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Can You Write Too Much?

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Over the weekend, I came across an article by Stephen King on The New York Times website. King talked about whether or not a writer can be too prolific. I found this to be an interesting topic and one I continually found myself thinking about. It never occurred to me that there may be such a thing as too much writing. To me, if you have the ideas, time, and ability you should be writing. A lot of writing in turn produces a lot of books- what’s wrong with that? I know literary critics are often harsh on authors who produce a lot of product. They often aren’t taken seriously in the “intellectual” literary world because how could someone produce high quality, perfect work in just a few months? Quantity has a history of automatically devaluing your work when it comes to critics and publishing professionals. Our world is constantly evolving and it’s about time that way of thinking changes along with it.

King highlighted a couple of very interesting points in his article. My favorite line from the article is, “No one in his or her right mind would argue that quantity guarantees quality, but to suggest that quantity never produces quality strikes me as snobbish, inane and demonstrably untrue.” It irks me that an author could be passed over solely due to the number of books he/she has to their name. Assumptions should not be made before the research is completed. Looking at King’s book rooster of over 55 books, it wouldn’t be uncommon for one to think that he is just turning out junk after junk just to get books published. But, what about actually picking up one of his books? If you do, you will find that the quality, despite the quantity, is certainly not lacking. King, along with the many other authors he mentioned in his article, deserve just as much high literary praise as anyone else. Quantity does not equate to quality, no matter which way you look at it.

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I also found much meaning in King’s reasoning to be prolific, “But I also understand that life is short, and that in the end, none of us is prolific. The creative spark dims, and then death puts it out.” Our lives are not prolific, death is the end game for us all. With our death, our ability to write and create dies as well. As writers, our worst fear is to die before we had a chance to say everything we wanted. Why not take full advantage of our gift while we have it? We need to make the most out of the life we are living, while we are living it. If you want to write 60 books, write 61.

As King concludes, prolificacy is not a bad thing if it’s used correctly. We want our work to be polished, thought out, and valuable. For some, that takes years. For others, it could only take weeks. We all work at our own speeds. We all have our own processes.It doesn’t mean one end product is any better than the next. Don’t ever shy away from writing because you are afraid of producing too much. Let the critics do their job (and ignore them if you have to) and you do yours- write. Write on.

Embracing The Digital Age

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Writing is a scary process. It’s one of the few times we can let ourselves be completely vulnerable. We pour our heart and souls onto the paper and then all of the sudden, it’s there- ready for the rest of the world to see. Unfortunately, the publishing process is just as scary. Especially into today’s publishing landscape, there are so many options an author needs to consider. Do they want to try their hand at a traditional publisher? Do they want to immerse themselves in the indie world? Do they want to seek a strictly digital publisher? The digital age has changed so much about book publishing its very easy to become discouraged.

Today I can across another Huffington Post article that highlighted five things that all authors should know about publishing in the digital age. Perhaps the article will ease your mind, maybe it will ensure you that despite all it’s challenges it is possible to succeed in today’s publishing market. Or perhaps the article will increase your anxiety even more, bringing to light more things that you had never even thought of. Either way, the article addresses some important issues that our digital age has created for authors and book publishing. So take a deep breath, read it for yourself, and know that you can do this.

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  1. Traditional vs. Indie

The indie world has opened up a mass amount of opportunity. More authors than ever have the ability to publish their work, share it with fans, and most importantly- make money off of it. But now every author is faced with the dilemma of going with a traditional publisher or acting as their own. Being your own publisher allows you to find your own success, work on your own terms, and maintain absolute creative control. The freedom comes with a price tag of a lot of work, many logged research hours, and a host of lingering questions. If you decide to seek out a traditional publisher, the work that will need to be done on your end in terms of producing the book decreases dramatically. But now you need to decide which publisher is right for you and what your expectations are.

2. You need to market your own work.

The world of social media has made it easy for everyone to become a marketer and once you write your first book, you aren’t just an author now but a marketer as well. Even if you have a traditional publisher, the role of social media is instrumental to your success. Your publisher just isn’t going to have the amount of time needed to appropriately dedicate the hours into growing your social presence, so you are going to need to do it. Everyone loves being able to connect with their favorite authors, see what they are up to on a daily basis, and keep track of their upcoming projects. Being visible is the best thing for your writing career. Once people are invested in you, they will be invested in your work as well.

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3. Print On Demand Books.

Bookstores rarely stock print on demand books, so this is something you should be aware of before making any distribution/publishing decisions. Bookstores want to be able to return their stock if it doesn’t sell, so the print on demand model just doesn’t work for them. The article points out a couple ways in which you may be able to get around this, so check it out.

4. Distribution.

So, you have this lovely physical book- how do you sell it? Finding a distribution company can be next to impossible, especially if you are a new author. Most distribution companies like to see a successful sale history, so if you don’t have any to show them then you just might be out of luck. Your best bet is to wait until you have some (good) digital sales. The good news? Digital sales are growing by leaps and bounds, so don’t sweat it.

5. Pitch Your Work.

Don’t be afraid to talk about your book (and get used to it). Put yourself out there and pitch your book to whoever you need to in order to get the job done. If you don’t get yourself out there, the likely hood of them coming to you is very slim. You will also need to prepare yourself for rejection. It’s one of those unavoidable harsh realities of writing and publishing. That one “YES” will make all false hope worth it. If not, don’t get discouraged- you can always do it on your own. If you don’t ask, you shall never receive.

Write on.

Excuse #1001

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I came across a fun article today on Bustle. It made me laugh, but it also comforted me. The article, by Alex Weiss, talked about the various excuses writers use to get out of writing. It made me laugh because I can recall pretty much at least one instance for each of the ten examples where I had been victim to that way of thinking, not just for writing but for whatever task I may have needed to accomplish that day. The truth to what Weiss addresses in the article is so real that it’s funny. We can all use a good laugh at ourselves from time to time.

I also found the article comforting, which is the main reason I wanted to share it with you all. Sometimes when I feel like I am falling behind in my work or latest project, I get discouraged. I feel like everyone else is getting so far ahead of me and that there must be something wrong with me since I just can’t seem to focus. I feel like everyone else is out there succeeding and accomplishing their goals while I am here just… failing. This is certainly absolutely never the case. In reality, everyone struggles. Everyone has times when they go through every excuse in the book just to avoid doing one simple task. It’s human nature to crash and burn sometimes. It’s our body’s way of yelling at us, letting us know that it can’t keep up and it just needs a little rejuvenation. Failure isn’t the inability to do something. Failure is being in denial- knowing there’s an issue and doing nothing to fix it. We all make excuses, we all fail to complete our “to-do” lists sometimes, but how we pick ourselves up after we fall is what truly matters.

If you fall off the horse, don’t be afraid to get back up. The only way we learn is by making mistakes in the first place. Next time you find yourself with a list of excuses a mile long, take a quick glance at the list below, have a good laugh, and then get back up on that saddle.

  1. You Think Watching An Episode Of <Insert Favorite TV Show Here> Will Inspire You.

We all seek inspiration from our reality and everyday experiences. The strangest thing can ignite our next greatest story idea. So when we are feeling stuck, immersing ourselves in a realm of possibility actually makes sense. But when we do this, it’s very easy to get lost- way too lost. As Weiss suggests, limit yourself to one episode then move on.

2. You Convince Yourself Researching Counts As Work.

Researching is very important, but most research these days consists of one dreaded word: the internet. It’s very easy to become distracted when one click onto Facebook, Candy Crush, or your favorite shopping site can lead to hours of lost time. But hey, you were researching that whole time- right? When you find yourself needing to do some research, allot a certain amount of time for it. If the need pops up during your writing session, mark where more research is needed and keep writing. You can conduct your research after you are done writing.

3. You Must Have Writer’s Block Even Though You Know It Doesn’t Exist.

Your ability to write just doesn’t magically disappear, but sometimes we become convinced that’s the only logical explanation. If you are feeling stuck, instead of gluing your head to your comfy pillow with shame for all eternity, get out and do something. Do something active- walk, run, hike, bike. Or do something creative- cook, paint, draw, complete a quick project around the house you have been meaning to get to. If you exercise your brain in a simple way, your writing ability will “magically” reappear- I promise.

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4. You’ll Never Be As Good As So And So.

Jealousy and envy can sometimes be your own worst enemy. Don’t let someone else’s achievements steer you away from completing your own goals. Each and everyone one of us brings something unique to the table. Your creation will be just as awesome because it’s new, fresh, different, and because it’s yours.

5. You Believe Your Story Stinks.

It’s easy to underestimate the value of our work when editors reject it or it doesn’t sell as much as we thought it would. But, that has absolutely no bearing on the quality of work you produced. Success doesn’t happen over night. It takes a lot of dedication to get your work out there, only to be rejected 99% of the time. But one day, the glue will stick and all those rejections will be beyond worth it. You need to believe in your work before any one else will.

6. Your Day Job Wears You Out.

Having one job is enough, but how about two? Or even three? It’s hard to stay focused when you have a ton of other commitments you need to fulfill in order to survive. It’s easy to push the easiest one aside, which often times is our writing. Find a time that works for you every day to write. If you are too tired after work, try waking up earlier and writing first. Maybe your lunch break works best. Or maybe you just need to devote more of your weekend time to writing- skip Friday nights out and write.

7. Your Grocery List Suddenly Sounds Exciting.

At any given time, we all have a thousand other things we could be doing. Dinner needs to be prepped, laundry is waiting to be folded, the dust is quickly collecting around your house, and that check sitting on your counter desperately needs to be deposited into your bank account. Before you give up your writing time to tackle these chores, ask yourself what accomplishments will make you happier? Writing the next chapter of your book or folding your clothes? Chances are that writing will win every time. There will always  be time to complete some quick house chores, but every time you put off writing you get further and further away from ever starting again.

8. You Miss Your Friends.

When all your friends are out at your local hang-out joint, posting pictures of their drinks and delicious food it’s easy to feel isolated and lonely. But don’t let that feeling trick you into abandoning your work. Learn how to balance both worlds. Only go out one night a week or devote every other weekend to seeing your friends. If you go out every time your friends go out, chances are you are still going to end up feeling pretty crappy about yourself because you still have your failure to write lingering over you. And plus, your friends will understand that sometimes you just need to say ‘no.’ They want to see you succeed as well.

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9. You Just Really Need A Nap.

Especially on that rainy day, a nap is all you need. Sometimes naps are glorious, while other times they can be detrimental. If you are getting enough sleep every night, chances are you don’t need that nap.

10. You’re Terrified Of Finishing Your Story.

Sometimes we put things off because we don’t want them to end or be over. Finishing a book can be a terrifying thing. What will everyone else think of it? What will I do with all my free time? What am I going to write about next? We become attached to our work and we don’t want to see it go. We will actually kind of miss it. But this is what you worked so hard for- to show it off to the world. Your next great story idea is waiting for you. Writing is never over.

Write on.

The Publishing Code

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I love finding new resources for publishing news and trends. It’s such an ever changing industry that it’s very important to have reliable (and usable) resources. Today, I came across a new monthly column on Digital Book World called ‘Audience + Insight’ by Andrew Rhomberg of Jellybooks. I’m very excited about this because I think the information that will come out of this column will be immensely helpful for authors, publishers, and agents. It will be information that we can actually all put to good use.

Jellybooks is a company that has recently created a program that you can embed within an e-book and it tracks how readers actually read. It takes all those numbers that digital publishing spits out at you and helps interpret that data. Publishing has become a huge numbers game, but what does that actually mean and how we can use that data to write better books?

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That’s exactly what this new column will explore and I can’t wait to see the results. It’s all about understanding the reader and audience better. This new technology is able to tell us what types of readers are engaging with which types of genres, how big the audience is for specific types of books, and what that audience looks like. I can only imagine that astounding, and maybe even shocking, new information will be found.

There also seems like there will be other great information shared on this column as well, so I hope you continue to check it out with me. We are in the middle of a publishing evolution and we can never have enough information. Write on.

The Value of a Memory

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We talk often about why we write, how/when we write, and how to write. But what about the value of the act of writing? Why do something if we don’t understand it’s importance and benefits? An article in The Courier-Journal captured exactly why writing is extremely important and moreover, how it benefits the writer themselves.

Angela Burton teaches ‘Oh, I Remember’ writing workshops in retirement homes in the Louisville area and the classes are quickly spreading. This is one of the best ideas I have heard in a long time and it really made me think about why we should all be writing. Seniors in the retirement home meet weekly, bringing along their weekly writing assignments. They use the class time to read their writing to each other. Most of the stories are about their childhood, people who have long passed on, places they have visited, losses they have endured, and historical events they have witnessed.

Many of these seniors feel isolated, alone, and segregated from the life they used to have. Most of them feel like they no longer have a purpose and that their life is already over, even though they are very much still alive. The act of writing and sharing lets them relive their happiest moments, process the loss they still feel, and learn new facts about their friends. At the end of the day, writing is therapeutic, relaxing, and rewarding. These seniors feel like they are leaving something behind, that otherwise would be lost. They feel as if they still have something to contribute to society.

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For me, that perfectly captures the spirit of writing. Writing is meant for communication, for preservation, for learning. We write to share our stories, whether they are figments of our imagination or real life events. We write as therapy to make ourselves feel better, whether it is an e-mail that never gets sent, a poem about a life event, or a novel length memoir. Writing is an accomplishment, something to be proud of. Our sense of purpose is never clearer then after a heartfelt and honest writing session.

The effects these writing classes are having on these senior citizens emphasizes why we all need to be writing. The next time you pick up a pad of paper and pen or sit down at your computer, just stop to think for a few seconds. Think about why you are doing this and how it makes you feel. Take that knowledge and treasure it for your entire life. Never let it go and never stop writing. Write on.

Breaking Free of Self-Doubt

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Let’s face it, we all have those days when we feel down and something is just off. Sometimes it’s for no apparent reason, while other days it’s because nothing seems to be going your way- whether you got a bad review on your book, a fan posted a nasty comment, or your editor told you that you need to basically re-write your next novel. These days make us start to doubt our ability to succeed. We start to question our talent and wonder if we truly have what it takes to keep going. When you put your work out there to be criticized a lot of good things can happen, but a lot of bad things will probably happen too. We need to find ways to pick ourselves out of that self-doubt and move forward. Every hit of negative criticism makes you a stronger and better writer.

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Today, author Holly Robinson shared four ways that she conquers her self-doubt in a post on The Huffington Post book blog. I thought they were pretty awesome ideas and that many of us could benefit from them- not just in our own writing worlds, but in our every day lives as well.

1. “Work With Your Hands”

Build/do something with you hands- bake something, do an arts project, conquer a landscaping project. Seeing the physical result of your efforts will help you gain some of your confidence back.

2. “Forget About Success”

Stop worrying about what other people think and remember that the main person you create your work for is you. Don’t be afraid to fail. As long as you are happy with the work that you produce, you are already winning.

3. “Stay Flexible”

Try new things- even if it’s just for a few hours. Try writing a different type of genre than usual. Craft up a totally different character than ever before. Create a world that seems completely bizarre to you. It will give you a break from your typical writing and you never know, it might lead you somewhere other than the trash bin.

4. “Keep Your Projects Warm”

Never stop working completely. If you aren’t up for a whole day of writing then just reread a few chapters, edit a few lines, or make outlines for future chapters. The second you stop working, you are letting your self-doubt win.

The only person that can make you succeed or fail is yourself. We all have days of self-doubt, but it’s how we break free that matters. Write On.

Remember Why You Write

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Starting your writing career is hard. You are always kept wondering if you are ever going to be good enough, when that first big deal will come, and if writing will ever be something you will be able to do full time. But the truth is, writing is hard and it seldom gets easier. Every stage of your career has new and different challenges to overcome. Just when you think you are comfortable, another road block emerges. Successful author, Holly Robinson, talks about this phenomenon in a recent article on The Huffington Post book blog entitled, “Why It’s Harder To Write The Next Book Than Your Last– And How To Keep Writing Anyway.”

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Robinson explains that with each book she writes it actually gets harder. She is always worrying about disappointing her fan base, her next advance, and what publicity she will be able to land. Despite all her success, she still worries if she is going to continue to make it in the publishing world.

We all can’t relate to Robinson’s challenges at this point in her career, but what we can relate to is why she keeps writing. Robinson makes a realization that I think all writers and authors need to make at some point in their career to be successful, “I write because writing is the thing I love to do.” We can’t succeed in a writing career without first realizing why we write. When you put your own work on the line for the whole world to either criticize or love, the reason you started this all in the first place needs to be ingrained into your soul. You started to write because you love it, because it keeps you sane, because you can take any figment of your imagination and turn it into reality. You started this journey for you and if anyone else happens to join you for the ride than you are one step further than you ever imagined you would be.

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Robinson ends her article with a wonderful summation of how writers, new and experienced, need to remember always to write, “”Write your story for yourself alone; pour your heart out on the page.” Write on.

Fifty Shades of Success

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There was recently an article in THE GUARDIAN by Hannah Ellis-Petersen about the FIFTY SHADES OF GREY phenomenon, due to the most recent release of GREY. If you aren’t a fan, you are probably beyond fed up with all the hype. When are we going to stop talking about it? Why do we care so much?

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Hannah’s article perfectly captures why we should never stop talking about FIFTY SHADES- it has completely transformed the erotica genre, let alone the publishing landscape itself. Despite if you read the book or not, nor if you find the genre enticing or sickening, there is so much we can learn from this single book.

As we all know, the book was self-published fan fiction before being “discovered.” The author was unknown and the genre was taboo. Critics are harsh on E.L. James, many label her writing as “boring and clunky.” Some aren’t afraid to say that it is the most poorly written book to ever be published. Putting all the book’s challenges and criticisms aside, somehow it still managed to do the impossible- becoming one of the most read and talked about books of the past few years.

It is now very clear what made this book so successful- the readers. It proved that all readers are really looking for is a good story and they don’t care how they get it. Historically, as Hannah points out, the publishing industry’s opinion used to be the only thing that mattered. If they didn’t like your writing then you were out of luck, it wasn’t getting published. Their opinion was mostly based on the literary style and quality of writing. We are now seeing that readers have a completely different opinion how what makes good writing and that opinion is really starting to matter.

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Not only did FIFTY SHADES start to force writers/authors to think more about their audience rather than their editors or agents, it also catapulted digital publishing. It showed that digital publishing is actually a fantastic way to publish quickly, build a platform, and reach the masses. The print publisher followed the trends of digital publishing when releasing the print books, releasing each book really close to each other. “Thick and fast” worked in the digital world, why wouldn’t it work in the print realm as well?  FIFTY SHADES shattered traditional print habits and never looked back.

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY also completely legitimatized the erotica genre, pushing it from the back of the book shelf into the spotlight. It took what many readers want (a deep love story) and cast it in light of a completely different world (BDSM). It was new, intriguing, and risky. It was wanted, or perhaps it was needed. Reading should be enjoyable and no one can be the judge of that better than the readers themselves.

That is why we shouldn’t stop talking about or learning from books that overcome the impossible, whether we want to rip the pages to shreds or keep reading. Write On.

How Do You Value Your Work?

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Amazon is at it again, changing the literary/publishing market with another “innovative” idea. Beginning July 1st, Amazon will pay Kindle Unlimited lending library royalties based on qualified borrows to a per page read system.

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The way it will work is: “The author of a 100 page book that was borrowed and read completely 100 times would earn $1,000 ($10 million multiplied by 10,000 pages for this author divided by 100,000,000 total pages).” A recent article in THE GUARDIAN by Samantha Shannon gave some further insight into this change over.

On the surface, the biggest problem with this change over is that longer books will have more value. The reality is that a longer book does not always mean higher quality or enjoyment. Therefore, some authors may feel it is in their best interest financially to have “fuller” books for pure profit reasons, not to enhance the story.

Shannon further revealed the real problem with this change over, that this may just be a precursor to things to come. If this trial program is successful, Amazon may have a pay per page option for all purchased books, which would drastically devalue the creative process. Shannon pointed out all the ingredients that go into publishing a book. Each layer (editor, publicist, agent, graphic designer, etc.) all contribute to the book’s success and they get paid in full for their contribution- whether they hate or love the book, whether readers hate or love the book. What about the author? The one person, who without them, the book would have never come into existence? Why are they the only one losing money that is rightfully theirs? Shannon also explains that unless there is an objective problem with the book, you should not be able to only pay for a portion of it. Take a bite of a perfectly good piece of cake at your local coffee shop and perhaps you then decide you aren’t in the mood for the cake anymore, or you are fuller than you had originally thought, do you only get to pay for that one bite? I don’t think so.

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I understand why Amazon creates the programs that they do. They are in the business to make money and stay profitable. Publishing is a quickly changing industry and you need to way finds to stay on top of it, or your customers will take their money elsewhere- I get that. Without Amazon’s self-publishing programs, many authors would still be struggling to share their work with the world. Amazon creates a lot of opportunity, but we must be weary. There is no reason that authors should not get what they deserve for the work they successfully completed. Amazon is not your local library and should stop acting like one. Amazon should start catering to their clients needs and let their clients cater to their consumer’s needs. Without happy clients, there will be no consumers. Write On.