A Community Where Writers Inspire Other Writers
How do people end up as writers anyway? There isn’t a universal answer. The question, analogous to “How the hell did I get here?” seems worth rumination. My personal response has many facets, like a diamond. Or a 20-sided game die. A lot of my early efforts were mirrored later in my adult writing.
Continue reading “Evolution of A Writer”
Recently, my little sister asked for my advice about a novel she’s been planning for a while. As a person with ADHD, she struggles to complete tasks in general, especially when they must be done in a specific order. Knowing this, my first and most vital suggestion was that she not attempt to write her first draft chronologically.
I told her to skip around, write whatever scenes she loved first, and worry about filling in any potential gaps later. I’ve written stories both in and out of chronological order. While both have pros and cons, ditching the chronological order can make writing easier.
I stumbled on an article on genre by Amy Rivers, Director of Writing Heights Writing Association that resonated with me.
It describes a familiar struggle. A writer gets an idea, follows the inspiration, turns it into a story, and now must shove an original work into a predefined mold. And who is the writer that sets off on a journey to follow conventions? That is not how writers work! Naturally, the manuscript does not fit the frame, and Writer must now shoehorn it into the closest approximation.
Continue reading “Where Does Your Writing Fit?”
Writing isn’t a piece of cake because we all know it isn’t. It’s hard. It takes energy, discipline, and creativity to create something fresh and engaging enough that someone else will want to read it. And you know what they say: “It’s all been said before.” So why should we bother writing at all?
If you’re writing a novel, you almost certainly want to see it published. Before the contract is signed, you’ll struggle with the writing process—the elements of craft, from plot to setting. Once your book is edited, you’ll wrestle query letters, a synopsis, and another round of edits if your book is accepted for publication. Then comes the day you’ve dreamed of—your publisher sends you the finished book. It’s alive, born into the world, and it will sell, and readers will love it. Right?
As a young child, I filled notebooks with stories based on my favorite television shows and movies. Digimon, Pokémon, and The Land Before Time. In fourth grade, I wrote a horrifically unscientific murder mystery starring Scully and Mulder of The X-Files for a short story assignment. I was twelve when I began posting my stories online for internet strangers to read.
The kind comments and constructive criticism I received on those stories have kept me writing almost nonstop for two decades. Fanfiction is a fun and engaging way to hone your craft, especially when you need a change of pace.
Let me start by stating one crucial fact: fanfiction is a legitimate form of writing. Magazines and newspapers are increasingly recognizing fanfiction as a literary genre. Archive of our Own, or AO3, a hugely popular fanfiction archive site, won a Hugo award in 2019 for Best Related Work. Even whole original franchises have spawned off of an author’s fanfics. (Love it or hate it, the bestselling 50 Shades series started life as a Twilight fanfic.)
It’s January. Snow, bitter cold, a false spring for seven days somewhere in the middle, crowded gyms, and empty restaurants. (Of course, who knows what the rest of January holds for us with climate change at the helm.) A time for resolutions.
Looking back at 2022, I’m tempted to be disappointed by how much I wrote (or rather how little). Every year brings new challenges, both to life and in writing. This year had different challenges from last year, so comparing the two is only partially fair. While I may not have produced the same word counts as the previous year, I did come away from 2022 having learned some hard but precious lessons.
For most of 2021, I self-published every month and kept that up until April this year. April marked a solid year of self-publishing novellas every single month. While I’m incredibly proud of that milestone, I can’t deny that it left me somewhat burnt out. I was a one-person show for months. I did my own covers, my own marketing, and my own formatting. Everything aside from the editing was done by me and me alone.
Truthfully, I have a lot of good memories of those months. I learned so many fun graphics design and editing tricks for my covers. Those experiences and understanding of how to format ebooks are definitely skills that will aid me again in the future. However, I must admit I desperately needed a break once I hit that year mark.
Aside from the burnout, there was another huge factor that began to affect my creativity as well. Without going into too much detail, my financial situation changed significantly this year compared to last. As a result, stress surrounding economic uncertainty began to overtake every aspect of my life. I no longer had the luxury to write creatively. Instead, I should be putting my efforts into resumes, cover letters, and interview prep.
For most of this summer, that was precisely what I did. I won’t bore anyone with the details, but just know that now isn’t the best time to be job hunting. I was successful in securing a new job. Still, the processes only added more fuel to the fire of my struggles with anxiety and depression. Put that all in a blender, which is not a recipe conducive to creative pursuits. Follow it up with adjusting to said new job, and it isn’t hard to imagine why I have yet to regain the writing pace I had locked down this time last year.
Now that the year is drawing to a close, there’s no denying I barely wrote half as much this year as I did last year. Maybe even closer to a third. I took a valuable lesson away from that experience, however. Writing, or any form of art, is much more complicated when your mind is occupied with something else. As much as I desperately wanted to exclusively be an author, the mental strain of watching my financial health and independence slip away simply became too much.
Ultimately, I’m proud of myself for putting my writing on hold to remedy the situation before reaching a point of no return. I recognized that a change needed to be made long before I was in any kind of crisis, which is so important. In short, I took care of myself first because I understood I needed to regain mental balance before I could comfortably create again. That’s something every writer should be aware of and consider, even as I recognize everyone has to learn that lesson in their own way, on their own terms.
Even though I spent much of this year on other pursuits doesn’t mean I stopped writing. In fact, quite the opposite. I did write a few anthology pieces and have been outlining a new novel-length story. Beyond that, though, I did keep up my daily writing in the form of journaling.
Journaling is an activity I’ve only taken up sporadically in the past. This year, however, I bought myself a lovely planner to help keep track of my self-publishing deadlines. When I paused my self-publishing, I continued using the planner. Instead of filling it with deadlines and story-beat notes, I started writing about my day. Every day. Now, I’m absolutely addicted to journaling, mainly because it helped so much when I was feeling lost and overwhelmed.
The ritual goes something like this. Every evening I sit down with my planner and flip to today’s page. If anyone is interested, it’s a Japanese model called the Hobonichi Techo. I have already bought a new one for next year. Every day has an inspirational quote and grid-lined paper to give you space to write, draw, or make lists. You fill the space however you see fit.
Included with the planner was a three-colored pen. I start by writing about how I slept and any dreams I remember in red at the top of the page. After that, I used black to fill most of the page with what I did that day. This section can range from work goals or concerns to any recreational activities or projects I worked on. (For example, today, I’m going to write about how I wrote my December blog post.) Finally, I use blue at the bottom to detail dinner plans and any other evening plans, such as my weekly Dungeons and Dragons sessions, date night activity, or playing a game.
Journaling like this has kept me writing something daily all year long and helped my stress levels immensely. I can put all my inner thoughts about the activities I’m describing in my planner. If they were enjoyable or irritating. If I feel inspired or fearful for what the future may hold. If I wish I’d done something differently or regret saying one thing and not the other. I can put my pen to paper and give all my thoughts an outlet, positive or negative.
Plenty of studies have found that journaling helps improve mood and overall mental well-being. Giving your thoughts a voice, even if it’s just on the page, allows you consciously acknowledge them. When I write in my planner, I’m beginning to understand what scares me and what I feel might be my shortcomings. Still, I acknowledge where I thought I succeeded in the day and mention anything I am proud of.
While I may not have written as much fiction this year, I was still writing all the time. What’s more, I learned the value of a healthy life balance.
Gripping the reins of my imagination, I pull them back with a white-knuckle grip, desperate to gain altitude before this whole thing crashes into the dark, cold ocean of dejection and everything goes to pieces. My caffeine gauge hovers over empty. My single operational engine sputters and sparks. How did it come to this?
HOW DID IT COME TO THIS?
Flashback to January, one year prior.
My writing year began at a frenetic pace. Having completed the final manuscript for my follow-up novel, I found myself in the throws of prerelease pandemonium. My release date was fast approaching, and I was transmitting radio signals to anyone who would listen: “This is the captain of the L.o.a.P: Character Developments. Requesting permission to market. Over.”
I had tried my hand at marketing before. Everything from blog tours to signing events, radio spots to printed ads, contests to live readings. And, of course, social media. It’s always hit or miss. Some strategies work better than others. Special discount events through Amazon and the coveted Bookbub promotion have given me the best results. But I had a sequel coming out, and I didn’t have time to mess around.
The truth is, writing the book is just the beginning. Marketing is a big job, and those books will not sell themselves. I have tried a lot of different techniques. Contests can be terrific, but they often have an entry fee. Some contests are better than others, so I’ve learned to choose carefully. I have little luck with social media, but I maintain a sparse presence on Facebook and Twitter. However, landing a spot on a big established newsletter can create a notable spike in book sales. Easily the most bang for my buck.
Refueling in April.
I made a deter to a supply depot I had been to before. A sign hung over the entrance declaring it The Writing Heights Writers Conference. This place had everything. I topped off my inspiration, recalibrated my creativity, and took some pointers from the impressive gathering of experienced writers, agents, editors, and publishers.
Not one to spurn professional advice, I learned I had been flying without a website for too long. It was high time I remedied that. Fortunately, this conference had an informative session about creating effective author sites with many examples. I also encountered a terrific marketing guide who pointed out different routes to marketing I had never tried. Networking for honest reviews, taking a guest spot on a podcast, and writing guest spots on your favorite blogs (hint, hint) are all great ideas.
Fueled up, I took to the skies.
I put on my marketing face and got to work. I nailed down my website, which you can see here: https://davidesharp.com/. I was thrilled to appear on the Indie Writer Podcast. And my book launched on a crisp May morning to blue skies and favorable winds. And what a gorgeous cover! Props to my publisher’s design folks.
On a writing high like this, there is only one thing to do. Draft a bunch of short stories! They didn’t all take wing, but I had a few favorites worth submitting. I connected with a few anthologies and hoped for the best. Navigating a clear summer sky, I cracked the spines of a few books and returned to my roots as an avid reader.
Then I got the distress call.
My novel was in trouble. Well, actually, the reviews were doing all right. But I had left some things open-ended, and I was due to start working on the next book in the series. So, tightening my flight goggles and plotting my course, I set off again. Through darkened skies and tumultuous winds, I pushed on. Facing menacing rewrites, debilitating writer’s block, and perilous distraction by corgis, I placed word after word after word.
And that brings me full circle. I lost the first engine undermining my plot points, and the rewrites will get hairy. Nevertheless, I maintain my bearing through a Save the Cat plot structure. My manuscript strains against the literary forces threatening to tear it apart. But we’ve been here before, and we will make it through.
Just as things look the bleakest, I catch an updraft. I have an idea to carry the story in a bold new direction. Or it will throw us into a whole new spiral. Only time will tell. But in the meantime, it feels great to be in the pilot seat.
In 2020, I was pretty much done with writing, overwhelmed with trying to keep my freelance writing and editing business afloat and supplementing it with a gig grocery store job.
Despite my sort of giving up, I still went to conferences and belonged to writing groups like Northern Colorado Writers (see https://northerncoloradowriters.com).
But in 2021, I realized by “quitting” writing, I was quitting myself and my dream to be a traditionally published author with at least one book made into a movie. So in 2022 after procrastinating for a few months, I returned to my goal of being an author by actually writing novels—I’d written my sixth and last novel in 2016, followed by a couple of novellas and dozens of short stories, “stopping” writing on the large scale.
To make my return, I combined my daily journaling and poetry writing with my large- and small-scale writing projects into a structure, turning the hobby into a job and a passion.
A Year of Writing
I have a few accomplishments for 2022, including writing a daily poem for the Poem-A-Day Challenge. I started the challenge in September 2014 and have continued since, skipping two weeks in late 2020 when I underwent a major surgery. I got behind a few times, then filled in the blanks, as many as two weeks’ worth (see https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/poetry-prompts/april-pad-challenge).
I wrote in my daily journal, something I’ve kept up since second grade. I still have all my diaries and journals—I started typing them in 2014, so they’re easier to read (and reference if I want to look up facts or memories).
I wrote two short stories, one in January and one in September. I submitted both to contests.
I wrote a novel in four months, starting May 1 and finishing Aug. 28. I clocked in 170 hours and wrote 160,142 words, which is way, way too long. I edited the novel, round 1, in about half my writing time, working on it Sept. 1 to Oct. 24. I cut it to 140,713 words, but I have more work to do to get it down to at most 90,000 words.
A Year of Working
I clocked in my writing on a timesheet, indicating how many hours I wrote and approximate number of words per session. For editing, I indicated number of hours and number of pages edited.
On average, I wrote eight to 14 hours a month from January to April, then jumped to 79 hours in May, 65 hours in June, 23 hours in July, and 45 hours in August (this includes my work on poetry). I then moved on to editing, putting in 33 hours in September and __ hours in October. As a note (but not an excuse!), during the summer months, I did get busy with a vacation and a couple of short trips.
I aimed to write every day, but in July before a trip to the 123rd Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention (see https://vfw.org/convention), I didn’t write for two weeks, because the week before the trip, I got slammed with freelance work, then I was on vacation. After the trip, I wrote one to seven days a week. I also wrote one to five hours a day, making sure to break up my longer sessions with breaks.
Avoiding Procrastination
As I mentioned before, I put off writing for years, then I put off the novel for a few months after getting the initial idea late last year. Though writing gives me joy and is my passion, I let everything else take priority.
Now when I get freelance work and planned a writing session, I treat my writing like it’s a work assignment already scheduled in my day. I don’t put it in last place, like I used to where I had to do everything else first. I work on my novel, either writing or editing, whenever I can, aiming for an hour a day, but accepting when I can’t. I just miss it when it’s more than a couple of days.
Achieving Milestones
I’ve had a few milestones in 2022 with my top being writing a novel in four months. Yah me!
I improved my writing efficiencies as a freelance writer and editor, even becoming comfortable with my one tech writing assignment for GRAPHICS PRO magazine. I came up with a process of quickly identifying the lead or hook and organizing how to write the story, structuring it so that it flows from one topic to the next, all while doing this in my head or with a few notes.
I attended the 2023 Writing Heights Writers Conference this spring and met with two agents. I got requests from both, but did not get actual interest, since it wasn’t a fit. I plan to attend the conference next year and try again, plus participate in all the wonderful workshops on writing, editing, marketing, and publishing advice (see https://northerncoloradowriters.com/page/conference).
I achieved interest in my novel possibly to be made into a movie from the work of my fiancé, who connected with those working in the financial and moviemaking industries. My novel, actually a memoir, is high-literary Fifty Shades (see https://www.amazon.com/Fifty-Shades-Grey-Book-Trilogy/dp/0345803485) with elements similar to the Da Vinci Code (see https://www.amazon.com/s?k=da+vinci+code&i=stripbooks&crid=1KAZSGWVDAU7E&sprefix=da+vinci+code%2Cstripbooks%2C142&ref=nb_sb_noss_1), told in an experimental framework of storytelling.
I consider 2023 to be a success, especially since I learned that doubting or putting your passions aside isn’t the smartest thing to do for the heart. I need to do what I love, being creative, writing, and editing, and to do it with staying, not quitting, power!
Shelley Widhalm is a freelance writer and editor and founder of Shell’s Ink Services in Loveland, Colo. She provides copy editing and developmental editing, as well as consultations on writing and editing. She has more than 20 years of experience in communications and holds a Master of Arts degree in English from Colorado State University. She can be reached at shellsinkservices.com or swidhalm@shellsinkservices.com. For more writing and editing tips, follow her blog at shellsinkservices.com/blog.
The Writing Bug 