Writer Wednesday: Writer’s Digest

One of the ‘must have’ things authors should have is a subscription to Writer’s Digest. I normally don’t believe in sharing or pushing for this sort of thing, but I subscribed, and find every single magazine offers some valuable insight in the writing field.

Their web site is also huge, with lots of articles, an online community, competitions, education, and so much more. Most of which is free. The workshops I think are a bit pricey, but most everything else is great.

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Our writing spaces

Writers often have as much a personal preference to their writing space as they do their technique. I know of some writers who can write just about anywhere, while others require complete silence, being completely alone, and write only during specific times. Some prefer the computers, while others enjoy the pen or pencil in hand.

Where do you write?

My preference is writing at my computer, in my office. My office is also where I homeschool my son, and where my husband will use the computer now and then. I don’t write when anyone else is here, because they sit behind me and read over my shoulder. That annoys me to no end.

Do you need quiet or noise?

I prefer quiet. Sometimes I listen to music. I can tolerate a TV in the other room or the sounds of someone downstairs.

Do you prefer typing or writing out in pen or pencil?

Hands down, I prefer typing. I can’t read my own handwriting and I can type as fast as I can talk.

What word processor do you use? (Or notebook)

I’ve tried OpenOffice, but prefer MS Word for the wordcount bar and familiarity with the program. I will sometimes use Google Documents in a pinch.

Do you use other tools?

I use a free download program called WordWeb. Its a dictionary/thesaurus program that integrates with any program where typing is involved. This also works in blogging.

Chapter-by-Chapter, another free downloadable program, lets me break up the novel into chapters, and I can then use the find/replace feature in ALL documents, as well as organize chapters very easily. It works with MS Word and other word processors.

Windows Live Writer, also a download,works great for blogging. It offers added features for formatting of text and graphics.

Have you had anything published yet?

I’ve had a number of articles published, and I write blogs, of course. I haven’t published via a magazine or publishing company yet. I have a number of fans with my Morrowind/Oblivion fanfiction (which prompted me to write and actually share what I wrote with others). See my writing here.

Do you use wordcount goals or other deadlines?

No, but I think I should. That’s one of my goals this weekend; to setup a writing schedule to attempt to grasp this writing habit by the horns and direct it where I want it to go.

Clean or cluttered desk?

Cluttered! I like what Einstein said about this subject "If a cluttered desk signs a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?"

Oddly, I’m pretty sure what’s on my desk and where things are despite the mess. If I were to clean it up- things would be lost.

What do you write?

I write this writing blog, another blog on pagan religions and philosophy, and a personal blog. I write articles for Associated Content, on various subjects. I also like to write in genres such as Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror.

What are your goals as a writer?

I want to see my current novel in print, with possible subsequent novels soon following. But even if I never get published, its enough to write for my own enjoyment anyway.

How would you answer these questions yourself? Feel free to post in comment, or write in your blog and leave a link in a comment here.

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Blogging:Who is your audience?

I write a number of different blogs. This one consists of all types of writing topics for bloggers, authors, novice writers, and anyone who puts a pen to paper (or types). I also have another blog that includes topics of the earth centered religions. I’ve been pagan since I was fourteen, and through the decades I’ve learned spirituality is a wondrous and challenging journey. Another blog dedicates to subjects of homeschooling, sharing my own experiences as I teach my son from day to day.

I also have a personal blog, that I often include subjects of homeschooling, the day to day chaos that ensues in my life, commentaries, and just about anything that comes to mind.

Obviously each blog has its own unique audience. Writers read this blog, pagans read my pagan blog, homeschoolers read the homeschool blog and a very diverse group read my multiply.com blog. They range from all manner of walks of life, political interest, and various hobbies. So writing for each audience demands a certain understand as to who I’m writing to.

Each time I add another entry, I imagine myself as a visitor and what I expect from what I’m reading. What questions to do ask? What resources can I add, and what media would appeal to such a person? Even topics that might seem mundane you can spice up with humor or looking at the subject in a different way.

I think this is where some bloggers get tripped up on how to add blog entries to entertain readers without causing issues. Some people don’t want to spill out their life to the world, or post things that might get back to someone else. Readers, however, look for entertainment or information. Offer both, and you have a winning combination.

Fanfiction Writing Tip # 1- Using the senses

As many times as I get inquiries about fanfiction writing, I decided I’d start adding tips about this genre.  Although most of the writing tips for fanfiction can work for all, there are a few that are specific to this type of writing.

One review I received with my Elderscrolls fanfiction included a comment on how I expanded on the world with taste, smell, and touch. With video games, movies, and similiar media, you lose that aspect of the world. An example is that in the game of Morrowind, you can buy food that you have no idea as to how it compares to the food you really eat. I took liberties and included my version.

Being the story takes place in a place called the Ashlands, I added description of how the place smelled of poison and brimstone. (It was caused by a volcano of Red Mountain). The smell of rot tended to permeate through the story whenever the heroes entered that area. I imagined it being a very hot place, like a desert, with this fine silt encrusting everything you own.

You also encountered undead creatures in the game, so that added a whole new slew of gross description. That was fun.

Don’t let your readers just live vicariously through your story; yank them into your imagination and share the worlds and characters you create. You don’t just see the world, you feel it, taste it, touch it, and hear it. This is how you live it.

Critique and Feedback

Getting constructive feedback on one’s writing offers a writer insight not only on the manuscipt, but other aspects of writing. This includes the writer’s Voice, tone, and style, as well as grammar, punctuation, and plot. After weeks, months, or even years on a story, a writer loses objectivity on what they’ve created. Allowing a fresh pair of eyes to read and give feedback offers the writer a chance a new look on what they’ve created.

The risk, however, includes the very real chance of being blown out of the water. I remember once letting my mother read a thirty page story I was working on; handwritten, front and back, and all she could say was that she felt the story was rather ‘dry’. Nothing else; just dry. I ripped up the entire thing. She never explained to me as to why she thought it was dry reading, how I could improve, or if the story had merit at all. I also never let her read anything else I did…ever.

My husband, who is not much of a reader, also doesn’t critique my work. Asking him to do so puts him in the precarious position of being put on the couch if he gets too mean about it, and he doesn’t have the familiarity with the genre to provide feedback.

The lesson here is to be very picky on who reads your work. Choose someone honest, and someone who enjoys the genre you write in. There’s no point in letting someone who loves murder mysteries to read fantasy, or someone who prefers memoirs to read horror. They won’t be able to give you pointers on a genre they are not familiar with.

Also, recognize a good reader as someone who can offer both compliments as well as criticisms. They should be focused on the writing, not the writer. The feedback should also provide improvement on what is already there, not to shred your dreams, or even deter you from your passion. Most writers say they would write regardless if they ever get published.

Take the critique as advice. Some feedback I’ve received I didn’t agree with. I didn’t say so, of course, but accepted their words graciously and considered what I wanted from my story. When I offer feedback, I try to balance the bad with the good. One writer I noticed loved using the same words over and over, such as the word ‘said’. “You lose an opportunity to use metaphor or unique words here.” I pointed out. I also pointed out the story flowed well, with the characters being realistic.

Remember your copyright! When allowing others to read online, always remember where your copyrights are. Some sites that offer feedback have in their terms of service that they own anything you post! Read carefully! Also when posting parts of your story in a blog or web site, some publishing companies see this as being ‘published’. Avoid this if you can. (For instance, everything in my blog is considered published and I cannot sell to content sites if I wanted to).

My writer’s group provides me with feedback to my own writing, as well as allowing me to peek into the worlds of other writers. I focus on remaining honest in my opinion, but also add to some members that the style they write is not one I’m as familiar with. For example, its difficult for me to critique a memoir, but I can still say if I liked what I read.

Unconventional Writing

In today’s society of chaos and overworked scheduled, a writer endures distractions as best he or she can. Finding the quiet time to lose oneself in the inner world of writing often proves difficult, even when jotting down notes, doing research, or brainstorming ideas. The solution takes the form of embracing the unconventional, and to adhere to the focus of ‘the end justifies the means’.

The best ideas often come to me right before I sleep. I either have to spend several minutes trying to burn the idea into my brain to remember for the next day, (which keeps me up at night) or bother getting up long enough to jot down the idea before it flitters away like a moth into the night. Other times of inspiration include when I drive my car, sitting in the waiting room at a doctor’s appointment, or when I homeschool my son. (Did I mention I multi-task all the time?)

The best tip I found in my writer’s journey takes the form of keeping a small journal with me at all time. This allows me to easily write down my ideas, plots, character summaries, and so much more. Not so easy when driving, however.

A voice recorder works even better. Not only does my cell phone, a Sony Ericsson, have a camera and video capabilities, it also includes a voice recorder. My sister offered me her small tape recorder, which also works very well for interviews. The tape either is replaced, or used over and over. This allows me to talk while driving, often brainstorming ideas for blogs, articles, or even short stories.

Nights where I have an idea and actually get up to type it all out is often where I write my best stuff. My husabnd, however, finds this annoying. He’s stuck on the idea that early morning wake-up is the norm, and ‘normal’ people get up with the dawn. You’d think after nine years of marriage he’d figure out I’m not normal, and that night time provides the quiet solitude and stillness I need for my writing.

I think if I want to get serious about writing, I’m going to annoy him and do my writing then.