The Confident Writer

Writer Wordart (Photo credit: MarkGregory007)

The Confident Writer

Traci Kenworth

 

When I first began to take this journey to write for publication, I still viewed it through

the lens of an unsure writer. I lacked discipline, a regular schedule, and knowledge of my craft. I was ready to grow, I just wasn’t sure how. That’s why writing in itself is so hard to teach to another. It takes a drive, a confidence in yourself that builds over time through experience. What works for me, might not work for you and vice versa.

Something happens as you practice putting all those words together, into forming

sentences, and developing your writing. There’s no style at first. The story part is not quite there. You have the passion, but not the know-how to breathe life into your stories. Don’t give up. There’s untapped magic there waiting to be brought to the surface. Each of us will approach the study part of writing just like the journey itself.

I started with craft books. Tons and tons of them. A writing course here and there. They

helped but I still wasn’t seeing what I wanted to in my stories. I studied my favorite writers, even first-time novelists to find the key. What I discovered was this: there is no key. No one can tell you how to do it. Because the trials and tribulations we all experience are like life: no two paths are alike. They diverge at points sure, but the getting there happens different for everyone.

The next part of my journey involved cps (critique partners). I had some bad and good

ones. Those were more lessons that helped me grow. I was still unsure of myself at this point, not trusting myself to go with my gut about things. Along came one of the best things to happen to me as a writer: I met a wonderful cp who introduced me to a writing group called yaff (YoungAdultFictionFanatics). These ladies took me under their wings and taught me how to write a story, queries, etc. Some of which I didn’t realize were necessary in my earlier efforts.

Under their tutelage, I have seen my writing go from shoddy to better. I won’t say I’m an

expert. I doubt any real writer ever thinks their work is good enough. But I have seen the potential for telling a good story emerge over the last year. I can look at something I wrote a long while ago and something current and see a vast difference. The growth I was seeking is there. I’ve learned that I don’t ever want to stop learning. Perhaps, in truth, there is a key to be learned after all. It comes in having a confidence in yourself, in seeing a truth to what you put down on your paper.

You have to learn to let go, to let your writing happen, to trust that you’re doing what the

story needs, when it needs it. Talk to your characters, build those settings, but don’t forget: everything begins with you. Your life lessons, the study of your craft, and building writing relationships. Don’t try and be some other writer. Be yourself. You’re unique. No one will ever approach the story you’re writing the way you do. That’s where you find your voice, that’s where your path widens to draw in the things you’ll need to continue your journey. Confidence will grow inside you and that will help you face the rejections, the pitfalls, and the bad breaks then when you reach the horizon, everything before you will be blessed. Good luck on your journey.

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Getting it All Together

Gathering it All Together

Traci Kenworth

 

It’s been a busy past couple weeks with the aftermath of recovering from surgery. Now, I’m ready to go back into my current wip and tackle writing the rest of the story. I took down my notes for this chapter and I’m almost finished with it. I did, however, have to backtrack some to figure out what I was doing before I left it and how I planned to continue it, plus pull both together. Right now, I’m sort of sending out feelers to evaluate where I’m at, and how successful I’ve been (or haven’t been) with the story.

The interest is still there, I’m still excited about writing it, I just have to get it all down. What are some of your tips for picking up where you left off after a break and keeping yourself moving forward despite the idea that things may need to change in regards to where you’re headed?

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Try, Try, Try Again

Louis L’Amour (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Try, Try, Try Again

Traci Kenworth

 

Rejection sometimes puts us up against a wall. It can be heartbreaking to get turned down on a story yet again. The doubts, the slips of self-confidence, the frustration. All take place. What we can’t let happen is the desire to just give up. We’ll never reach our dreams of publishment without facing the dreaded, “nos.” Good can come of this, however. It teaches us to persevere. And isn’t that a big lesson in life?

When you take your first step, you fall. It’s unavoidable. But what is avoidable, is the quitting mentality. You are going to face hurdles just like everyone else is/has. It’s okay. We’re all here for one another, all willing to give that boost up. The choice is whether we’re willing to accept it or not. Of course, I get discouraged, even cry sometimes. It’s all part of the battle.

If I turned aside and walked away from writing, it would be a big mistake for me. Because I’d miss the successes as well as failures. When I first started out, I focused on the goal of sharing my stories. If I could touch one person, I’d be happy. Well, that happened and I mad a new goal. Now, I want to reach as many people as possible with them. I want to know that my characters can inspire, reflect the drive of those around them, and make you fall in love with them.

I went from merely wanting others to read my books, to now wanting to be published. Dreams grow bigger with each step we take, so be prepared. I’ve been thinking about long-term goals too, lately. I’ve decided I don’t want to be a one or even five book wonder. I want to write continuously, and publish as frequently as possible. This doesn’t mean I won’t take off days here and there, but what I mean is I want to be a consistent writer. Louis L’Amour. Danielle Steele. Stephen King. These are all names of writers who beat the odds in the sheer numbers of books they have out there.

I don’t want to disappear in five years, or even ten. I want to be the steady storyteller I know I can be. Will I face rejection over that time? Sure. But I’m going to keep trying no matter what it takes or how much time passes. I will continue to try, try, try again. What are your goals at the moment? Long term? Are you hoping to be “steadfast” or would you rather hit it big and be happy with a moment’s success? All questions to ponder and decide on what we’re really doing this for.

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Writing in the Dark

Writing in the Dark

Traci Kenworth

 

I used to write religiously with an outline as I’ve said on here before but lately, I’ve been “writing in the dark” so to speak. Which is to say, I’ve thrown out my outline with my current project and what I’ve begun to do is to take each chap as one/or several long scenes and jot down notes before writing the chapter. Then I proceed to the next chapter and start the process over again. I’ve discovered a freedom in this type of writing and it’s really opened up the creative doors for me.

Part of why I’ve down so is reading several Stephen King interviews as well as going back over his The Stephen King Companion. He’s admitted he isn’t one for knowing exactly how a story is going to go, but with his writing, “finds what he needs, when he needs it.” I’m paraphrasing here, these aren’t his exact words, but I’ve found this to be true when it comes to my own writing. See, I was having a hard time getting enthused about a wip when I knew what was going to happen down to the ending. Writing this way lately, has multiplied the possibilities.

I’ve found new life in my story, my cps are enthusiastic about it, and it’s turning out to be one of the most complex stories I’ve written. So, it just goes to show, sometimes if you throw all the rules out, you find the will to go on, and what’s more, you’ll soar in your efforts. How about you? Are you an outliner or a pantser or a little of both? Any tips on how to do writing your way that you think might help others?

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A Journal of Ideas

Journal of the History of Ideas (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Journal of Ideas

Traci Kenworth

 

Do you keep one? Do you find it useful? I have both a journal and a jar filled with ideas. There basically just those that have come to mind either from dreams or jotting down notes and presto, they appear. The problem for me is I have so many continuous story thoughts that everything is brimming to the full. Does that mean that I’ve stopped writing things down? Not at all. Because today’s blast of notions might diminish or perhaps not even work out in the story I have in mind.

Yes, someday the well might dry up and if that happens, I want to be prepared. On that day, I want to be able to dip into the reserves and bring up gold. Not that I don’t skim through my concepts now, it’s just that with so many new ideas, I ration what I use of the old for now. Saving for that rainy day, perhaps. I believe I have so many possibilities because I try and write every day, at the same time, just like the pros do.

I think that continuous work toward my goal, inspires the ideas to open up and flow. Now, there might come a day when I face a dryspell, but that’s when I’ll reach for the jar or journal and plug away, doing my best to continue with a story. So how about you? Do you struggle with finding “enough” story elements? A bit of freehand writing might help turn that around. Just sit down and write what comes to mind no matter how silly or rough. Use that to develop your story.

One thing’s for sure: if you work your Muse, it will supply what you need. So keep a journal, a jar, even hints on a word document. They’ll be there when you need them, to help get the words down, to finish your story.

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When Life Gets in the Way…

young life (Photo credit: lorenzo cuppini verducci)

When Life Gets in the Way

Traci Kenworth

 

You’re going along strong, every word is falling into place, every scene playing off of each other when *boom* something in life happens. It can be a car accident, the birth of another/or your first child, or as often happens, health problems. What do you do when any of these events happen? Do you give up? Put your writing away for a while? Struggle through?

For me, the keeping on seems to not only help but to get me over the hill and coasting along again. I won’t say it’s easy. In fact, sometimes, it’s a downright rough but things can and do turn around. How? Brainstorming. Jotting down anything and everything that comes to mind on a story helps get the creative juices flowing.

So, too, does pressing forward on a piece. Maybe you only get two lines down, that’s still an accomplishment. It’s setting you up for the next move, and the next one after that. Just keep pushing the boundaries and you’ll find yourself getting further immersed in your wip again. And before you know it, “the end,” will come along.

Any tips on how to keep going when things get tough? I’m sure we all have our own way of pounding on those keys and making our book open up to us again. I’ve found when life throws serious situations my way, to turn back to my writing, it’ll pull me through. And often, when the scare is over, I not only faced it to the best of my ability, I also have a lot to show for my efforts. How about you?

 

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Cover via Amazon

 

Book Review: Webster’s New World Guide to Punctuation

Traci Kenworth

 

Simon & Schuster                         by Auriel Douglas and Michael Strumpf

 

Hook line: All the rules you need to know to punctuate correctly.

 

Okay, so this is an older book obviously but I’ve been going through craft books lately, trying to study, study, study and this one is a desk keeper. It told me names of things I couldn’t define. For example:

 

The Virgule: From Latin, virgule, meaning little rod. The virgule, or slash mark, is a slanting line (/) used to mark the division of words or lines. I. E. and/or.

The Ampersand: Alteration of and per se and. The sign & is used to represent the word and.

Diacritical remarks: Adjective from Greel. Diakritikos, to distinguish. Encountered primarily in foreign languages. I.E. Éclat. (Thankfully, I’ve found the computer usually automatically makes the marks needed as I can’t figure out where the buttons for them are on my keypad. Lol.)

 

This is not to say that I didn’t know of the 3 above, obviously I’ve used them, but I didn’t know their names and in some cases other instances of their use. I found the overall guide to be fabulous in explaining the details behind things. I got fairly decent grades, A & B’s in English but the more I delve into the writer’s world, the more I see, I needed to dust out the old books and refresh my memory. We all know punctuation is important in our line of work and I’m sure I have no need to confront you with that truth: simply put, if we want to become better writers than we need to constantly go over our craft. This book is an excellent example of how to make our writing clearer, to make sure that it soars.

It will help get your book off the shelves at sale time if your writing is punctuated properly. Would you want to struggle through reading someone’s words, or hitch yourself to a kite that takes you exploring new worlds on the turn of a single phrase? I used to think I knew a fair amount of English to get me through, but the truth is I’ve forgotten some of the rules and the refresher course can only help me out in the long run. So, one thing’s for sure, I’ll continue exploring non-fiction as well as fiction on my course to publication. After all, I’m sure you’ve all heard it said: you have to know the rules before you can break them.

Have you chosen to go through old grammar books? Are you studying your craft? Everything we do in the way of research is improvement on the path ahead.

 

 

 

 

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Biding Your Time

Image via Wikipedia

Biding Your Time

Traci Kenworth

 

One skill I’m learning is to keep your attention focused on something other than those requests still out, the query letters you’ve sent. It’s not easy. In fact, it’s downright hard to focus on anything but your email all day long, but you must. There’s no way around it. You can’t pin your hopes on one book. There has to be more waiting in the wings. So while you’re waiting, dig into research for the next wip, draw up your outline/character sketches/story notes, or simply—begin.

Right now, I’m editing one and writing another. It’s a bit of a challenge and one might eventually win out over the other but I’m keeping my thoughts on my stories and not on news from agents. It’s imperative that you write that next book and the one after that. Keep going. This is why: with every book you grow. If the current one doesn’t work out, there’s the chance its successor will.

It’s also important to have an answer to the question the agent may ask: what else do you have for me? If you haven’t started anything, you’re going to be scrambling to come up with something and if you’re in a hurry, you might rush the book and it could fail to win its audience. Make sure you’re always studying, always preparing yourself, always writing. It’ll make that response so much sweeter to say, “Well I have a YA fantasy in the works about a—”

And if it’s finished, so much the better.

You’ll show push, you’ll show ambition, you’ll show that the agent can count on you to deliver a product consistently. No one-book wonders. This is for hopefully a long, successful career. Most authors don’t start solidifying their audience till after the fifth book, they say. If that’s true, you have work to do to reach that goal. And after that one, others. Never stop working, never stop reaching, and you’ll get there to the top.

 

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A Life-line

Image via Wikipedia

A Life-line

Traci Kenworth

 

Just when you think of packing things up, that everything is stacked against you, and you’ll never succeed in this pursuit of writing, something good happens. It can be as simple as a kind word directed at your blog, requested material, or a renewed determination, despite the odds, to go on. Treat all of them like the gift they are. They are your new lease, your next step on the tier to where your writing will take you.

When I started out, I just wanted to be able to touch one reader with something I’d written. Now that I’ve reached that goal, I want more. Those are the rungs you climb in pursuit of your dreams. When I was younger, they seemed impossible to reach. Now, I realize it was because they were the wrong ones. I was never meant to be a vet, an office worker, or hundreds of other jobs out there. My passion has always been my writing though I was turned from it time and time again.

I think it’s a shame that the corporate world treats artists this way. We’re not easily put into a box, so they force us into corners, often into careers that we hate or learn to tolerate to put money in our hands. I know there are some programs out there for us artistic types, but they are few and far between. We may not make it in the length of time we’re given. I’ve been writing for many years. I’ve completed eight books to date and the lessons I’ve learned I wouldn’t trade for one more day behind an office desk. Fortunately, I’m able to write full time now and I love it. It’s a sacrifice sometimes, but worth it for me. This is not to say that you can’t have a thriving career at something else you love and write as well. There are some people who do, I know. It just didn’t work for me.

My ambition has turned to increasing the numbers of people who read my work, to landing that book/s deal, and someday hitting the New York Times Bestselling list, maybe even winning an award or two. A little encouragement, you see, goes a long way. When we pass it around, it comes back to refuel us, and keeps us climbing those ladders. So, if you like what you’re reading tell the person who wrote it, mention it to others, and pass along the goodwill. It will return to favor you, you’ll see. That boost up to the next level will bring a smile to your face and a skip to your step. It really is all about giving. The reader wants to read something that makes them experience the journey, gives them hope, points them in the right direction. Give and you shall receive.

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A Writing Heart to Heart.

Image via Wikipedia

A Writing Heart to Heart

Traci Kenworth

 

Believing in yourself is critical to success. If you can’t find the faith to grab onto, you’ll find it difficult to take the writing path. No one can do it for you. It has to be you. You are in charge of lifting yourself out of a rut, pushing forward past the writer’s block, and putting out that finished product.

When we’re children we stumble and fall but we either learn how to pick ourselves up or we don’t go on. And not going on is such a waste of life. I spent a lot of years lost because I listened to other people’s ideals of what I should do, be. It wasn’t until I got the fire in my belly to pursue my writing despite what others might think that I gained the confidence I need to thrive in the writing world.

I wonder if there’s ever anyone who doesn’t change the path they walk down in life. Everything evolves and if we at first don’t have the confidence for it, we will gain it if we work at it. I haven’t always had faith in myself, in fact, I struggled many years without it, but now, when I write, a feeling comes over me, and I just know. This is what I was meant to do, these are the stories I’m meant to tell. This is where I belong.

If I didn’t have that confidence, I wouldn’t have the nerves to send out submissions, write this blog, put myself on the line. In short, I wouldn’t get far. I’ve come a long way from writing just for myself, to wanting to get my stories out there for readers. So how do you get that belief in yourself? Sit back, think about what you’re doing, and consider whether you want to be a shrinking violet or a soldier.

In other words, where do you see yourself in five years? Still practicing? Published? Agented? If you can’t imagine yourself passing the hurdles in this business, maybe you should consider a different talent of yours and pursue that. It takes work. Hard work to advance in any field. Just like growing up. We go from unsteady on our feet to walking gracefully. Lift your chin, square your shoulders, and stand proud, you are on the right path. Faith starts as a small seed in your hand and once planted, flourishes with patience, love, and tending. Don’t sell yourself short, become that gardener with a green thumb.

How do you keep yourself motivated? How do you know you’re any good? What clinches the belief inside you that this is what you’re meant to do? When you answer those questions you have only to consider the direction you’re headed and break ground. Keep the faith; it’ll get you through everything to come.

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