Exciting news! Today I have a guest post up on Blurb is a Verb, thanks to the lovely Sarah Pinneo. YAY!! You should go check it out (and you should follow the blog, because she posts some seriously great marketing tips). Anyway, back to the regularly scheduled post!
We've all heard the "what to write" sayings before. Write what you know (which like most great writing advice, should be ignored about half the time). Write what you love (which unlike most great writing advice, should always be followed*).
But I've got a new favorite. "Write what scares you."
I've written a lot over the years. From third grade stories about tiny people who lived inside my bubble lamp/digital clock, all the way up through a few full-length novels, one of which I think is maybe publishable. But if you've been following this blog for a while, you've probably heard me talk about my latest project. Kind of a lot. Never fear, I'm still working on it, so I'm sure there will be plenty of existential angst-type posts to come on the subject (I know, YAY right??).
But the best part about this project, for me as a writer, is that it scares the sh*t out of me.
I'm serious. I've been rewriting and bagging and then reconsidering and reattempting (shush that's a word) this thing for years. It's like that one video game, that you just know you can't play, because there's that really freaking scary bear hiding in the corner halfway through level one, but you keep trying it over and over, because your childhood pride depends on it.** That story hung around on the back-burner, just far enough back in my mind that I could write other novels in the meantime, but just close enough that I couldn't forget about it.
And you know what? When I finally decided to face my fears, that bear didn't turn out to be so scary after all.*** It's only a writing project. Like dozens I've tackled before.
The best part about facing down that scary idea, about writing what terrified me, is that I'm free now. Even if this project doesn't find a home at a fancy publishing house or a hip indie press or a freelance-edited Amazon webpage. I've conquered it now. After this project, I can write anything you want to throw at me. Novel with dancing koalas addicted to peanut butter that is also a serious reflection upon the human condition? BRING IT ON.****
I've stared into the face of my own insecurity, and I am a better writer for it. So while I do write what I love, and I try to write what I know where possible, the motto I'm sticking with is to write what scares you. Because chances are that the reason it scares you is because it's your best idea so far. It scares you because you aren't sure your skills are up to capturing the epic storyline in your head. It scares you because you know if you succeed in writing this Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, you've got nothing else up your sleeve. No back-burner projects to lean on if things go down the tubes. No secret wild cards hidden up your sleeve, because this is your wild card.
You know what I think? It's time to play that card.
What about you? Are there any projects you've let simmer longer than you should because you were scared to tackle them? Have you ever written what scared you? How did it go? INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW.*****
In other news, there's still a week left to enter here for the chance to win: Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock; Liesl and Po (SIGNED) by Lauren Oliver; Villain School: Good Curses Evil by Stephanie Sanders; and Janitors (Book 1) by Tyler Whitesides. Considering how many books are up for grabs, the odds are pretty good!
* Unless, you know, you're a little behind on bills and have to take up freelance writing about very boring things like how to keep animals out of your garden by sprinkling human hair around the place to "mark your territory," in which case you're probably not going to "love" what you're writing, but hey...
** Okay, that was a bad metaphor. It's really early right now. But seriously. Did anyone else fall into the bear pit in Tomb Raider? WTF MAN. Scarred for life.
*** ... Alright, so the bear is still pretty scary. But in this metaphor the bear is the book. DON'T JUDGE ME I need something caffeinated.
**** I'm just kidding. Obviously. I mean, who would ever brainstorm ideas THAT ridiculous?? *crumples up notes* *hides them in a corner*
***** And also to be reassured that we are not the only crazy ones with an experience like this...
I agree with you. When something makes you go "Now just HOW am I going to actually write this." there is definitely a chance that you are on to something. Besides ... The characters in that story are counting on you. If you don't speak for them, who will?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100%. In my first and IMO actually successful novel, I faced some demons from my life. It was terrifying. Some scenes I typed out with shaking hands and had to take breaks in order to breathe and fight the tears.
ReplyDeleteBut I did it, and I still love that novel. I'm proud of it because it helped me express things I needed to express, and it helped me beat some pretty horrible demons.
wow! well said Kathy Ann, what beautiful comments. i'm not sure if there's anything i'm afraid to write, i'm more one of those, i'm afraid i'll never write again. haven't stopped yet, so i guess i should get over that already:") oops, that was a finger slip, but it's kinda a cute face, no?
ReplyDelete@Kathy - YES. I agree completely. And we can't leave those characters hanging!
ReplyDelete@April - sounds like a great project. Gotta admire beating those demons <3
@Corrie - that fear's just as motivating though, sounds like? :D and, that looks kinda like the blushing face on yahoo... hehe :P
I really needed to read this. I've let this story simmer for so long because I am nervous to tackle it. Very nervous.
ReplyDeleteRandom: Oh and I wrote a tiny person story in 3rd grade too! It involved a rat stampede and plastic bags and as parachutes. Hee.
Great post! I agree that it's a good thing to write what scares you. My WIP kind of scares me, not because of the subject matter but because I'm new at this and feel like I have no idea what I'm doing! The fear is only making me work harder and the end result will be that much more rewarding. :)
ReplyDeleteBTW, I just gave you an award on my blog!
Honestly, it's exactly how I felt about the series when I started it. I didn't know it was going to become a series. But when I did, I was honestly terrified. I was like, "and exactly HOW would this work? Will it be good?" and a helping of hand-wringing.
ReplyDeleteBut the fact is, you have to bite the bullet, swig the coffee, and put pen to paper, so to speak. Because sometimes, the very thing that scares you the most is the fact that you will have a potentially successful story to tell.
(Note: contest to win the third installment of my series right here! http://bit.ly/oy664K )