Ctrl Alt Delete

It’s been a long time since I blogged. It’s been a long time since I did any writing, consistently. After Nano last year I had a small hiatus that turned into a long break, as those hiatuses (hiati?) generally do when you’re a writer. But I’ve been suffering with a serious attack of self-questioning – what am I doing? I’ll never do this – I’m just not good enough etc, and eventually that just morphs into I’m just not going to bother. I think most writers who read that will be able to empathise. And then a few weeks ago I picked up a book that a friend gave me last Christmas (I have a long waiting list for books and since I bought my Kindle that list has tripled). The book was Stephen King’s, On Writing. It took me 3 days to read it and, in those 3 days, I think I learnt more about writing and about myself as a writer than I did over the whole 3 years of my creative writing MA course. I’ve summarised this learning into ten points below, with my own thoughts added and, in my opinion (there are others!), they are probably quite good lessons a writer can learn.

1. Read. It doesn’t matter what you read, just read. I’ve always been a reader but for many years I have mostly read genre, particularly sci-fi and fantasy. But in the last few years I have broadened my horizons. Broaden yours. You will be amazed at what you learn. And that goes for what you consider both good and bad writing. I have probably learnt more from badly written books than those considered excellent. Every book you read will teach you something. To be able to write well you must learn, continually, how to not write badly.
2. Know your basic grammar. Do not be complacent. And this is not preaching to the perverted. I thought my grammar was fine but I only learnt the true difference between it’s and its a few years ago. I also struggle with comma placement. Do you really know what an adverb or a pronoun is? You may be surprised at what you don’t know. On top of this, improve your vocabulary. If you have to spend an hour thinking of a better word for sad, is it really a better word?
3. Create a writing space. King says, close the door. But, in basic terms, this is somewhere you can think without distraction. Some place that is yours, in which you can be creative without external influence. Personally, I can write anywhere, but I know that others need their space.  Wherever you are, be comfortable (spend the money on a good chair rather than using the spare one from the kitchen), and be relaxed.  And give yourself at least an hour, without distraction, to get some words on paper.
4. When you first sit down to write, write the story only – while you are still excited about it! Forget the detail, forget the editing. That is what re-writes are for. And the key point here is even if you think it’s awful, keep writing. It is so important that you get your ideas down on paper whilst they are still fresh in your mind. Remember, a first draft is called a first draft because that’s what it is. You may not recognise your manuscript by the third draft, but at least you completed the first (as opposed to having 2 or 3 unfinished!).
5. Don’t over-plot. This is not something I could ever be accused of as I don’t plot at all. I sit and write and let the story evolve. But I am aware that there are other writers who like to have an outline before they write. I understand that but, trying to write to a very detailed outline can restrict what actually wants to come out when your fingers are banging away on the keyboard – don’t let those boundaries restrict the flow of your writing and your ideas.
6. If you can’t describe it, should you really be writing about it? If you’ve never seen a sunset in Montana how can you describe what it looks like? One of the lessons I did learn during my MA was to visualise what you are describing, and by that I mean every minute detail. Write what you see – add in how it made you feel, how your other senses were affected, and you can’t go wrong. But don’t make it up. If it isn’t real, it won’t read real, and reality is the most important difference between good and bad description. As King says, write about what you know.
7. Lose the adverbs. This is the second biggest lesson I learnt from this book. Most are erroneous. Use only when absolutely necessary. Go back and check the last piece of writing you did. How many can you delete? I did this and was shocked. Don’t let your writing be affected. Don’t over-think, don’t over-describe. What comes naturally is often best.
8. Limit your back-story, particularly if you are writing general fiction. One chapter is enough. What’s important is what is happening now. From personal experience, this is difficult when writing genre. Try and avoid the info-dump. If you must do it, do it well. And I can’t advise on how to do that, I only know the principle. I’m still learning myself.
9. WRITE EVERY DAY. In a perfect world, this is easy. In the real one, with the day job, not so. I work full time and also commute – my day is long. But, I try and do one thing every day, even when I’m not writing consistently. Even if you don’t physically switch the computer on and type on the keyboard, can you find thirty minutes to think about your characters – about their personality and how they might react to a certain situation? Or could you read with lessons in mind? Brush up on your grammar! There is something you can do every day and, if you begin each day in that mindset, you will continue to move forward. King says, write 2000 words every day. I aim for 800 and, if I reach that, I’m chuffed. And when the story is finished, take a break. Take as long as it takes to get some perspective. I know that every writer will empathise when I say that, when read continually, your story just becomes words and punctuation on a piece of paper and you lose all context whilst reading. Don’t let that happen. If it does, it’s too early to revise. Take a longer break – go back again later.
10. Get published. THE HOLY GRAIL. But I am not talking about getting published in the context of what it meant 20 years ago, or even 10. In the age of digital publishing, if you make the effort, you can get something ‘out there’. It shows commitment. The more prestigious the better, but it doesn’t have to be at that level. Have something on your CV that proves you are serious about ‘this writing thing’. Show that it matters to you and the people that matter will take more of an interest.

There is more, but of the remaining sections of that book that I cannot and will not try and give advice on are dialogue or theme. Dialogue is the one area of writing I flog myself over (metaphysically). I have a lot of practice to do. My personal opinion on theme is that it cannot be forced – it just happens. Others will think differently. And do you know what? No one is perfect. I’ve read Stephen King novels since I read this book and he breaks his own rules sometimes. Rules are important, but they are also there to be broken.

But, THE most important lesson I learnt from this book slapped me in the face when I read it. And I paraphrase (because I’m not religious) – If you’re good at something AND you enjoy doing it, why on earth would you choose not to do it?

I will leave you with that and, if you haven’t already, I recommend highly (if you’re a writer) that you read ‘On Writing’. If you have a reading list then fast track it. I can guarantee (no money will change hands though, obviously) that you will learn something even, as it was for me, it just consolidates a number of things that you already knew.

In summary, why haven’t you turned on your computer recently with any intention other than to surf the net? Why aren’t you sat there right now typing out what happened to Jeff? (N.B. just renaming your drafts about Jeff to a more numerical system or revising what Jeff has already said doesn’t count). Why aren’t you questioning whether or not Jeff’s character would lead him to react in that particular way to his wife’s infidelity? Why haven’t you got that story on paper yet? As a FORMER procrastinator (thank you), I understand. But I also want to shove a stick up your arse and tell you to get on with it. Just do it. You’re not getting any younger. It doesn’t matter how young you are, you REALLY (use the adverb when it counts) don’t have forever.  You are many things but, as a writer, you must make a pact with yourself that the one thing you won’t regret is never finishing THAT book – because, if for no other reason, I, and many others, are looking forward to reading it.