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Don T Polish The Turd And Other Oddball Writing Advice That Work
Even with a dozen published books to my name, I sometimes need a dose of inspiration when I sit down to write. Above my desk, I've posted a paper with various pieces of fiction-writing wisdom I've collected over the years. Some of the advice may sound odd, but I've found it all helpful. Here it is:
1. Write as if no one's reading. If you always imagine a reader perched on your shoulder, you'll be afraid to take chances. At least for the first draft, ignore that imaginary reader and free yourself to write whatever crazy, impossible, lousy things occur to you. You can always fix it later - in fact, you SHOULD fix it later. But you'll have nothing to rewrite if you're too intimidated to write in the first place.
2. Show up at the page. Writers write. They sit down - ideally every day but at least as regularly as possible - and write.
3. Don't polish the turd. If you find yourself spending a lot of time trying to save an idea, a chapter or even a sentence, it usually means it's time to move on. You're wasting your time trying to beautify something that, well, just plain stinks.
4. Make bad things happen to good people. Novels are driven by conflict, and that means bad things have to happen to your characters - these people that you've created and have grown to love over the course of your novel. Your main character can have a happy ending, but along the way, he or she has to deal with sorrow, disappointments and possibly even danger.
5. Murder your darlings. That sentence you LOVE? The sex scene that you're sure will win you the Pulitzer? The pages that moved you to tears? Be prepared to kill them. In a novel, it's the piece as a whole that matters - not so much the individual parts. Sometimes your best writing will have to see the sharp end of your editing blade to make things work.
6. Let Sean Connery write your sentences. As James Bond, he's a man of action: things are not done to him, he does them. That's how you should structure your sentences. Jason did not get stabbed by Susan - rather, Susan stabbed Jason. The weapon was not found by police - the police found the weapon. Writing in the active voice keeps things moving...and your readers reading.
7. When in doubt, pick one, any one. At some point in your story, you're likely to face a fork in the road. Should Marianne get in the car? Or should she take off running down the road? Should she slap the guy? Kiss him? Reveal that she's always secretly loved him? When you're faced with a decision you can't seem to make, just make it. Pick one, start writing, and see where it goes. If it doesn't work out, you can always cut it and try again (see #5).
8. Keep your friends close and your reviewers closer. It can be helpful to get feedback as you go, but choose your readers carefully. Giving your precious pages to someone who is frustrated at their own inability to write a novel is like handing them a loaded gun ... pointed right at you.
9. Rewriting is writing. You may have heard the old saw that "writing is rewriting," but I like to flip it. Rewriting is just as valid a form of creativity as your first draft. Sometimes it takes more than a polish - it takes reaching into your gut and daring to make whatever changes need to be made, no matter how extensive they may be.
10. Skip and go naked. Be free. Have fun. Through the hard and often lonely work that is writing, remember to feel the joy. Unlike money, fame or even publication, it's the one payoff that's guaranteed.
BONUS : E-mail 101: The Dos And Donts
Copyright © Shaun R. Fawcett
You would be amazed at some of the pure gibberish that arrives in my e-mailbox on a regular basis.
I first published a version of this article three years ago, but based on what comes into my e-mailbox every day, many people need a refresher on the basics of composing e-mails.
When sending e-mail, some folks seem to think that because they arent dealing directly with another person (or as directly as they would be face-to-face or by telephone), all forms of civility and basic respect for the other person (i.e. the recipient), and the English language, can go out the proverbial window.
Not true! Writing e-mails is still communicating. Both the recipient and the language still deserve your respect.
The following list of e-mail Dos and Donts has been adapted from a chapter in my eBook titled Instant Home Writing Kit.
DO Use A Descriptive Subject Line
There is nothing more annoying than receiving e-mails in your e-Inbox with no heading, or a heading that does not explain what the contents of the message is about.
When one receives multiple messages every day, the subject-line is important when reviewing and prioritizing e-mail that is in ones mailbox. Also, if you include a descriptive title, your message is almost guaranteed to be read before the ones with blank or meaningless titles.
Tip: I even revise the Subject Line when I am sending a Reply; to clearly reflect the essence of my response. This is especially useful if its one of those e-mails that travels back and forth 3 or 4 times. Often, there is little relationship between the point of the first message and the later ones. So, try revising the Subject Line slightly each time to reflect the content of the current reply.
DO Use Opening And Closing Salutations
Some people have forgotten that e-mail is interpersonal communication between human beings. Basic civility still applies.
There is nothing much more impersonal than receiving an e-mail that doesnt at least say Hello or Hi for the opening; and Regards or Thanks or Take care or All the best , or something similar as the closing. We cant personally sign the note by hand anymore, but we can surely personalize it a little bit by at least typing in the recipients name and then wishing them the best.
DO Use Capital Letters Sparingly
The use of all-caps is shunned on the Internet. Its called SHOUTING. Every once in a while a word or two in capitals for particular emphasis is ok, but avoid overdoing it.
Tip: Cutesy little smiles and similar symbols, known as emoticons, should also be used sparingly. I advise you not to use these symbols at all in business e-mails, unless the recipient is a friend or well-known to you. Just as with business letters, the principle underlying business e-mails is: clear and concise businesslike communication with a minimum of clutter. -)
DO Check Spelling, Grammar, and Format
Make a point to ensure that your e-mail is relatively readable. It doesnt have to be a work of art, but at least respect the basic rules of spelling and grammar. Most e-mail programs have a spell-checker option. Use it.
Tip: For better readability, break your e-mail into short 1,2, or 3 sentence paragraphs with a blank line between paragraphs. (i.e. double hard-return).
DO Watch Out For E-mail Rage
Many an e-mail has been composed and sent when a person was in an angry or upset state (referred to as flaming). Many people have lived to regret these indiscretions in the cold sober light of the next hour, or the next day. Remember, whenever the Send button has been clicked, your e-mail is gone.
Tip: When you compose an e-mail while in an upset state, it is always a good idea to save it as a draft for an hour or two and then read it over carefully at least once before sending it, just to make sure you are communicating what you really want to, in a clear and respectful way.
DONT Forward Junk Mail To Others
From time to time, people to whom we have given our e-mail address will have momentary lapses in judgment (yes, even friends and family) and will forward junk mail to you.
These are often long rambling stories, urban myths, scraps of wisdom, chain letters, collections of jokes, or other such items that are prevalent around the Net.
This is the equivalent of opening your regular mail box at home and finding it loaded with unsolicited and unwanted promotional letters and advertising flyers. Would you forward those to your friends or family? Do you? I didnt think so.
When you receive one of these in your e-Inbox, DO NOT forward it on to someone else. Kill it then and there. This kind of unsolicited junk mail is known as spam, and is definitely not acceptable on the Net. If a friend or acquaintance sends one to you, politely e-mail them back asking if they would please be kind enough to remove your name from their distribution list for that type of item. Explain that you are already inundated with this type of unsolicited e-mail. Usually, they will take the hint and accommodate you.
DONT Think That E-Mail Is Instantaneous
Believe it or not, e-mail is not as reliable as a telephone call when it comes to timely communication!
The Internet is a loosely connected network of computers and telecommunications equipment owned, operated, and managed by many independent companies, institutions, and government organizations.
Your e-mail must often travel a complex and circuitous route to get to its destination. For example, if someone schedules maintenance on a computer or a piece of equipment on the network that your e-mail must pass through, your message may be delayed and you wont even know it.
Also, who is to guarantee that the intended recipient even checks their e-mail regularly? Many people only check their e-mail every few days. So, if your communication is urgent, use the standard telephone. It is still the only way to be absolutely sure that a message has been received at a particular point in time.
DONT Forget To Check Your E-mail Regularly
There is nothing more frustrating than sending an e-mail to someone and then having them tell you on the telephone a week later that they havent seen your message because the last time they checked their e-mail was a week ago!
If you want people to take your e-mails seriously, make sure that you take theirs seriously too. So, check your e-mail regularly; at least every day or two.
The bottom line to all of this is simple. Remember that e-mail is just another form of interpersonal communication. People deserve the same amount of respect and civility as you would give them in a telephone call or a regular letter.
Copyright © Shaun R. Fawcett
You would be amazed at some of the pure gibberish that arrives in my e-mailbox on a regular basis.
I first published a version of this article three years ago, but based on what comes into my e-mailbox every day, many people need a refresher on the basics of composing e-mails.
When sending e-mail, some folks seem to think that because they arent dealing directly with another person (or as directly as they would be face-to-face or by telephone), all forms of civility and basic respect for the other person (i.e. the recipient), and the English language, can go out the proverbial window.
Not true! Writing e-mails is still communicating. Both the recipient and the language still deserve your respect.
The following list of e-mail Dos and Donts has been adapted from a chapter in my eBook titled Instant Home Writing Kit.
DO Use A Descriptive Subject Line
There is nothing more annoying than receiving e-mails in your e-Inbox with no heading, or a heading that does not explain what the contents of the message is about.
When one receives multiple messages every day, the subject-line is important when reviewing and prioritizing e-mail that is in ones mailbox. Also, if you include a descriptive title, your message is almost guaranteed to be read before the ones with blank or meaningless titles.
Tip: I even revise the Subject Line when I am sending a Reply; to clearly reflect the essence of my response. This is especially useful if its one of those e-mails that travels back and forth 3 or 4 times. Often, there is little relationship between the point of the first message and the later ones. So, try revising the Subject Line slightly each time to reflect the content of the current reply.
DO Use Opening And Closing Salutations
Some people have forgotten that e-mail is interpersonal communication between human beings. Basic civility still applies.
There is nothing much more impersonal than receiving an e-mail that doesnt at least say Hello or Hi for the opening; and Regards or Thanks or Take care or All the best , or something similar as the closing. We cant personally sign the note by hand anymore, but we can surely personalize it a little bit by at least typing in the recipients name and then wishing them the best.
DO Use Capital Letters Sparingly
The use of all-caps is shunned on the Internet. Its called SHOUTING. Every once in a while a word or two in capitals for particular emphasis is ok, but avoid overdoing it.
Tip: Cutesy little smiles and similar symbols, known as emoticons, should also be used sparingly. I advise you not to use these symbols at all in business e-mails, unless the recipient is a friend or well-known to you. Just as with business letters, the principle underlying business e-mails is: clear and concise businesslike communication with a minimum of clutter. -)
DO Check Spelling, Grammar, and Format
Make a point to ensure that your e-mail is relatively readable. It doesnt have to be a work of art, but at least respect the basic rules of spelling and grammar. Most e-mail programs have a spell-checker option. Use it.
Tip: For better readability, break your e-mail into short 1,2, or 3 sentence paragraphs with a blank line between paragraphs. (i.e. double hard-return).
DO Watch Out For E-mail Rage
Many an e-mail has been composed and sent when a person was in an angry or upset state (referred to as flaming). Many people have lived to regret these indiscretions in the cold sober light of the next hour, or the next day. Remember, whenever the Send button has been clicked, your e-mail is gone.
Tip: When you compose an e-mail while in an upset state, it is always a good idea to save it as a draft for an hour or two and then read it over carefully at least once before sending it, just to make sure you are communicating what you really want to, in a clear and respectful way.
DONT Forward Junk Mail To Others
From time to time, people to whom we have given our e-mail address will have momentary lapses in judgment (yes, even friends and family) and will forward junk mail to you.
These are often long rambling stories, urban myths, scraps of wisdom, chain letters, collections of jokes, or other such items that are prevalent around the Net.
This is the equivalent of opening your regular mail box at home and finding it loaded with unsolicited and unwanted promotional letters and advertising flyers. Would you forward those to your friends or family? Do you? I didnt think so.
When you receive one of these in your e-Inbox, DO NOT forward it on to someone else. Kill it then and there. This kind of unsolicited junk mail is known as spam, and is definitely not acceptable on the Net. If a friend or acquaintance sends one to you, politely e-mail them back asking if they would please be kind enough to remove your name from their distribution list for that type of item. Explain that you are already inundated with this type of unsolicited e-mail. Usually, they will take the hint and accommodate you.
DONT Think That E-Mail Is Instantaneous
Believe it or not, e-mail is not as reliable as a telephone call when it comes to timely communication!
The Internet is a loosely connected network of computers and telecommunications equipment owned, operated, and managed by many independent companies, institutions, and government organizations.
Your e-mail must often travel a complex and circuitous route to get to its destination. For example, if someone schedules maintenance on a computer or a piece of equipment on the network that your e-mail must pass through, your message may be delayed and you wont even know it.
Also, who is to guarantee that the intended recipient even checks their e-mail regularly? Many people only check their e-mail every few days. So, if your communication is urgent, use the standard telephone. It is still the only way to be absolutely sure that a message has been received at a particular point in time.
DONT Forget To Check Your E-mail Regularly
There is nothing more frustrating than sending an e-mail to someone and then having them tell you on the telephone a week later that they havent seen your message because the last time they checked their e-mail was a week ago!
If you want people to take your e-mails seriously, make sure that you take theirs seriously too. So, check your e-mail regularly; at least every day or two.
The bottom line to all of this is simple. Remember that e-mail is just another form of interpersonal communication. People deserve the same amount of respect and civility as you would give them in a telephone call or a regular letter.
