style shapes this. The fragmentary voice is useful for some things, less useful for others. Mastering different styles allows you to shape your voice, to bend it to different needs. Cormac McCarthy, for example, has changed his style over the course of his writing career. His early work is full of long sentences and dense descriptive writing. His later stuff is abrupt, cut short, sawn off at the ends. And yet there is a haunting uniqueness to his rhythms and word choice that shows through, that is uniquely his.

For me, it's been a matter of reading and writing and studying. And, of course, good critique, from all sorts of sources. The style is variable... and yet hopefully there is something in my voice that is uniquely me. Oddly, one of the things that helped most was learning to emulate other writers. I studied a number of writers and would write stories in their style. Not so much fan fiction... the characters, events, ideas and themes were all original. But I'd write them out of other writers styles. It made me hyper-conscious of rhythm, of how different writers put together sentences. It's a study of flow.

And you can't do just one. That will limit you. Study a bunch, though, and absorb them... and they become the rich soil for your own voice. That's what I've found. And the same goes for reading. You need rich soil, and reading good books is like pouring in nutrients.

And just keeping my ears open, too. I had someone point out a writerly tic of mine recently that had escaped dozens of crit partners and workshop groups. But there it was.

The best thing about writing is that there is no end. The road goes ever on and on, as Tolkien once wrote.

But I can't get rid of the albino raccoon. HE'S THE SECRET BEHIND ALL OF IT!

Holy crap, this was a good post. Well done, Bryan. Well done.

Excellent advice Bryan. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions so thoroughly.

Bryan--beautiful and true.

Thanks.

Living in a house under construction and up to my elbows in revisions. There is NO escape.

Very well done. Thanks, Bryan.

Marjorie,
Improvise, eh? Sounds like a former 6th Grade teacher to me!
And I love your cartoons. Nice reference to Old Blue Eyes, too.

awwwwwww, thanks swampfox! That was very kind of you to post. Your words helped me find my smile tonight.

I love the concept of "re-vision." I just put the last coat of paint on a major story remodel today, and I can testify that this is exactly what happens. Sometimes during the messy parts it's hard to see exactly what you're doing to the story--I imagine it's like standing in the middle of the kitchen right after the cabinets have been torn out and your family wants to know what's for dinner. However, when the last nail is in place and everything sparkles... well, there's really no better feeling in the world.

I've scooted over to your blog from here a few times. The main comment I could make is the old folk-writers injunction "No one should write a book until at least the age of forty." Saved your exposition: The story as a house, to a reread folder in key-style docs; well done.

I measured this out to not run long it is in a similar vain but more laser like between executioner and victim.

Temple Of Five Bridges.
Youthful Time Travel Master to Client.

“Pardon this indulgence it’s the standard echoes eternally blown around in my mind concerning artistic endeavors... Small talk if you will.
Steele was not unused to Mr. Eights breaking into a long rambling spontaneous soliloquy; but would have cut the monologue
short under other circumstances if he was not in dire need.
Steele lowered his shoulders extending his hands as if holding a loaf of bread by its outer ends to avoid the heat of the center.

“Nothing really exists except stories and descriptions. Take money for example and all the problems the world is usually experiencing over the money storyline. What is money?
Money is a promise.
What is a promise?
A promise is a trust.
What is a trust?
A trust is an agreement.”
Stephan tapped on a leather bound copy of “Paradise Lost” on the shelf drawing a curious glance from Pierce scanning the
entire shelf.
“...What is an agreement?
An agreement is a negotiation.
What is a negotiation?
A negotiation is a discussion.
What is a discussion?
A series of descriptions.
What is a series of descriptions?
A story.
What is a story?
Money is a story.
Why can it be said in the form of rhetorical questions that money is story without engaging in an act of pedantic pedagogy?”
The small albino boy drew his long white hair into a pony tail using a leather string he withdrew from his pocket; tying it off and allowing the improvised snow white lash to fall under
his denim jacket’s collar between the coat and shirt.
Steele growing impatient with Eight’s recitation of an obviously memorized sequence of information noticed the movement over his left shoulder in the direction of the bookcase on his side of the fireplace.
“...Money doesn't really exist. It is a promise of trust, in an agreement negotiated through a discussion of descriptions, in a series of ongoing stories. What does it all mean and imply?
Trust is the only thing that’s real.
Everything else is an artifact of perception.
Trust is an act of will, an act of volition.
Trust is a form of momentum that competes with other forms of momentum. A lot of things can be said about trust.
So I'll leave off there.”
Wondering if Eight was finished with his dissertation on the ever difficult conundrum of exchange rates between players,
based on their own level of personal integrity, he moved to lean forward to take a sip of water from a glass he had poured during the main body of his colleagues over indulgence in long winded
verbose wordiness. His forward progress deterred by a soft cord.

At what point though, does revision become distraction from declaring, "I have, at this point, completed something"?

Would it be better if you had an architect and a concrete vision of what you want your house to be so that you won't end up breaking the whole thing and wasting so much time? I guess that's the importance of planning first on what you really want to convey in your story rather than just randomly write.

That was neat; I enjoyed reading that.

And inspiration has struck: Reed N. Lurk's next masterpiece will be titled Architect Space Monkeys Meet the Albino Raccoon.

:D

I Love this metaphor-- albino blind raccoon and all!

Thanks!

I really need to learn to stop listening to all those ghosts. They beg and threaten to be put back into the story because, after-all, I put so much time into them.

I hope this isn't what all those reviewers mean when they say certain books are "hauntingly beautiful."

Wow, the author certainly got some mileage out of that metaphor. Some might call that beating a dead horse. Other than to demonstrate the author's cleverness, what is the purpose of this post? To show that writers revise things? Good call!

Bryan, you always have the best metaphors. This was exquisite. Thanks for guest posting.

........dhole

I'm a building inspector that happens to write. This metaphor kicks some serious writerly butt! Althought the topic is a familiar one, it presents a fresh perspective on how to renovate a story and has given me a definite direction for revamps.

Great comparison, especially considering how much DIY work is done in our house. Plus the fact that I find myself doing these things constantly.

Well said.Thank you for expressing what I feel and couldn't.

Damn, that boy can write!

I had a flashback to ten years ago when we were building the house I'm sitting in right now and that one window upstairs that we had to tear out and rebuild three times. Sort of like some of my WIP.

Thanks, Nathan and Bryan.

man, you promote this guy more than your own clients, dude.

Good analogy. Thanks.

Great blog, Bryan! I love the way you use metaphors to get your point across. Very inspirational!

You might as well give up on your career, Bransford. You will never make it. Cutting your losses is not the same thing as admitting you are a loser. You are a failure, yes, but not a loser. I am trying to help you by telling you this before it is too late.

Looks like somebody's been drinking...

My god, we get it. Enough with the metaphor. Very self-indulgent.

Very Diane Chambers.

So THAT'S what that big white 'cat' in my broom closet really is!

This is absolutely marvelous.

Going back to my revisions now ...

I recently had to tear down the walls of my story and rebuild them. Then those walls looked so good (chapters 1 and 2) that the rest of the house looked old and dingy and now I'm having to go through and clean the whole thing, repaint, tear down some more walls (cut out a chapter here, delete a character there).

When I first started writing the book, it was just fun to get my ideas on paper. Had I known then how much work it would be, I doubt I would have kept going.

Too bad I can't just hire a contractor to come in and do the remodeling for me. :)

-Natalie

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This is so funny! Not the post; it's lovely. But I've often thought of the process of novel-writing as building a house, and when I read other peoples' work, that's how I've approached the critique as well. This window's too small, you need more light here.

But please do keep the albino raccoon!

Great post. Thank you so much. You sound a lot like how I write...when I'm writing which I've fallen back quite a bit. Thank you for the encouragement, intended or not. Good luck!

Non-Gendered Balls would be a great band name.

Thanks for the post and the inspiration! I'm looking forward to reading your book.

Wonderful post from a wonderfully kind writer.

A heartfelt thanks from a fellow pantser. Now if I can just attract the attention of a sympatico agent. . . Oh well, time to gather up my non-gendered balls and get back to the old WIP. Thanks again and good luck with the book.

Great post, Lisa. And boy I hear you on revisions. :)

Really looking forward to my copy arriving so I can crack it open.

My best, as always,
Bryan

What a fabulous post. Thank you.

I can see why you and Nathan would make a great fit.

Best of luck in this launch!

Amazing post. I am so printing this out. I am so glad to know that I'm not the only one who feels that way about outlines.

I have to find out where the story is going, that's why I am compelled to write it.

"(it wouldn’t be nice, unless you too are a fan of sleep-deprivation, panic and caffeine)."

Sadly not a fan exactly but it is the life I live.

Thank you so much for the encouragement, Ms. Brackmann. Wishing you every success now and in future- sounds like you've certainly earned it with all the work you've put in!

Thanks, Lisa and Nathan! Great post! I need to hear, "Be patient" regularly, I think...

I rushed through my first revisions of my first novel, and discovered (by a editor's help) how much more work I need to do on it. At present, I am taking it slow and making every page and almost every word count. I am taking Bardbury's advice on making each story I write as good as I can make it before going on to another one.

I'm buying this book.

Congratulations and thank you! It's so refreshing to hear stories and encouragement like this. Writing is one of the most amazing things I've experienced, but it's not an easy process because it's not supposed to be. Thanks again! Great timing for me as well.

-Melinda

Morning!

It's still morning, isn't it?

Thanks for all of your kind words.

I'm drinking coffee now.

Brilliant post, Lisa. I see a lot of my method in yours--integrating sometimes disparate curiosities into a cohesive, fictional narrative being a big one--and it was great to read that back.

Congratulations on your success and long may it continue.

Dig into the places in yourself that hurt the most and see what you find. Sometimes that’s where your book is hiding. - great line!

Thanks for your insight!

Excellent post Lisa! I actually just finished revisions and turned them in to an agent. I hope I'm as fortunate as you were. Nathan is an awesome agent! You are very lucky to have him. Can't wait to read RPT.

Well, your writing schedule and habits sure sound like mine. (Coffee addict? Check. Sleep-deprived? Check. Wine? Check. Check. Check the whole list, really). The only difference is that I do plot and outline... and it lasts until about halfway through the book, ha!

Thanks for the advice and for the insight. Patience is a hard quality to master.

I'm doing a little better on the sleep-deprivation thing -- the upside of not working a day job is that I'm finally getting enough sleep!

The caffeine remains however. I left out the part about my crazy coffee-making process with a burr grinder and a Chemex.

Great advice on being patient. I think that is key. I'm often tempted to rush through my revisions, but ultimately I find it's far more productive to take a step back once in a while and make sure they're done right.

Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us! :D

Lisa,

Great post and I'm glad all your sacrifices have paid off.

Also,

Loved the nod to Rankin. Best of luck!

Lisa,

I really hear you and get what you’re saying on so many levels. I’m also a news junkie (I originally went to college to study journalism, and sometimes still wonder if I should have followed up on that), a pantser kind of writer who doesn’t create very good outlines, I drink far too much coffee and spend huge numbers of hours on the computer when I’m writing, but absolutely love the process of writing despite the long hours and back-breaking labor of it. I also agree that it’s wonderful to work with professionals who understand and enjoy your vision for your own book but are able to offer editorial suggestions that will make it better – that type of experience is awesome.

I love ROCK PAPER TIGER, and always appreciate how much I learn through your Twitter tweets about news stories. May you sell millions of copies of ROCK PAPER TIGER!

Lisa, thanks for the reality check! Glad your hard work paid off for you. Congrats!

I just want to know where I can buy the version with the airships in it :-)

Lisa, you know exactly how timely this post is for me, especially the part about things not always being in one's control.

I am in agreement that Non Gendered Balls would make an awesome band name...

I enjoyed this post. I have a different process for each book I write. Sometimes there's an outline, and sometimes I wing it. but I usually prefer to wing it.

Can't wait to read RPT. Hope you sell, knock wood, tons of copies.

I once wrote an entire half-season of a TV series -- for fun, mind you -- in which airships are heavily featured. Sort of cheerful post-collapse. Needs work, but one of these days...

That's another thing I would have put in this post if I'd thought about it. Not everything you write has to be with the intention of selling it. Writing for fun is a great way to learn and get your chops up, and also it's not so inhibiting as when you are writing to sell. You know, no one has to see it but you.

Thank you. Thank you SO MUCH for those last 2 paragraphs. (And for confirming that my 10p-1a lifestyle is not crazy. Or at least not alone in its craziness.) Those last 2 paragraphs in particular are what I needed to hear right now. I've got a publisher interested in my book, but they want revisions, and I want to give them my ideas yesterday, but the truth is, I need more time to fully develop them. And I worry that they'll lose interest in me while I am working and not in their face. But you're right: Quality results matter more than lightning-quick turnaround.

Want my copy NOW. What was that you said about patience? LOL Wow, it's comforting to hear a successful writer talk about the same things I've done - China, research, pantsing and all. And yes, Ted, the names are a challenge, aren't they? ;D Lisa, thank you so much for sharing and I look forward to reading the book.

Er, patience doesn't apply when it comes to buying my book. By all means, go out there and hunt it down today! ;)

Lisa, I've sat on the sidelines and watched your creative process, sat up late at night reading emails from your cranky, stressed out self, and still am in awe of what a consumate artist you are. And you know, I wish you could have had the airships as well!

That said, Rock Paper Tiger is one of the most amazing, breathtaking books I've had the privilege of reading in years. It flat out blew me away. And Nathan is awesom for having recognized that and pointing out the places you could hone it to an even finer edge!

With all my heart, wishing you spectacular success with Rock Paper Tiger, and I can hardly wait to see what you have up your sleeve next!

And really, you should share more about the airships...

That was a great post! No wonder you got published! I like how you didn't talk about your book all that much, but your writing and honesty made me want to read it all the same...

Hi, Lisa! Insightful post. Still chortling about the non-gendered balls comment. I'm glad I was privileged enough to witness your rewrite process from the wings. It did a lot to prod me in the right (write) direction. This stuff is hard work.

I just finished the revisions on my second published novel. Sorta. I discovered last night that I need to do some work in the tension department. I think if I'm nodding off while line-editing a scene, that's a clue that it's lacking in tension, don't you think? :-) Or maybe I had not consumed enough caffiene before attempting the fifty-third-give-or-take reread of the manuscript. I'm not sure, but I think it's the former. So it's back into the revision process to tighten this scene ending (did I mention I thought I was done?). Sometimes I don't think revisions would ever end if not for deadlines. I keep finding ways to better the manuscript even after it's "done" and that's good for the book, I suppose, but not so good for my sanity.

Best of luck with Rock Paper Tiger, Lisa. I'm definitely enjoying my much coveted, autographed, hardcover copy. Yes, I admit it, I'm bragging a bit about the autograph.

Lisa, just wanted to say that you said exactly what I needed to hear in that last paragraph. Thanks so much for posting how you work!

Wonderful post-- thank you!

Inspiring post! Thoughtful and helpful advice. Thanks.

Oh my gosh, this post was wonderful. Thanks for doing this Lisa and Nathan! It's really helpful to hear about others' writing process, especially when they've made it.

I can't wait to read Rock Paper Tiger, by the way. Sounds like my kind of book.

Your generosity and professionalism are evident in the tone of your writing process delineation. It is work. Write hard, write long, and write often. Sounds like something a wombat might say.

Best of luck with sales.

Very intelligent post. Patience is a writer's worst enemy, but it can be overcome.

Impatience, I mean. xD

Thanks for this post. Congrats and much luck with the sales!

Awesome post, Lisa--and I so love the support for pantsers, er, us organic writing folks. :D It gives me hope for my WIP, which I really, really wanted to outline, but just couldn't for the life of me.

(P.S. Just started your book and 'tis awesome. Boo that I'm missing out on our meeting next weekend! :(

It's encouraging to read about other people who ditch the outline. And I'm comforted to know that published authors don't sit at a desk and whip out a perfect manuscript on the first or even second attempt.

Thanks for the insightful comments. Good luck on this and future books!

Thanks for the insightful comments. Good luck on this and future books!

Good post Lisa!

Having read Rock Paper Tiger already I can say that your process worked!!! Fantastic book.

Lisa, thanks for such an inspiring post! I'm also not an outliner and have no idea where I'm going until I get there, but that's part of the fun of writing for me. I can't wait to read your book - congrats!

Airships!

Best you go look at Scott Westerfield's new title. The book trailer is brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYiw5vkQFPw&feature=player_embedded

My thesis is to enjoy the process, voyage, expedition, excursion, crossing, passage and much more. Thanks for spilling your compelling journey into this blog.

Thank you for your post, it made me feel better about where I am with my writing. I pray you have tons of success with your book, and many more books to come.

I've said this to you before, Lisa, but I take perverse comfort in the fact your process and revisions took so long because I can see how well they turned out for you.

Oh! And count me as another who snorted at the non-gendered balls. This is a lovely post and the balls the...er, icing on the cake.

Lisa, what an illuminating peek into the writing process, at least from your point of view. I found it very useful.

I've read RPT and thoroughly enjoyed it, so all those things you talked about revising clearly went well.

Good luck on the book circuit.

Yay, Lisa, and congratulations! I'm glad that you're hard work is paying off. Thanks so much for posting, as well. Your insights are inspirational.

I use place extensively too, and I am a journalist, so I can identify with that, if not with China so much. Getting good professional advice that makes sense in accordance with your vision for the story is key. I've done that too as to tone and length. It's made both of my books much better by knowing what to avoid and what to explore in more depth. Also I learned that to call something a thriller one must give equal time, or something resembling it, to the villain. Spanning genres makes a tough sale.

Taking on hot social issues in fiction can be polarizing for some readers, and agents, but with the right agent and publishing house it can work as it has in Lisa's case.

Lisa, what great encouragement for us. Thanks for the insights and the details of your writing process.

Just got my copy of Rock, Paper, Tiger today and I plan to dive in as soon as I post this. Good luck and have many, many sales.

Beth

Thanks for this wonderful post. We hear/read so much advice from well established writers - it is truly inspiring to have these words of wisdom from someone just launching into orbit! Thank you!

Lisa, wonderful post. I've heard you say some of this before, but loved hearing more on the specifics of how you ended up with the final version of RPT. You continue to be an inspiration to all of the writing wombats.

James

Good post. Great book! I hope you find a way of getting airships into your next book.

A description of the writing process with which I can unequivocally identify, Lisa, though my sins extend also to beer in large quantities and the chain smoking of fat cigars. Whatever it takes. Well done for making it through the wringer.

You comment on changes that Nathan suggested and with which you complied in a re-write (or at the least heavy edit). I presume you believe 'RPT' benefited, I hope in the artistic as well as commercial sense.

When thinking about 'queries, editing, what's commercial enough to get through the mangle', I often ponder on Malcolm Lowry's experience trying to publish 'Under the Volcano'. After many years, he finally got a bite from Jonathan Cape, who, however 'suggested' major changes, such as reducing the number of chapters from 12 to six amongst other modest demands.

In response, Lowry wearily composed a 20,000 word rebuttal, explaining the architecture of his novel and why this would be destroyed if he even began to comply with anything that had been asked of him. Basically, he ended the correspondence by saying, very politely, of course, 'I sent you guys a novel. Do you want to publish it, or do you not.'

A mild account of this exchange in Lowry's own words appeared in a preface to first the French edition of the novel.
http://home.istar.ca/~stewart/Preface.htm

The clash between artistic integrity and commercial realism began to take off several decades ago, when publishers began (were forced?) to focus less on the literary merit of the material, in an absolute sense, and more and more on what the reading public would readily buy --- certainly not 'Under the Volcano', which in spite of its high ranking amongst the finest novels of the 20th century, is hard going for many readers and would not enable the publishing house to meet its quota for the quarter.

I'm glad you, Lisa, were able to find an Agent whose guidance was aligned with your own thinking about what you were trying to achieve. No compromise needed. I'd say you were lucky if it did not seem to me from your piece that you made your own luck.

Congratulations!

Yoss

Lisa,
The hours between 11-2am are the creative hours. Your post was great. Can't wait to read your book. Xie Xie. =D LOL

oh my goodness i was SO excited to read this! not to be all like 'we are SO much alike', but the way you spoke of just writing to see how it ended - that's pretty much how i write. no outline, just write what comes to me. i loved this post and can't wait to getthe book! thanks for sharing :)

Lisa - terrific post. I loved what you had to say about staying with your vision. And your last two paragraphs are very wise and totally on target about the creative process, imho. I personally really appreciate them - thank you.

That's so cool to hear about how you wrote your action book and maintained the suspense - the fact that you're a skilled writer came through partly in what you said - and partly in the fact that this is an interesting post, and kept me reading from start to finish. It takes some skill to make a post about the writing process both interesting and insightful and you pulled it off. :)

Best of luck - not just for this book, but for your career. May it be long, fruitful, fulfilling and successful.

Great post! I've read Rock Paper Tiger, and it's AWESOME -- so it's pretty interesting to see what went on behind the scenes to craft the book.

Great post Nathan. I love this one. I'm probably going to read it many times...

I'll have to buy this book too. I looked for it in Chapters today, but no luck... either it's not out in Canada yet, or it was sold out :P

Thanks for your insightful comments.

I'm really looking forward to reading RPT!

Thank you so much for this, Lisa (and Nathan), particularly for those last two paragraphs. I'm working on Draft #3 and getting to that point where I'm not sure if what I'm doing is actually making the work worse or better. I also have the problem of the work fitting into multiple genres, and am trying to think about that while redrafting. But those last two paragraphs really helped, because I've been getting down on myself for not being further along.

Thanks.

Hey, everyone, thanks for your lovely comments!

I did write the book I wanted to write, and the revisions were a part of that process -- I never felt like I was compromising my vision; it was a case of more fully realizing it.

Take care, all of you, and enjoy your writing journeys. And thanks for reading the book!

Great advice, thank you for sharing, Lisa. The writing trials and tribulations of an emerging author are usually unknown or ignored once their book finds success. Writing is a lonely business up to the point of 'confirmation' by way of publishing. It takes stamina, faith, a willingness to view one's work critically and a great love of the craft itself.

Can't wait to see ROCK PAPER TIGER in my book store!

Waw, thank you so much Lisa. I recognize many working points; the multiple genres in one, the writing without a clear outline... and your panic while creating new worlds on paper. I appreciate your willingness to share valuable advice with others and I can't wait to read your Rock Paper Tiger book here in Aruba - I will wait patiently for it to arrive, as I write to achieve my writing goals. Sunny regards!

Thanks for this post! The part about being patient is a good reminder for me. I hate it when I just have to let the ideas marinate for a while - I know the marinating is good, but not typing every day really makes me feel guilty, as if no new words = no progress.

I especially liked that last paragraph about digging deep in yourself. It's hard to get so personal, but sometimes memories serve to make a story more meaningful.

how do you do that

how do you do that

Lisa, you have sufficiently slapped my undedicated hand. I have pulled my WIP back out. Thank you.

Lisa, I always knew you would get this novel published. I never had the slightest doubt about it. Your writing is unique, as you are. Your guardian angel gave you Mr. Bransford, whose talent, insight, and generosity are rare in today's environment. You both deserve great success.

Janeen, love the idea of a picture book as a poem. These posts are so inspiring aren&#39;t they? Thanks for sharing and thanks for setting up the blog posts Sally. A great way to celebrate Toppling.<br /><br />Lorraine

Janeen, loved the sensory images of those poems you&#39;ve shared with us. And thank you for the hints! Very inspiring blog. :)

Thanks to you both - good friends and writers, Lorraine and Sheryl. Like you, I am loving reading the blogs and gaining more wisdom, while at the same time, celebrating a new birth with Toppling.

Ah, what a tribute! Sounds like a really interesting man. Think of how much we can learn from someone so talented and experienced. I wish his family all the best as they learn to live with the loss.

This is a very touching tribute. The last line was moving. :)

It's interesting to hear the perspective of an agent working with a well-known, respected author. It's a different viewpoint.

Thanks for sharing your experience, Mitchell. I'm sorry for the loss of a great author.

Very nice post. I've heard a few stories about him coming here, to where I live, in Bucks County, PA, with people like Moss Hart and Kitty Carlisle, along with a lot of the old guard who used to mingle with the theater crowd at the Bucks County Playhouse on weekends. But I didn't know he'd written that many books.

Good for you, Nathan, on convincing him to write that memoir. So much intimate history is lost when men and women like this leave us.

For years, I tried to convince an older gentleman on my street to at least record his memories of riding with Pershing. This man had witnessed the truck and auto replace the horse and mule first hand, but he is gone now, and so is his story.

I suppose I should have paid a bit better attention to the "Guest Blog" headline.

The sentiments remain the same.

What a lovely post, and I'm completely with Mira in finding the last line particularly moving...

As we continue to lose those venerable writers from the publishing stables, let's hope the vacancies are filled with new writers with the same strong principles and abilities. Imagine -- no editing needed on his books.

This posting makes me want to read his memoir to hear that old voice from New York. Thanks, Mitchell, for letting us see the person behind the name.

Of course, I've heard the name but can't say for sure I've ever read anything he wrote but the description of that library!!! Ah, one can only dream. Great post.

That was beautiful and moving. It feels like we lose a piece of ourselves when someone with such influence in our lives passes suddenly.

I think a library is a writer's sanctuary in all senses of the word. Thanks for letting us visit his along with you.

A wonderful tribute.

A wonderful library, too.

I miss...San Miguel..!

A beautiful tribute to Louis Auchincloss, and a wonderful blog post about the precious nature of books.

This is a wonderful post. Thank you so much.

Oh jeeze, thanks for dropping the bombshell at the end. I was so excited to hear about this man! I guess I will have to buy his memoir.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Thank you for the post and I wish his loved ones the best.

WTG Mitchell. Judith W is so right...you should write more.

Touching tribute. I'm glad you guys convinced him to write his memoirs. I look forward to them.

My sympathies to his family and to you. Nice post. Come again, please.

This is a beautiful tribute, Mitchell, steeped in affection for Auchincloss and for the books you both loved. The final line made me tear up.

This is an elegant and evocative tribute worthy of its legendary subject, and wonderfully human, in the way that Louis's vast library was a living organism rather than a museum piece. Mitchell, you are a gracious link to the old writer. You served him well when he was alive and continue to do so.

Beautiful piece.

Thanks for a bittersweet peek at such a legendary writer, Mr. Waters

You seem to understand how blessed you were.

Thank you for sharing it.

Beautiful tribute.

Wonderful. Looking forward to the memoir.

What a lovely tribute to both author and agent! Thanks for sharing this with us, Mitchell.

Nice tribute to a fascinating man. I especially liked your ending. Cute. Thanks for subbing, Mitchell.

Thank you so much for sharing this.

Wow. This is such a beautiful post. Thanks to Mitchell for sharing it, and thanks to you Nathan for asking him to. And sorry for the loss. I've often wondered how much agents grieve their authors--it seems that if they worked together a long time, it WOULD be a great personal loss as well as a professional one.

Thank you, Thank you, thank you for sharing your experiences with this grand old Gent.
A friend happened to walze into Auchincloss' memorial service uptown and was astounded at all the notables present.
I will be looking out for this biography.

Thanks for this, Mitchell. As Mira said, this is a very touching tribute. And I can only hope that some of the writers who visit Nathan's blog will have such an equally amazing legacy to leave behind.

Wow! That was beautiful and sad and yet not sad. Thank you.

Best post EVER. (Sorry Nathan). :-)

Great post.

"8) Funny, nobody mentioned sex,"

Excellent point.

Great read! It's good to know someone loves my writing! Off to edit! :)

Oh, and sex is on every list implicitly. Noone HAS to mention it! :)

That would explain the toilet plunger glowering at me this morning.

Sounds like a good theory to me. Guess I should put more potty humor in my manuscripts. :)

This is too funny! Thanks for the great start to a cold, wet Friday.

Lol.

Awesome post, Anne. Funny and clever. You write with a sure touch and a great voice. I remember reading one of your earlier blog submissions to Nathan and loved it, too!

So, there's a bit of an underlying truth here - who knows what agenda our writing really fulfills? Thanks for speaking to that in an amusing way.

Well, okay then. I don't want to let the Tralfamodorians down. Better get writing. :)

Nathan, if you're reading this - really terrific choices this week. Thanks so much!

Of course, it will be nice to have you back next week as well - hopefully feeling refreshed and from all the fun you've had this week.

Thanks Anne - you rock. :)

I love any post with a Vonnegut reference by default, but this was good by its own standards.

Here's my thing: Nobody ever says that a 16 year old football prodigy is insane for spending his time and money on something he'll likely never do again past age 18 (let alone do professionally).

Nobody ever says that a guy who spends his weekends in a woodworking shop behind his house making tables is insane. Nobody calls hunters and fishermans crazy (even though, when you think about it, that's a consuming hobby that costs tons of money).

Writing is a craft, a hobby. It's something one does regardless of a chance at publication. And no one is crazy for indulging in a hobby, or bettering themselves at a craft.

Awesome.

Bring on the Skittles! This Tralfamadorian is getting peckish. I'll be at the opera this afternoon but when I get home I expect to see some dinner on the table.

A Vonnegut reference, hurray! A+ read, would read again.

I like this. It's a humorous take on a concept that's been floating to me repeatedly out of the blogosphere in the past few days - that even when it seems like we're not having an effect, we really are. That when we do what we love, out of love, it always is the right/good thing to do.

Vonnegut knew what he was talking about!

there it is

Ahhh! Montana Wildhack. Er, what were we talking about?

I have suspected this for quite some time, I have just be taunting the Tralfamadorians... Besides, they can afford to wait for the opus, right??? ;)

I agree with Matt McDonald, above. I think calling it a 'hobby' is a bit off putting, but it's true. Passions fall into many levels. I mean, writing isn't currently my Career, but I'd like it to be! And until it is, I guess I am going to have to keep satisfying my current audience...

Did you mean to put up a link to a password-protected site/blog/whatever it is? I really wanted to read about your publishing mistakes, but . . .

How'd YOU know about that restraining order from Tor? Who have you been talking to?
----
So basically, keep on trying so that you'll have no regrets?

I can work with that.

Finally-- a reasonable hypothesis!

I'm putting this on a t-shirt:

"The Tralfamadorians Make Me Write."

Or maybe

"I'm #541 on the Tralfamadore Best Seller's List."

Snort!

Perhaps Vonnegut had a peek into that lofty realm of the Tralfamadorians. Anne, I loved this post.

It falls right in line with my theory of an alternate universe which overlaps this one, which I use to explain those gaps in memory and those times that I say, 'what did I come into this room for?' Switching back and forth can cause time delays, etc.

This is what I call a motivating post. A little humour cures a lot of ills. I'll definitely check out your blog.

Arabella--Thanks for the heads-up!! For some reason the link posted for my blog is corrupted and takes you to some password protected place I don't have a clue about.

Obviously, I want all of you to come over and visit my blog. I've even posted one of my oldies but goodies that got an addendum from Janet Reid, the QueryShark herownself.

Here's the correct link:

http://annerallen.blogspot.com/

I think maybe leaving off that back-slash (my bad, not Nathan's) must have screwed it up.

I'm basking in all your praise, everybody. I seriously love the idea of those T-shirts, Sarah. I might just have to get some printed up.

Matt has a great point. Fishermen aren't considered crazy, even if they don't catch any fish. And hardly anybody can make a living as a fisherman anymore (just ask the poor commercial fisherpersons in nearby Morro Bay.) And yet we fish. And we write. Because we must.

I'm not going to even try to prove it's untrue. You reference my favorite book extensively and I want to believe the Tralfamadorians love my novels. But even if they don't, I do. So as long as one of us compels me to keep writing, it's all good.

I agree that this post is venturing into "best post ever" territory. A+

Nice!

I love you! And I dare anyone to try to prove you wrong. Stick to your theory, I've got your back.

Oh, and if I didn't write the chaos in my head, I WOULD go insane. :) So for me it is survival as well as those Tralfamadorians, but thanks for explaining to me why I just HAD to write the Draguman's history down.

Looooooove this post! Now I finally have a reason for toiling away at my WIP! Yeah!

Excellent!!

I want Tralfamadorian royalties. What's the exchange rate?

Too funny. I'm moving there.

I've never read Vonnegut, but now I think I must.

Looking forward to checking out your blog!

Well, that explains those voices in my head.

Thanks!

Nathan has fixed the link to my blog. For anybody who tried it and got an off-putting password protected thing--the friendliness of my blog has been restored. Do stop by.

Thanks everybody for all the fun comments. I'm looking into the royalty thing, Thermocline.

And CKHB, CONGRATS on your engagement to the Rejectionist. Awesome, indeed.

Hallelujah. Now no writer has an excuse to ever feel crazy again, right?

Thanks, great post.

@Samantha Clark - "put more potty humor in..." cute.

Awesome post :) Thanks for making my day.

When I first read the title I thought it said "You May be a Best Seller on Tramadol".

It sort of makes sense, either way, though, doesn't it? :)

8) Sex...

I thought this was why we were doing it...

Wonderful post! If you have a blog I must follow it!

Put me on the T-shirt list!

I am all out of witticisms so I'll just leave my sincere compliments for a great post.

Thanks for the post. I have been battling the demons all week "Am-I-crazy-for-doing-this-writing-thing?" while continuing to catalog the 15 form rejection slips in a humongous binder on MS 2. Then, I went back to MS 2 and started reading and editing it, once again. I still think it's good and my beta readers are pestering me about reading MS 3 which I finished, but put away feeling the rejection woes from MS 2...

And, all this time, I should have put my faith in Tralfamadores aka beta readers, so there you go! I'm saved. I resurface from the dark depths of despair and realize: writing is the journey for me, not the end game.

I guess I should clarify my editing efforts on MS 2. I ripped out the first fifty pages thinking perhaps, my story started out too slow. I have talked to a few beta readers about cutting a certain character and was contemplating just that, despite major protests from my following.

One does have to ask, who am I doing it for? An agent who can't be bothered to read the work? Or, do I stay with with the Tralfamadores aka my flock who reads my work and shun the rest? I have my answer. Again, thanks for the post.

3 things:

1. I'm totally on board with this theory.

2. Matt McDonald, Thank you!

3. Skittles are fracking addictive! Try to stop shoving them into your mouth by the painful handful (should you buy a bag). You can't!

P.S. Wonderful post!

Aliens ate my WIP.

Now I know what they were.

Tralfamadorians.

Thanks for this post!

(And the neat spaceship!)

Anne,

I’m so glad your entry won! I commented on it in Nathan’s Forums, but thought I’d comment here as well. Vonnegut’s one of my favorite authors. I love your theory about the Tralfamadorians and their need for all the books written today. LOL. That is beyond awesome! Have you ever seen the movie Back to School? It’s a comedy featuring Rodney Dangerfield, but Kurt Vonnegut makes an appearance as himself. The bit about Vonnegut in that movie is hilarious.

Marilyn, thanks for your comment on the forum. My only one. I appreciated it the more for that.

Rodney Dangerfield. Kurt Vonnegut. In a movie. Together!?? Wow. Gotta put that one in my Netflix queue!

Fawn--there's a link to my blog in Nathan's intro. It's now working.

Thanks for taking the time out of your vacation to fix that, Mr. B!

The deolaters have their gods; I have Fred, my invisible friend, who reads everything I write and sometimes doesn't puke.

Hey Anne!

Excellent post as ever. Highly recommend people drop by her blog, she is a great source of advice and knowledge!

Anne- got it, following, hope to see much more of your writing in the future.

I love it!

Now, Anne, if you can just tell me about the folks who are responsible for my chocolate compulsion...

Great Post. I've been following Anne's blog for some time now. It is truly always brilliant and wholly entertaining! Write on!

I have found solace now. My novels don't exist solely in my computer or in a desk drawer. They have a reading public. Wow!

Wonderful post.

Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, and Julia Roberts shouldn't be movie stars, because they should have been sensible enough to know the odds of them becoming movie stars was impossible and done something else.

The reality is we don't live by the percentages; we live our lives. Almost everyone who writes a novel think they will be the exception to the odds, and some of them will be right.

And ultimately, who cares if you're not? Is a life writing novels that don't ultimately sell any worst than what 99% of people do with their lives? Would you be happier if you spent that time watching TV, making a few more dollars, or whatever?

Wonderful post. I'll have to check out your site.

Number 8 is odd. Hmm.

Anonymous 3:50pm is right. According to the Statistical Wisdom of the World nobody should ever dream of starting anything out of the ordinary, much less dare to complete it.

Yes. Oh, yes.

Every single word in this post is brilliant. Well, well, well done.

And nobody ever says that a person who spends the weekends golfing is insane.

I loved this! :D

And THIS is why we love Nathan Bransford.

ROTFLMAO!!!

Hey, I'll mention sex. *LOL*

Hmm. It also explains the voices in my head.

AND it explains why the yahoos with the foil hats never get published on Tralfamadore. *LOL* Their signals out are getting blocked! :)

Thanks, Anne for a great post.

I write because I have to. Because the stories and characters in my heart and imagination MUST be brought to life on the page.

I've come too far to quit. My goals are in sight. We're writers, we create and share our beauty with the world.

Best,
Tambra Kendall/Keelia Greer

So you're upset at Nathan because he hasn't gone after the royalties?

I'm definitely in the "we can't stop ourselves" boat. It's salve on the heart when the words come out right. Am I crazy?

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Great post! I've written 'I don't want to let the Tralfamodorians down' on a post-it and stuck it on the wall above my desk.

i love this post. by far one of my favourites.

There's no such thing as hurrying on Tralfamadore. It already is.

COME ON, ANNIE.

(Nonetheless, the metaphor is charming and appreciated, if inaccurate.)

A lot of people have said a lot of inspiring things to me over the years - don't give up, you never know when things might change, just keep working.

This one may be the winner :D

Will it hurt my chances at publication if I've just used a Tralfamadorian to unstop my toilet?

Just for the record, this Tralfamadorian is not a toilet plunger. I'm a back scrubber with one of those poufy things on the end of it.

Hey great post. Funny, especially the restraining order part. Now I have a "true" reason to write. Tralfammadore is waiting.(:

LOVE this post...and not just because I'm a slavish, adoring devourer (is that a word? should be...) of all things Vonnegut.
Thanks. I knew there was a reason I did this. Could never quite put my finger on it, though.

Nathan and all the Nathanites, THANK YOU!!

Being blog goddess for a day has been such an amazing experience. I'm basking in all these appreciative comments. And to the new followers who have come over to my blog--welcome!

And isn't it nice we haven't heard a peep from any anonymous trolls? Maybe the Tralfamadorians have activated the anti-troll shields to make sure we get the word out: get back to your brilliant WIPs, folks. Tralfamadore is waiting!

It's as good a delusion as any I've heard and provides justification for continuing to embrace this sometimes-mind-numbing pursuit called writing.

Great post, thanks!

That explains EVERYTHING. See, deep down I always suspected it went something like that.

I blame Vonnegut. Had he not written about Trafalmadore, the Trafalmadorians would not have won multidimensinal eternal rights over Earthlings' unpublishables. Their terms of sale suk!

Very helpful. Now I know I'm not so insane as to understand what this post is about. Thank you. Thank you.

Rich

"Theere's aaaaaaa place for us...somewhere a plaaaaace for us..."

Sing with me, everyone!

Excellent post--
Kristi

Great post, Anne! Your list is perfect and hilarious, and so is this post. I wonder if Trafalmadorians have all the rights to my stories or if any revert to me at some point in the foreseeable future...

I agree with Emily, your blog is a source of great advice and wisdom. Everyone should check it out :)

Also agreed that fishing seems like a such an unobjectionable pastime, even for the fishermen who come home empty-handed. Hmm, what if I take up "fishing" and go to a lake every weekend, but secretly bring my laptop instead of fishing gear? It could work!

I love it!

Thank you!

Just think, if we were Tralfamadorians, we'd already be published.

So it goes.

Fantastic post!

I'm a fan of #8

Anne,
I found this post conspicuously timely (if I were crazy in the schizophrenic sense). Let me start by saying thank you, so you know to read the rest of the comment to understand that it is in this vein.

I originally came across Nathan's site by googling some variation of "Vonnegut" and "literary." I was searching for inspiration after being rejected by an agent for being too literary in my partial submission. Apparently, I was suffering from what I didn't know at the time to be the "Am I crazies." One of the first entries took me to his October 29 post where he defended the importance of literary fiction in a marketability-sensitive publishing world. If you recall, this was the post that directly followed the one where he, first, outright bashed literary writing. In the comments some of Nathan's supporters had been discussing Vonnegut, which got me reading his blog. As I'm sure you feel the same way, his blog has been very helpful in not only learning how to effectively query but stave off the "Am I crazies" (a biweekly issue).

I just went back to that post and noticed you were one of the commenters that day. Just last week, I finally queried Nathan and thanked him for his guidance but I now realize that I owe you a thank you too. Your comments revived my confidence at one of my lowest moments. I thank you sincerely.

Michael, it means so much to know I cheered a fellow writer. I go through the "Am I Crazies" at least bi-weekly myself. I'll have to go back and see what that comment was. Maybe it was the reminder that Vonnegut was published as "pulp sci-fi," and not considered "literary" until he'd been writing for many decades. And as pulp sci-fi, he wasn't that successful.

You may never be James Patterson Inc., but if you keep knocking on stubborn doors, maybe you'll be the next Vonnegut. Sounds like a better deal to me.

Anne,
Great memory. That is exactly right. Just curious, do you read Haruki Murakami? What other authors do you like?

I gave a writing talk to a seventh grade class last week Friday. One of the questions was why read a book when you can watch a movie. Luckily, I had with me the original Treasure Island novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. I held the book up in the air and explained that it had been published ninety-nine years ago. I could pick it up at the moment of my choosing and dive directly into the author’s thoughts. “Writing is timeless,” I said. I also went on to explain that when you watch a movie you may see for example shot of a man walking down a dirt road toward the sunrise. You are watching it as an observer but you cannot live it. In a book you know that the stones are sharp against his bare feet. The morning sun is blinding him and with weary legs the character trudges forward as a bead of sweat slides down his cheek.

I asked them if they had ever heard anyone say that the book was better than the movie. Almost everyone in class raised their hands. I said how is this possible? They spend hundreds of million dollars to create the move…how can the book be better? They looked at me blankly. “Because when you read a book you can get right into the body and thoughts of the main character, you can live it.” I received smiles and nods and got the warm feeling that they understood.

What you write will out live you.

Point is we are not crazy...

Stricklen- Nice story and well put to the class. I'm not sure about the "not crazy." :)

Point taken. Writing a query over and over makes me crazy.

Nathan,
This post is right up there with my favorites, and why I continue to read your blogs & Tweets.
Keep up the madness.

Thank you for the kind words, especially the ones about my old gran - who, as you probably guessed, had a heart of gold and a right hook like a sledgehammer :)

But I'm invisible, but I've never been a success at anything, but I have no connections, but I . . .

Oh, just shut up, already! You're absolutely right. I'll use no more buts, unless it's mine firmly planted in my chair in front of my desk.

Great one!! This one stood out to me when I read through them all. :)

I think my biggest 'but' has been, "but I'm not good enough." I've loved to write forever, but I was so scared to...well...suck.

The came the day when I decided to say screw it and write for me. I've never felt so fulfilled!

Great post and so true. My biggest "but" is "But I don't have time" or "But I have a headache."

Another great guest post.

My biggest but that I had to overcome? But what if I succeed.

For me, success means change. Failure is more of an internal struggle, whereas success is external (generally speaking). It can change your path in an instant and take over your life.

But... I got over it. :)

The main but I put behind me was the fact that I didnt think little ole me could be published. I know this is wrong. You dont need a degree to be published or to just write. I have been writing my whole life and figured it was just something I love to do but I know now that putting my mind to it...I will be a published someday...Words are just words until you put them on paper...and then they are magic.

You're right, Sherry.

'But I'm not worthy' is a tough one. I used to have a problem with it too, until I realised plenty of other folks who do get published, probably aren't worthy either :)

But I’m self-published.

But I’m too old (52).

But next week I have two preview dates of my one-woman show, D Words: The Funny Side of Dating, Divorce and Other Delights, based on my book Bastard Husband: A Love Story. The show will begin its regular Wednesday through Saturday run just a stone’s throw from the Las Vegas Strip on 2/17. Who knows—it could open and close the same week.

But at least I got this far.

Mine are "but I have another career", "but how am I different than the other ten gazillion aspiring writers"... doesn't disrupt the writing, but does lead to submission failure.

Great post. My "but" is often too big. Something I need to work on:)

Fabulous post! My biggest "but" is finding the time to query an agent. Or more correctly an agent I want to work with. I'm picky and maybe that's my fatal flaw in this business. But I always seem to be able to find time to write:)

Here's mine. "It's a great story, BUT it will never be good enough."

Loved this post! I hope you don't mind that I posted an snip of it on my blog (giving credit and posting links back here and to Jon's blog and the writing group page).

Jon-- I liked this post just as much the second time around!

I was hoping this post would be chosen. I loved it when I read it in the forums. Great advice.

I also applaud your Find a Writing Group project and urge writers to check it out. Writing Groups are so important to keep us on track (and keep us from going nuts.)

Thanks for the work you do for your fellow writers.

Fantastic post! My 'buts' are getting smaller as the years pass. I wish my real butt was too.

Great post!! Loved this!!

I loved your title and your post. My "but" is usually time or child related these days. I can write or I can sleep. I find time for both, just not enough time for either.

Thanks everyone.

I think recognising the 'but' is half the work. After that, it's just a matter of deciding to putt it behind you, as it were.

Absolutely needed to hear this one today. Thank you so much for the post, Jon.

I think my major "but" has surfaced on other comments, but it'd have to be simply "but who cares?". I'm into my second year of really taking a stab at getting published and when one first ventures on this journey, it's pretty easy to feel the love. People LOVE hearing that someone is going to try to "make it" out in the world. But after my first submissions to agents came back with form rejections (of course, a pretty standard thing to expect on one's first go at it), the well-wishers tended to slink into the shadows. Even people I've worked on my stories with have seen less interested in my eventual success. As we dive into further and further revisions and critiques as writers, as we dive into possibly even new stories and put old ones to bed, all our hard, unexciting work can easily be viewed as not that much work at all.

We say we want to write that one (or 100) story that's boiling up in us and people are ready to jump on the bandwagon. But when months or years go by without payoff or visible result, it can and often does seem to be viewed as "failure". And its hard to shake the feeling of even being perceived as a failure! It stifles creativity and keeps us further from achieving our dreams.

So that's my biggest "but". "But who cares?" I need to remember that I care - because I really, truly do - and if I'm going to continue putting the amount of hours into making this dream a reality, then there is no room in my schedule the "buts".

So glad you were chosen, Jon. This post was one of my favorites when I read it in the forums.

Wise old gran.

Jon yours was one of my favorites. I already commented you on the forum and you commented me back (BIG THANKS). So glad Nathan has such good taste.

Nice...

My but-killer number one is that old slogan from the Nike ads: "Just do it." Works every time.

Great post, Jon.

Wonderful post, Jon. Very inspiring to me - I've definitely been at the mercy of several 'buts' for years. What a relief it would be to be released from them, and your post helped - thank you!

I agree with annerallen - your project about writing sites is generous - I appreciate how much support and encouragement you're giving to your fellow writers.

I hope that great karma returns to you tripled. :)

Good luck in your writing career!

What ‘buts’ have I put behind me as I chase my writing dream? All of them. I feel like I’m pretty much functioning ‘but-free’ at this point in time, :) It wasn’t easy to get to this point. It came about by buckling down many years ago, taking one step after another, writing and learning about the publishing world and its ever-changing dynamics. It didn’t mean neglecting other areas of life, but it did mean always dragging myself back to writing even when I was very tired. I’m currently in a brand new phase of my writing career. I realize that if I added up all the hours I put into writing so far, it would be a large number, even though many individual writing sessions were only 1-1/2 hours long. I wish you all the best with your novel and short stories!

But they say it's almost impossible for a first timer to get published now- But i'd hate having to promote my book = but I hate writing queries - but if I do I'll get rejections. And on and on like a horde of blood sucking mosquitoes.

You're right, Jon, the "buts" are but nonsense to be forgotten. With the push from your inspirational words I will take the 'but" brakes off and forge forward butless to try it all.

Lol, there are a lot of 'but' puns taking place today :)

The biggest 'but' that I've had to leave behind is the "But is it good enough?" Honestly?? Who cares?? If I can get my thoughts on the page (and my characters to shut up in my head =D ) then that's what matters.

Is it great getting published? Absolutely. I think I danced around the room for 2 hours when I got my first acceptance letter. But really, all that matters is that I'm doing what I love. The rest? Those 'buts'? Don't mean a thing.

Amen, their are stupid buts to everything in life!
;D

But what if I really am a terrible writer? But what if I really am a great writer who is too afraid to show her work to anyone? BLARGH!
Great post, Jon! I'm heading over to check out FindAWritingGroup...maybe that will help me surmount my pile of 'buts'.
Thanks!

funny, but very helpful.

What a great post. I didn’t take my writing seriously until I was in my fifties. I had the ‘but factor.’ Like, ‘But I can’t spell and don’t know where commas go.’

I left school at thirteen to look after my sick mum. I had little education due to childhood illness and moving a lot. I worked all my life, but at fifty three, I bought my first computer. First I had to learn how to use it, so I enrolled at TAFE and did an IT Cert 11 course. Then I started writing and boldly posted my first story on a writing forum. My story made people laugh. Not only because my character was funny, but because I had no idea where commas went, how to format a document, or how to structure a story.

Other writers critiqued my work and helped me to learn. I didn’t care how silly I looked because readers liked my character. I kept posting my work and learning to critique until one day it all clicked. I wrote a full MG novel and submitted it to agents and publishers. I’ve now finished my second junior novel and the first three chapters are with an agent after receiving a Notable Mention in a recent competition. I’m now fifty six and hoping to be published one day. Some relatives laughed at me when I told them I would be an author one day. They thought I wasn’t capable of writing a book because I couldn’t spell or write properly. Well, I’m still learning, but I write better than them now. They also tell me that they would write too, but don’t have the time.

I should probably give up, but I'm too arrogant. That's mine.

This is a fantastic post! Thank you! I felt like you were speaking directly to me.

I'm a bit late to the writing game myself. I spent many years dreaming of writing, "but" my life wasn't set up to reach that dream. I let go of that "but" four years ago and have moved slow and steady toward my goals ever since.

:)

What if writing is making your but bigger?
When you realise the adverse affect writing is having on your but - is that when you know it's time to let the dream go?

But...butt... Need to do more lunges for that plump little gluteus maximus.

Seriously, great post. I'm on board, "The Wall of Wisdom." Thanks!

What a down-to-earth and thoroughly enjoyable presentation of a timeless subject! Actually, this really gets to the heart of my own personal 'but': "...but it has all been said before. Who am I to say it differently?" But as this posting so successfully demonstrates, it is all in the 'how'.

But can I be a writer without whining about time?
I do wish I had started sooner also like so many others. It wasn't that I didn't think I could make time but rather that I hadn't developed the passion until my body recovered from late night feedings and could think about what I wanted in my life.

Great post. I am a high school dropout and 65 years old, but I can't not write.

Excellent post. I shared it with my writers' group. We all need to protect ourselves from our inner excusinator!

Really great post. I have used the: I would write but I don't have time, but I'm not that good, but I don't know how to pursue publishing. I was afraid. BUT... I got over it.

Very inspirational.

Absolutely true...it took me three years to overcome the "but", ...but when I finally sat down I told myself I am not getting up before this book is finished. I believe having a mantra to get through the long process can be very helpful.

Mine was..."Don't start what you cannot finish". In the end it's all about tenacity and achieving the mental state of a marathon runner...just run...then finish line, or in as in my case the words "The End", will eventually arrive.

This is timely for me. Because, I've always been a "kinda writer", as my family puts it. My little hobby, until someone made fun of it.

Now, like you, I'm closer to 50 than 40 and finally taking a bead on what makes me happy. Writing may never be my full time job, but its what I do that may - like buying lotto tickets - fund my retirement.

My "buts" aren't relevant to anyone but me, but I thank you for bringing them to my attention. As Kahlan Amnel says in Terry Goodkin's WIZARDS FIRST RULE: We can only be what we are, nothing more, nothing less."

........dhole

Thank you Nathan. I needed to hear that probably more than most. I have a wonderful story to offer, and am looking to perfect it before sending it, not like the first time I tried with rejections. Thank you for not ever telling anyone to stop writing, "but" to keep trying and never give up. This is my dream and I will follow it. Your encouragement has been admired by me for some time. I think you are a super person, and your blogs tell alot. I always say, never discourage, always encourage. I have been discouraged by my own browbeating, thinking I can't do this at times, but then I snap out of it and work just that much harder. I was always raised to never quit, "where there's a will, there's a way." I have the will and I will find the way.
Thanks for the "but" lecture, I needed it.

trying to become a writer but also having to have another job. sometimes you can get inspiration from the job but, its harder to write and also have a job

I'd just like to say a big 'Thank you' to everyone for reading today. I appreciate the kind words.

I'm especially grateful to Nathan for offering people the chance to appear as a guest on his blog. I feel like a wannabe actor who got a guest spot on his favorite TV show.

Thanks for the opportunity, Nathan. No 'but's about it, you're a star :)

Jon,

I'm older than you. It's been so long since I saw 50 I can barely remember what it looked like. :)

My excuse was always that I didn't know how to write anything but flat expository paragraphs - reports, technical notes, etc. But one day I discovered a compelling reason to write poetry and found I was sort of half-way good at it. And then, a few years after that, I found a compelling reason to sit down and start writing a YA novel. I was amazed that I could write dialogue, description, action - all the things I'd thought for years I didn't know how to write (despite having read such material long and regularly all my life).

Not sure where that will take me, but it sure is interesting.

-Steve

I used to think I had to be published to call myself a writer.

A few years ago I realised I get paid lots more for what I write that isn't published.

That made a big difference to my writing aspirations and to my use of that word "but".

The fact that there are a few people out there that hate my writing so much that they have made it their life's mission to harass/stalk me abou in the chat rooms.

I write not only to accomplish something, but to irritate those who don't like me.

Jon, your post is so encouraging and inspiring! Thank you for sharing your personal experience.

On of my 'buts' about following my passion(s): ..."but it's crazy!" (i.e. you do not choose that path if you expect to make a living).

My biggest 'but' about becoming a writer has always been, "I can barely speak English (I'm not a native), why think I can write a book?"

I let the "But my kids need me" rule my life when my kids were small. Now that they're older, I *make* time every day to write. Even if I only edit a single word. I sit down and work on my novel.

A

Thanks for the excellent post, Jon!

My biggest but is but I don't have the time. My best solution is to get my butt in the seat in front of the laptop and write anyway.

Great post, Jon.

I've been living with 'buts' for so long...it's amazing how internalized they become. My buts are all about having a story someone will want to read. I just remember a workshop teacher asking me "Well why does anyone care about what happens to your character?" He was trying to provoke me into thinking about the char, but I of course took it as No-one-finds-this-interesting-but-me and have just sat for so long.

I have a golden opportunity now (got laid off), and it's amazing how difficult it is to make myself make time to work on the novel. Yes I need a job, but I need to try this professional writer thing, too.

I'm afraid people will laugh at my but, no wait, my but is I am afraid people will laugh at my writing. In a mean way.

I had so much fun writing my story... but I'm not sure if others will enjoy it as much.

What a great blog. I'm totally there with your gran. People should get rid of their buts.

I guess my only 'but' is my family. I'm learning to get around this by using a crock pot, writing when the kids do their homework, and carrying a notebook to their activities, appointments etc. Editing is hard this way, but I can get the dirty first draft done.

Kristine,

I have gotten into the habit of taking a notebook with me everywhere. I started when I was younger and wrote scary poetry, and got back into it when I started writing fiction. I probably wouldn't have gotten this draft done without it. Go you!

"but what if my final product is not what I imagined it to be?"

It's much easier to believe that I can write a fantastic best-seller if I don't have tangible proof in front of me proving otherwise.

All that wasted time worrying about what ifs!

Back to writing - whatever the end result may be!

Great post. Thanks.

Writers often have buts floating around in their heads -- I do -- but if the desire to write is strong enough, it doesn't matter how big the but is, it will be overcome.

I have a re-'but'-al for you, Nate:

http://www.mopjockey.com/2010/01/power-of-but.html

Thanks again to everyone who read/commented.

I've enjoyed reading about all of your buts :)

I enjoyed this piece so much I cross posted it to my blog in a post called: "My wings are like a shield of steel" Batfink, buts and the inner excusinator.

The "buts" I've put behind me:

But I won't make any money off writing, at least not at first.

...I'm not doing this for the money.

But _________ thinks I'm wasting my time.

...I'm not doing this for him/her.

But I'm not as good a writer as ___________.

...I'm not in competition with him/her.

Those are just a few of my "buts"--and I'm happy to say that most days when I look in the mirror, those particular ones no longer rear their ugly...um...rears.

Write on!