Sentence Length and A Book For Writers

A friend posted a quote by the late Gary Provost on her Facebook page yesterday. In two short paragraphs, this fine teacher of writing makes a terrific point about sentence structure. I googled his name and found that this quote has been used on myriad websites. Then, I checked out the books this man wrote about the craft of writing. Why I am not familiar with him is a mystery to me. I plan to order the book shown above. I found the updated version on Amazon for a mere $6.49. The reviews made me think I needed to have this book. 

His famed quote deals with sentence structure. Your story is of prime importance, but how you write it ranks high on the list of Things To Remember When Writing. (That topic is mine, not his.) Mr. Provost's quote says it perfectly. When I googled the quote, I found that it had been used on many blogs and websites. Most likely, writers who present workshops at conferences have used it, too. With thanks to Mr. Provost, who died in 1995, here is the quote: 

One of the things my online writing critique group notes in their critiques is sentence length. Most often, they tell the writer that they are using overly long sentences. I seldom see anyone say that the sentences are too short, but when short sentence follows short sentence one after the other, as in the first paragraph in the quote, it becomes boring or monotonous. Mr. Provost states that thought quite clearly. 

I believe strongly in the premise that sentences of varying lengths are the most pleasing to the reader's ear. This is something to add to your list of what to look for when you edit and revise your first drafts. 

The Right Way or The Wrong Way To Write

This poster and quote made me laugh. Wouldn't we all like to have the results in the woman's innovative way to find out her weight?

How about our writing world? Is there a right and wrong way to write? Are there hard and fast rules? There are definitely a lot of Do's and Don'ts to this craft, but I don't think there is any one right way or a specifically wrong way to get to the goals writers set. 

What is right for one writer could very well be wrong to another. Take the time you write, for instance. Books on writing often suggest you get up an hour earlier than necessary and use that hour to write. The house is probably quiet, your mind is fresh, so why not? I'll tell you why some people could never do it.  There are those who need more sleep than others or ones who are groggy for the first hour they are out of bed and on two feet. Even with a mug of strong coffee at their side. It's not right or wrong; it's the way it is. Conversely, if you try to stay up an extra hour and call that your writing time, you may or may not be successful. The night owls among us will find it the perfect time to write, while those who like to head to bed earlier than most would discover that their mind might be a bit too fuzzy if they extended their bedtime. No right or wrong. We each choose what works best for us.

What about submitting your work for publication? You can send out your writing one at a time, weeks apart perhaps. Or you could have a Submission Celebration Day and send a dozen pieces to editors in one day. Is one right and the other wrong? Of course not. Do what works best for you.

Some authors write the ending of a short story first, then fill in the rest. Others start at the beginning and move methodically on to the middle and end. I suppose there are even writers who have this wonderful scene in mind that should appear in the middle of the story, so they write it, then add a beginning and an end. Wrong or right? There is no wrong or right here. Again, do what works best for you. 

This brings me to books that teach us about the writing world. The writer who wrote the book is going to tell you what works for him/her. Yes, many are going to repeat the same advice--a lot of it. When I read the same basic advice over and over, I feel like I'd better pay attention. But, if a writer offers unusual advice, something that you've never encountered before, step back and give it some extra thought. It may work for that writer but not for everyone. Still, it is not wrong. It's his/her opinion. You might try it and find out that it is like Baby Bear's discovery in the Goldilock's and The Three Bears story. It's just right. 

Writers have to sift and sort the advice from writing books, writing newsletters, blogs and conference speakers. Find out what is right for you and what might be the wrong way for you to conduct your writing life. Then do what works, what feels comfortable. It might take some trial and error along the way, but you'll reach a place where you know what's best for you.

Authors Who Write Books On Writing

A book is for learning, for joy, and for satisfaction

Last Friday, I used a quote by Orson Scott Card at the top of my post. A writer friend and Follower of my blog commented that this writer was one of his favorites, that he wrote wonderful sci-fi books and also books on writing including Characters and Viewpoint; How To Write Science Fiction; and Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction. 

I started thinking about other writers who stepped away from their usual genre to write books that are meant to help new writers, intermediate writers and even advanced writers. Should you and I read them? You bet! These books are written by proven, published writers. They know what they are talking about. Bigtime!

I like that they are willing to share their expertise and their experiences with other writers. Granted, they want to sell the book and make some money but they are also willing to give advice to other writers. I admire those who do that. I also thank them as I have read many books on writing that have been written by well-known authors. I have gained a lot from each one.

Here is a partial list of books written by novelists about writing. Look for them in bookstores or online at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

• Ursula LeGuin--Conversations on Writing; Steering the Craft; Words Are My Matter
• Anne LaMott--Bird By Bird
• Stephen King--On Writing:  A Memoir of the Craft
• Elizabeth George--Write Away: One Novelist's Approach To Fiction and The Writing Life; The Art of Writing
• Ray Bradbury--Zen in the Art of Writing
• Ernest Hemingway--Ernest Hemingway On Writing
• Nancy Kress--Beginnings, Middles and Ends; Characters, Emotion, and Viewpoints; Crafting Dynamic Dialogue

There are many more which you can find by hunting through your favorite search engine. Do you have any favorites to add to this list?

Are Writers Scaredy Cats?

This morning, one of the first things I read was a post by Kathy Pooler who has a fine blog called Memoir Writer's Journey. She featured an interview with William Kenower, author of Fearless Writing. The quote used at the beginning of the post called out to me and held me suspended for awhile. The quote is:

"You will find your confidence and begin writing fearlessly the moment you stop caring about what anyone else thinks."  William Kenower, Fearless Writing

Go to Amazon to read a summary and reviews of Mr. Kenower's book. All 9 reviews gave it 5 stars. In the summary, there is a statement about the fact that this is not a how-to book about writing. Instead, it is a book to put you in the proper mindset to become a writer. 

I have not read the book but I would like to do so and perhaps you would, too. But let's go back to that thought provoking quote. I'm in agreement that one of the things that holds us back as writers is caring about what other people think of us. 

We've been conditioned into that from childhood on, haven't we? Mom taught us to behave nicely in public--keep our dresses down, speak in a soft voice, don't use harsh language, say please and thank you. After all, what would people think if we did otherwise? That was the message we received. Nothing wrong with it as we learned to be civilized people, ones who can fit into society with no problem. 

Even so, we also learned to care about what others think of us to the point that it could easily hold us back when we write. I daresay that many writers hear their mother's admonitions in their subconscious even while they try to write the greatest novel known to man. 

Note that Mr. Kenower cites our confidence as being of importance in writing without fear. No doubt that confidence does not come wrapped in pretty tissue paper and tied with a ribbon. Wouldn't it be nice if we could run to our nearest Walmart and pick it up? Instead, I think it is something we acquire bit by bit. Having a proper attitude toward our writing is one step to gaining that confidence. 

Just how do we learn to stop caring about what others think so that we can write fearlessly? I'm anxious to read the book and learn more but in my own mind, I think that we must acquire that ability one small step at a time and we must practice what we learn on a regular basis. 

If you start an exercise program to help your aches and pains (guess who is doing this?) and it helps you a great deal, should you suddenly stop exercising? You know what will happen. All the same aches and pains will come rolling back, settling into the same spots they were in originally. Once we learn how to combat something--whether it is physical or the art of having the confidence to write without caring what others think--we have to continue to practice what we achieved. Forever! 

I love the thought that we should write without giving a thought to what others think of us. The chains will break and we can write whatever is in our heart and from our heart. This is only the beginning of this concept. I hope to learn a lot more after reading Fearless Writing. How about you?

William Kenower's website can be found here. Do also check out Kathy Pooler's blog if you have an interest in memoir writing.  (Link above)

One of the Tools You Need To Be A Writer

One of the things I urged the attendees in the workshop I taught last weekend is to read about writing. Too many new writers plunge right in writing without arming themselves with the tools of the trade. It would be mighty nice if we could decide to write, then step right up to the batter's box and hit a homerun. (Sorry, but with the Royals in the World Series, baseball is on my mind!)

Artists and craftsmen need tools of some sort. For the writer, one that can be ongoing is to read as much as possible about writing. I suggested three books in that workshop that I particularly like. Here's a list of those three and two others for you. I've added links to their Amazon page so that you can scroll down the page and read the reviews and summary. Check your local library or purchase at your favorite bookstore, whether that is a local one or online.

1. On Writing by Stephen King The man knows what he's talking about. His long list of published books should tell us that immediately. Best part is that he writes about writing clearly and has some excellent information to give a new or intermediate writer.

2. Writing Alchemy--How To Write Fast and Deep by Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett  Editors of a womens' memoir website, these two women have written an award winning book for writers. This is a memoir edition, but the lion's share pertains to all kinds of writing. It kept me occupied and interested on an overseas flight a couple of summers ago.

3. Bird by Bird by Anne LaMott  You may notice the publication date being a bit old on this one, but don't let that deter you. Anne LaMott is an entertaining writer with good advice.

4. Beginnings, Middles and Ends by Nancy Kress  I read this book a number of years ago, and I read it again a few years later. This newer edition will help the novelist, short story writer and those who write personal essays, memoirs and more. Part of the Writer's Digest series.

5. The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron  A highly acclaimed gift book to give to aspiring authors, this one has plenty for a writer to absorb about the writing life and the emotional side. Her famous Morning Pages section is worth a read all on its own.

There are so many others to choose from but these are a few that I especially liked. There are many that are geared to a certain genre. If you specialize in writing for kids, google to find a list of the many books on this subject. Do the same with whatever part of writing interests you most but also read the ones that are a more general all about writing refernce book.

I'll close today with a great poster I found on my facebook page.

Another Book For Writers

The number of writers who write about writing grows ever larger. And why not? Who better to reach the inner mind of another writer or to teach some of the technical aspects of our trade? I like to read books about the craft of writing because they do two things for me. First, they reassure me that I know a fair amount about this skill and second, I find that I still have a lot more to learn. 

The latest one I've read  is Cecil Murphey's Unleash The Writer Within. Mr. Murphey definitely has the credentials to pen a book like this. He's a best-selling author who has written more than 120 books. He is well-known for 90 Minutes in Heaven. His books have sold millions of copies and have been published in more than 40 languages. Mr. Murphey is also an international speaker. With success like this, we'd be fools not to pay attention to what he has to say. He is a Christian which is evident in much of what he writes, although he's not attempting to sell his faith.

Reading this book is pretty close to attending a seminar on learning who you are as a writer, what is deep inside that makes you a writer, and how to deal with many aspects of writing that effect the inner you. Think how much more you would have paid to attend the seminar than the price of this paperback book!

Each chapter concludes with a statement of truth or principle. The entire list of these aphorisms are included at the end of the book. A few that I liked are:

1.  When I'm blocked,  I listen quitetly and compassionately. My deeper, inner voice wants to tell me something--something I need to know.

2.  The better I know myself, the better I write. The better I like myself, the better writer I become.

3.  The more I know who I am and like who I am, the truer my writing voice and the more faithfully I honor that voice.

4.  I write creatively and I edit analytically.

If you read the book with an open mind and answer the questions posed to you honestly, you may learn a few things about yourself. Besisdes that, you may unleash that writer within to the point that you grow by leaps and bounds in your writing world.