A Parable For Published Authors

The following Taoist parable is copied from Julie Anne Long's essay on the publishing journey in RWR Dec. 2008. It caught my eye and I pondered on it a good long while. It is where you are now and it is where you think you are and it is where you are going.

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There was once a poor farmer who could afford to own just one horse. He took very good care of it, but one night it broke through a weak fence and ran away. The farmer's neighbors offered sympathy when they learned what had happened.

"What bad luck!" they exclaimed.

The farmer replied, "Maybe. Maybe not."

A week later, the farmer's horse returned, bringing with it three wild horses, and the farmer and his son managed to corral all of them.

"What great luck!" their neighbors enthused.

"Maybe," the farmer replied. "Maybe not."

The farmer's son set to work taming the wild horses, but while attempting to ride one of them, he was thrown to the ground and his leg was badly broken.

"What terrible luck!" the neigbors said this time.

The farmer replied, "Maybe. Maybe not."

The next day, soldiers visited the farmer's village to draft all the local young men into the army of a warlord. Because of his broken leg, the farmer's son was the only young man not taken. The neighbors descended on the farmer again.

"What wonderful luck!" they exclaimed.

"Maybe," the farmer said. "Maybe not."

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You think there's nothing you can do. You think this is all you can do. You think everything is floating away. You thing it's mostly your luck. You think your only horse is gone so you're now having to plow all by yourself. Again.

Maybe. Maybe not.

Your Own Self Told You

From your interview at

http://webpetals.livejournal.com/233816.html

Here's what you wrote about your own writing:

Do you have any suggestions to help folks become a better writer? If so, what are they?

I write from emotion. It's important to remember that even though one may be writing about something totally out of one's experience, one should insert a thread of familiar emotion through it. I often start out with the main character's state of mind in my stories because it sets the tone to the whole book. In fact, now that I'm thinking about it, all my stories begin that way.

What do you think makes a good story?

A good story is intimate to the reader. It moves from being mere words on the pages to a scene or an emotion in the reader's mind. As a reader myself, good story is involving, surprising, often in deep POV. I love snappy dialogue and crazy action. I love characters who learn something about themselves as their stories evolved. And a good story, to me, must have a satisfying ending. That's why I read and write romance.

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I would like to ask that if you know your writing process so well, why are you crying so hard over your work-in-progress? Is it because it lack emotion?

Sometimes it's good to dissect one's own writing by asking the above simple questions. It can help solve your current problem in that stubborn project.

I know, the other books were all about dangerous men and women with guns and secrets, and this one is about a magical Viking with a big sword. You have to somehow get it into your head that it's the same thing and not get intimidated. For Muse's sakes, how can you be intimated about magical phrases, weird weapons, and unexplained phenomena when you tackled stuff like virtual entanglement, brain entrainment, and techno/bio-weaponry in your Virtual series without blinking?

What is the problem here?

These are the questions all writers must ask as they struggle.

It's been a while. I've been skipping out on you, I know, but Muse needs replenishing too. Your personal bad news about your book affected my happy thoughts so much, I had to go dip in the Well of Rejuvenation and give you a mental break.

Are you ready to get back on your feet?

Need I remind you about that speech given by Connie Brockway at RWA just before you received that horrendous bad news? Okay, let's go look at the steps of the Superhero Writer, as pointed out by the excellent Ms. Brockway.

1) Ordinary world

2) Call to adventure

3) Refusal of the Call

4) Crossing the threshold

5) tests, allies, enemies

6) Approach to Innermost Cave

7) The Supreme Ordeal

8) Reward

9) The Road Back

10) Resurrection

Sometimes, my friend, the journey starts over and over again because resurrection is all about that. Which part of this Superhero Writer journey are you on now? I think you've gone into Number 6 and are refusing to come out. Come on, you need sunlight to grow.

What about you others out there? Which part of the journey are you on?

That First Step

How do you start a new novel? I have given you a childhood memory, one that should bring rich results if you mine it right. But dare you plunge into that place and make it your hero's story?

There's so much hope when a new journey teeters at the edge of your imagination. To spark that first step, just go for that memory because sometimes that's where the character will choose to stay.

I know you're laughing. Who would want to read about Kuala Lumpur, 1978? But...it could be a nice prologue....

Evaluation

What does this picture say to you as a writer?

The Dream Car Isn't Running Well

Today's writing block is about being one lap down. Sometimes two. It's very hard to stay focus where everyone else's is ahead of you having a great time being "in" the race. Okay, so you think you're focused, but I know, deep down, you're thinking about all the problems that could be plaguing your "engine."

What is wrong with me?

Why can't I write faster?

Why am I going backwards?

What is wrong with me?

Who are these people flying by?

How do I keep up?

What is wrong with me?

It's even more difficult when everyone is giving you solutions that worked for them, but somehow, not for you. Take a break, let the Muse rest (I'm well-rested and gently leading you back, hopefully). Write something else (yes, those other stories are now too damn tantalizing, aren't they? I apologize). Pray (I'm praying too, because I feel you're in need of higher faith).

You know what's more important? That you don't give up. It's your race and you will get to the end, even if it's a few laps down this time. Giving up out of frustration will come back to haunt you, makes you fear what you love, and take away your self-esteem. Better to grit your teeth, look ahead, and go for the best finish you can till the next pitstop.

You never know. We might figure out the problem with your "engine" on the next pitstop. Don't be distracted by the speed and power of others. Your driving skills are fine, or you wouldn't be in this race in the first place.

Very Important Advice

Auntie Muse brings you words of wisdom from another writer's Muse:

Vampires Of The Internet

Writers, beware of all your blocks. Some become your foundation. Others are mental blocks.

Do you have this vampire sucking on your writerly juices? Confess.

Words Come And Go

Cutting a major portion manuscript is like:

A self-wound.

Watching your favorite thing ripped to pieces.

Having the blast of wind snatch something precious out of your hand and taking off.

I know it hurt. But it has to be done sometimes. If not, they'll tell you it's the most boring story ever told. And I'll have to say, "I told you so, G Low."

Take a deep breath. Delete it. Then drink some coffee and start anew.

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Look at your story objectively. Why do you have to cut?

1. Infodump, infodump, infodump. Readers don't like that these days, especially when it's inserted like a science manual. Or, if a character suddenly goes into a "as you know, Joe" conversation, bringing up important details like a reporter. It's a roll-your-eyes moment.

2. That Villain Who Talk Too Much. Villain motivation is the most difficult to write without moti-dumping. "I hate the world because my momma beat me and everyone used me, so now I'm going to tell you every detail of what I did the last few weeks/months for revenge so you'll have time to find a way to kill me." That kind of dumping.

3. Twenty-page sex scenes are so twentieth century, darling.

4. Plot hole the size of the ozone. Useless to try to cover it. Just cut, cut, cut.

5. Too big a plot and too small a book, and by small, I mean restricted word count. Your reader will think you're naive. Your Muse will kill herself from embarrassment. It isn't that this is wrong, but as a professional writer, writing length IS part of the business is some ways, unless, of course, you're the IT Girl. Then your books can be tomes. But you aren't the IT Girl. So deal.

CUT!

And how are you writers out there with the cutting? What is the biggest weakness in your writing lately? Have your Muse been nudging you to cut? Do you need Auntie Muse to tell you what stuff to look for too?

What's Your Writing Process?

On Feb 22, Gennita blogged about this when she guestblogged at RIDING WITH THE TOP DOWN. I thought that I'd record it here so she can be reminded that her MUSE needs a massage sometimes.

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I thought I would relate about my writing process.

Mine is like getting a massage. And I don't mean just a plain old ordinary massage because suspense is all about plunging into a series of action-packed scenes, with dangerous things happening to the hero/heroine, and of course, letting things slide out of control. And while all this is happening, the writer (me) has to keep saying, "Well, it can't get worse than this," and of course, I make it so.I can hear you now. Come on, Gennita, massages are lovely and relaxing experiences, meant to make the mind zone out, and put you in the zen state. There is no such thing as a suspenseful massage.

Well, you're so wrong. Let me tell you about the Korean Super Special Spa Pack.
One day, my sister booked me for a spa appointment in Fairfax, VA. It was a holiday weekend, and everything was either closed or booked, but she finally found an opening in a Korean spa. Okay, I've never been to one before, but I'm no stranger to the exotic and odd since I've been to a unisex Finnish spa before (another adventure for another time), so I just shrugged and told her, "Sure, sis, book me. It's in Fairfax. How foreign can it be?" She booked me for the Korean Super Special Spa Pack.

1) First step in suspense. Something odd happens.
I knew something was up when the Korean lady (who spoke no English) handed me a toothbrush. I took it from her and stared at it. Why would she want me to brush my teeth before a massage?

There was an open shower area and I guess I was expected to shower too. Okay. Did both.

2) Second step in suspense. Strange things begin to happen.
It didn't take long before I found out that the Special Pack was a total NEKKID facial and body scrub massage punching bag elbow rubbing head to toe humiliation process.

A half-nekkid lady appeared. I blinked. That was the last time I blinked because, the Special Pack also included a facial. If you're the claustrophobic type, this one ain't for you. I was wrapped in this seaweedy mummy gauzy padding and could barely see through the slits.

Remember, I was nekkid. And I thought (yes, you got it right), "How much worse can this get?"

3) Third step in suspense. It gets worse.
My masseuse (whom I couldn't see) started working on my body like it was a piece of meat. I kept thinking, in a oddly calm hysterical way, “A NEKKID woman is soaping me!” I have never had a nekkid woman soap me. The fun really began when she started to deep massage me and SMACK me. Not hard, just like: Smack, Smack! Massage, massage...Smack! Smack! Massage.

I was having visions of being in a Bertrice Small novel and I started to crack up, except that I dare not laugh because seaweed would fall into my mouth...And I thought (go on, repeat after me), "How much worse can this get?" I was turned over. Whew, at least my boobs weren't staring up in embarrassed surprise any more.

My masseuse started elbowing all the knots in my muscles. Then she SPANKED ME. SPANK! SPANK! I think I swallowed some seaweed. I was still cracking up when she started to punch my legs. PUNCH PUNCH! Massage, massage. Then she punched the BOTTOM of my feet. PUNCH! PUNCH! Massage, massage.My arms and legs were moved in all sorts of positions that would rival the Karma Sutra. Trust me, some of these positions would make your face red.Through it all, I thought, "It can't possibly get worse than that."

No?

4) Fourth step in suspense. Prove yourself wrong.

THEN to TOP IT ALL, she CLIMBED ON TOP of me and started sliding her knees up and down behind my oiled thighs and calves. It felt great BUT A NEKKID WOMAN WAS SLIDING UP AND DOWN ME. ARgggghhhhh.There was nothing I could say or do. I had seaweed in my eyes, on my face, in my mouth. I was supposed to be relaxed and feeling at one with the universe. I wasn't. And I couldn't run away. A naked, hysterical woman with weird stuff pasted on her face running down the street in Fairfax just wasn't me. So I lay there. And hoped there was no camera taping this adventure for some Internet Weird Site.

5) The Suspense Ends. Your Heroine and Hero Survive.
The last part of the Super Pack involved the Mummy Experience. My masseuse scalded me with the HOTTEST towels I ever had and deep massaged me. Then she cooled me off with cold towels. Repeat with Hot Towels.

I was finally unmasked...and had to hide my maniacal trying-not-to-scream smile. She cleaned me off, picking seaweed crumbs off my face, MY ARMPITS, even washed my hair and massaged the top of my head. I prayed that this part would NOT include smacking the top of my head.

No thumping on the head, whew.She poured milky stuff all over me and did a slow rub down. I almost slid off the table, the stuff was so slick.

Finally, she matter-of-factly tapped my shoulder and pointed to the nearby spa pool to wash off. I crawled away in relief.I will tell you girls, just like finishing a suspense novel, I couldn't walk properly the next morning. I still couldn't feel my body parts. I felt like I'd been in a Korean SPAR.

And *that* is my writing process.

Not That Auntie Muse Wants To Depress The Eager Writer

Here is an entry by agent Jennifer Jackson about money from the first book, the breakdown of payments, and not quitting the day job immediately.

http://arcaedia.livejournal.com/139537.html

Auntie Muse just wants to make sure that writers write because they love their muses, that's all.

Any questions?

Juggling Plotlines

Sometimes it's just one page.

I'll take it.

Something to start the flow. A line floating by. The image of a silhouette against the sunlight. The sigh of sleeplessness. It all means something. Use them as the starting point.

It's funny how a plot can blow up into so many sub-plots, isn't it? Well, funny in a panicky clown-juggling-balls sort of way. On a unicycle. Ya, you, da clown. You just have to make people laugh while you struggle, don't you?

The hardest part with the middle of a story is the inability to close those growing story holes. Too many balls in the air, and you're afraid they'll fall on the ground and bounce off. You can't think about that when you're juggling writing. You have to keep up with your inner eye.

When you stop juggling, then THAT is the time to patch those holes. I suppose you can reverse juggle and get all that done the first time round, but really, you aren't that good a clown yet.

The First Day To Greatness

All right.

Vacation's over.

You KNOW IT'S TIME to get back into the story. There is pain and pleasure in writing, in any creation. You have had the pleasure of reading and rereading, now because you've been eating too many sweet books and procrastinating, I must whip the words out of you.

Today, you will start a new chapter. Literally. It's the first day of the year, my dear girl. Write outside if you have to, but write. It'll take off from there.

Hmm. The sound of a swishing whip is rather sexy.