I’ve had some of my very best advice from avid readers, and also some of my best plotting/planning sessions. They know what they want to read and they rarely worry about technicalities, as evidenced by the overwhelming success of books with intriguing stories and characters that could have used another edit or three.
The boxing analogy is wonderful. It speaks not only doing your ground work but also staying in the fight. The winner is the last one standing, not the first one in the ring.
Kristen, another beaut. Yes! Some bestselling authors have good intentions but cannot teach. That one line, “Those who can’t, teach” always infuriated me, because some of the best teachers – can change your life. How can that be discounted?
Remember that old TV commercial where the dude gets slapped and says, “Thanks, I needed that!” That was my jet-slap. It was bracing and good for me.
Two years ago, a big agent told me I was trying too hard in my first pages. Guess what? She was right. You’ve got to keep your eyes and ears open to all potential sources, amateur or pro.
With me, the stick and move are RWA contests. They don’t work for me, so I’m moving to another arena, (mentioned this on your blog yesterday). I’m getting better feedback from editors, published authors and agents. One of my pubbed friends has written cross-genre, YA, women’s fiction, middle grade. She’s incredible. And she’s encouraging.
Margie Lawson is terrific. So is Alicia Rasley. I just took an emotions course with Alicia and it rocked.
I’m learning from a number successful self-pubbed authors. Don’t know about other folks, but I get tired of that hyper-polished stuff that kind of sits flat. No KA-POW with emotion. No “messy” stuff. Messy delivers! It’s like watching Claire Danes on Showtime’s “Homeland.” She’s brilliant, fractured, her character’s messy. I don’t relate to perfect female characters, yet I see a plethora of them in the romance genre. When a manuscript’s been so overworked…. you get a sense that it’s been over-edited and that multiple people are polishing away the originality, the narrative voice. Raw stuff delivers emotion, and some self-pubbed authors have that quality. Bully for them.
Your blog revs up my day. Thank you!
A bit of related humor – Definition of an EXPERT.
I truly look forward to your posts because they are always helpful. Clearly you care about writers and the writing profession. Thank you.
This is especially true of advice from people close to you – yes, they mean a lot to you, but you also have the advantage of knowing (or figuring out) where they’re coming from when they tell you something. And take that into account when you take their advice – the same goes for experts. If you learn more about the expert giving the advice, then you have a better idea of how well their advice will apply to you.
I read your blog every day and I learn something every day.
While I flip through my emails every morning with a liberal dash of delete, your I always stop and read. Why because I know I will learn something. I’ve particularly enjoyed these blogs about boxing and writing.
Some of my most insightful advice has come from readers. And I know a lot of writers cry down book reviews but I’ve found some of the most abrasive reviews have actually hit the nail, so to speak so I quietly take it in and learn.
Hey this is James Young. I need to write more anyway and advice from a guy like you would be highly appreciated. Thanks!!
Such refreshing advice, thank you.
I definitely like to listen to a broad range of commentators, and teachers on the craft and all things related.
Jumping Rope is the best way to train for total body coordination. The legs benefit the most. You have to bounce around on the flat part of your feet connected to your toes instead flat footed landing on the heels in order to develop the quickness and coordination instead of being flat-footed. It is the same way with leg press exercises on stationary machines and the experts claim that you cannot teach someone how to run faster and jump higher. Where you land on your feet while jogging could determine if you will develop faster speed. Push-ups and chin-ups are ways to develop the upper body without the monthly expense of a club. But to get stronger punching power “to stick” you have to do push-ups closer to the chest instead of wide and it helps in shooting basketballs at a farther distance as well. To stick the three-point shots, you have to guide the basketball into the hoop, like a nuclear missile headed for a point-point accuracy location. Feet positioning is important if you do not have the forearm and shooting arm back strength. Pushing off, it would still nail a three-point shot. Knowledge is power. Knowing how eliminates the fears of failure if one can really get better at their craft. The only expert I worry about is the editor making the final decision. Afterwards I look for a new one, if rejected. Self-publishing is a possible detour, and I am glad that I know today, how to succeed at indie. The hateful discourages everybody so do not take it personally. Bob and dodge and weave and know how many rounds it will take to succeed. A writing career is not like a private college education where your parents paid a higher institution of learning to play “fun and games” with you, which caused you to drop out with a failed education forever, forever because the players will continue to tell people.
Being a top flight auto mechanic doesn’t make you a great driver. Why would anyone expect writing to be any different?
I’ve been with Critters.org for years and get feedback from both accomplished authors and newbies alike. I always get quite a mix when I submit anything. Sure makes you think.
I have an opportunity to earn my MBA, but I’m thinking I’d be better off taking courses on what I really need help with – internet marketing. The MBA just seems too broad to provide me with current, up to the minute training that I’m sure i need.
Problem is, there are so many outfits offering their services, others that will do all the marketing for you with costs are all over the spectrum. What will help me and what won’t is the question of the day. And will I gain from the experience or get raped? My first brush with publishing – PublishAmerica – didn’t go so well, so I’m a little gun shy.
Recently I’ve been reading that blogging is a great way to boost sales and then I’m told blogging is old news, people have moved on and there are more productive ways, etc.
I’m also put off by the enormous cost of professional editing and yet I’m hearing so much that professional editing is vastly overrated. Do you see how confusing this is?
Either way, if I do or don’t go for the MBA, my income is going to take a hit until I can generate enough from book sales to overcome that disparity. Just wading through the surf looking for a toe hold on the beach without getting bit by a shark..
I would hate to be accused of giving bad advice which cost you more money. Given my personal individual situation, I plan on courting the traditional way of Big Time publishers. There is much self-help for writers on the internet and one can really go it alone, (Kristen, if they want to). I believe in individual FREEDOM. For a newbie Blogging would not be old news. An MBA could get you a better job. If I had the savings (it is not an advice) and could live comfortably, I would just continue writing novels and make a decision to self-publish or submit to publishers.
No idea how he did it. Might have been that when he originally wrote the story, it should have been three books. But he did it successfully. Might have required adjusting the narrative arc. No idea. But I agree that it needs to be done with care ;).
I learn so much from Kristen Lamb’s blogs!
I run a Writer’s Circle that includes everyone from Newbie hobby writers to published authors, and I’ve found that everyone has amazing insights to contribute. Bringing different skills and life experiences to the table is part of the joy of having a group like this, and having friends who share the same brand of insanity is the best part. My manuscript is almost ready to send back to the publisher I desire (they asked for changes). I know 9 published authors, a good dozen more who are working on their first manuscripts, and countless hobby writers. These have been the best three years of my life.
Writing YA, some of the best feedback I get is from teens. These are definitely not writing experts, but they know when something doesn’t ring true and that is very helpful information. I think the balance is important. Getting feedback from various perspectives can help you see your book more clearly. A teenager telling me a scene doesn’t work for them is good to know, but I may need expert advice to figure out how to make it work.
Julie: I believe my first novel would be well received by teens. Can you suggest an outlet where I can get feedback from young adults and teens?
Yep. I’ve had professionals give me feedback, some good, some great, but once in a while not so much. And one time I realized I made a huge mistake by not listening, and should have gone with my gut. It happens. You move on. 🙂 Loved all these boxing lessons!
Thanks so much for this wonderful series of blogs with the what you can learn from boxing. They arrived just when I needed their reminders the most. 🙂 Have a great week.