  Noticing Newbies
This week: The Daily Grind of Writing Edited by: Tornado Dodger  
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The Daily Grind of Writing
While learning a little about the following successful authors, can you find something you have in common with them?
Recently I read Warren Ellis' fiction debut Crooked Little Vein: (Available at Amazon.Com). I've wanted to read it ever since I stumbled upon the author on Twitter one day several months ago. Ellis, an award-winning British author of graphic comics/novels, is most widely known from his work with DC comics but has an almost cult following online as a "cyberpunk philosopher". His recent surge in popularity is due to being the author of "Red", which was developed into the 2010 movie with Bruce Willis and Morgan Freeman. No matter how you find him, his is definitely a voice that you won't soon forget. His raw, sarcastic personality, both through his widespread online presence and his writing is fresh and humorous, usually in a very graphic (adult) way. As usual upon finding a new author, I wanted to learn more about the talented man behind the creative voice. What was a "normal" day in the life of Warren Ellis like? "What I always try to impress on new writers who ask me this is that it isn't, except for geniuses and very lucky people, a nine to five gig. A 'normal' day for we ordinary writers is this: get up - start writing - go to bed sixteen hours later - repeat. This is a job you have to want. It's very easy in many ways - I'm not about to tell you it's like chopping wood or breaking rocks, because it really isn't - but you've got to want it, because for hacks like me it's a 24/7, 365 day a year job." Like many successful authors, he realizes writing is hard work. He has some great (familiar) advice for authors looking to improve. "I'm still learning, all the time. The thing I tell people is that you don't learn how to write comics by reading comics. You learn how to write by reading books."
Stephen King was the first author to have five books appear simultaneously on the New York Times bestseller list. Of course, he didn't start out the prolific writer he is today. What made him keep writing? "The answer to that is fairly simple-there was nothing else I was made to do. I was made to write stories and I love to write stories. That's why I do it. I really can't imagine doing anything else and I can't imagine not doing what I do." That is a true writer. I'm sure he's not the only one that feels that way. For someone of his popularity though, King's take on his remarkable success is not what you might expect from an author of his caliber. "I'm leery of thinking I'm somebody. Because nobody really is. Everybody is able to do something well, but in this country there's a premium put on stardom." That's refreshing to know he hasn't let his success go to head and in this day and age, almost a little eccentric perhaps. There is nothing eccentric about his thoughts on what it takes to be a writer though. "If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write." Very true. I've never read about any best-selling author who hasn't worked their collective rear-end off to get there. While some may not agree, King makes it clear, the financial end of his work isn't most important. ''The truth is, Stephen King is rich because he never set out to be rich,'' says Susan Moldow of Scribner. ''If the money mattered to him, it wouldn't be there.'' Also good to know. If you're aspiring to be a best selling novelist just for the paycheck ... might be best to rethink your career path. If you'd like to learn more about King, I suggest On Writing: ($9.15 from Amazon.Com).
Alice Hoffman is one of America's most private authors. Hoffman is a strong writer, but there was a time when she was anything but. Like many of us, she struggled to find her voice. She was, in her own words, "lost and confused" in a time where masculine voices defined greatness. In college, she was introduced to the anthology entitled The Single Voice. It was there she had a revelation. "A great anthology - but I noticed that what was missing from the text was the same thing that always seemed to be missing - women's voices. Women's stories." Luckily for all her fans, she found her footing and proceeds to write amazing stories for us to read and marvel at her remarkable voice. Her thoughts on writing were something I will never forget and definitely worth repeating. " . . . although it is sometimes easy to forget, wanting to be a writer is not about reviews or advances or how many copies are printed or sold. It is much simpler than that, and much more passionate. If you do it right, and if they publish it, you may actually leave something behind that can last forever." I think we'd all like to achieve that, wouldn't we? Another interesting aspect of this author and a testimony to what makes her (in my eyes) a true 'writer's writer' is her disinterest in the monetary gains of her work. "I never ask about sales," she says. "It's better not to know. I feel like I write a book, I give it to my editor, then I go back and write another one. That's what I do." Much like Stephen King, she's uncomfortable with notoriety also. "I think the book should just be the book, not the author," she says. "Who's the author? That's what I think." Interested in reading Hoffman's work? One of her most popular books is Practical Magic: 25th Anniversary Edition (The Practical Magic Series): ($10.49 from Amazon.Com)
James Patterson is clearly a very popular author. Since 2006, one out of every seventeen hardcover fiction books sold was a Patterson title. That's no small achievement. Perhaps his history in sales really did formulate a great partnership with his new profession as an author. His success has not been without criticism though. He has an amazing library of excellent story ideas. His prolific output is partly owed to his many co-authors though also. As a budding author, you might wonder how he can write so many books even with help from co-authors? Well, some might find the answer rather controversial. In an interview with ABC's Nightline, he discussed his unusual manner of writing outlines for some of his books, then the co-author actually writes the first draft. Now, they use the term outline but it's pretty clear by his description, it's much more than an outline. He was quoted as saying. "A detailed outline is pretty much every scene, here's what happens," Basically, he admits he runs of our time so he has others help him. Some books he still very much writes by hand, every word. While some author's may not agree with his process, (or even like his writing) it doesn't affect him one bit. Stephen King was quoted as saying Patterson is "a terrible writer". His criticism didn't bother Patterson. "I am not a great prose stylist. I'm a storyteller. There are thousands of people around the country who don't like what I do," he said. "Fortunately, there are millions who like it a lot." But not everything Patterson does is controversial. He is, in his own words "totally obsessed with getting kids reading." and is founder of ReadKiddoRead.com which is dedicated to making kids readers for life. Now that's something we can all agree on. Patterson's most recent book is Now You See Her: ($9.00 from Amazon.Com)
What do all these authors have in common? Hard work and a natural love for the written word. Do you have what it takes to become the next best-selling author? Work hard, love your work and you just might find out.
Hope you enjoyed this article. If you would like to share your thoughts, please send me a note using the box at the bottom of this newsletter.
Write and Review on! ~ Brooke
[Related Links] 
This month's links are to groups that help you improve your writing.
"Invalid Item" by A Guest Visitor
"The Steampunk Authors' Guild " by Beck Firing back up! 
"The Dark Society" by Jeff 
"Invalid Item" by A Guest Visitor
"Invalid Item" by A Guest Visitor
"Invalid Item" by A Guest Visitor
"Workshop: Focus on Fiction Week 1" by a Sunflower in Texas 
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Here are some talented new member's items that caught my eye. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. 
Excerpt:
The first thing a child learns is how to cry.
But as summer rays retreat the shadows
And the cloak of night conceals the sun
So will her day come
~  ~
Excerpt:
It was an old man with dark eyes; his gut hung over his belt like he was proud of it. He had on a puke green t-shirt with a million ancient stains spread over it like a map.
~ ~
Excerpt:
I needed a pen, something gripped and sturdy. Mine died signing the check at lunch and I knew I would need to vandalize something after the movie. Three hours of science fiction would get my blood into a frenzy and I was planning to take it out on an unsuspecting stall.
~ ~
Excerpt:
Before we discuss common symptoms found in today's teenagers, we must first acknowledge that no teenager should ever be expected to take future benefit into account. A teenager's span of thinking ahead is extremely limited, but seems to excel in ideas for recreation and enjoyable activities that require very few brain cells.
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Excerpt:
Snowdrifts were spread across the winter landscape before him, the fine powder blowing through the air, striking his face, stinging his eyes. The white substance crunched and compacted beneath his feet, the frigid fingers of death reaching up to grasp his heart.
~ ~
Excerpt:
"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" How did I get here, I think, but I don't think that's what she's looking for. I look down t the paper-it's the one that's due on Tuesday.
"Sorry," I mumble, and pull myself straight in my chair.
~ ~
Excerpt:
And even though you know these problems will remain,
And even though memories you thought you repressed appear again,
Life goes on, life goes on
~ ~
Excerpt:
What do I see through broken glass?
The girl in the mirror unknown,
Apart from a name.
Vanity.
~ ~
Excerpt:
I put down the book, looked out the window and thought about the old house on the hill. I thought about how it stood so alone and seemed so excluded from the rest of the houses in town. For years real estate agents have been trying to sell that house and all so far have failed.
~ ~
Excerpt:
Glancing around the polished mahogany table, she noted the faces of her relatives, and how beneath a veneer of sorrow, there was something more. Anxiousness perhaps? She had only just been speaking with a few of them at the funeral just days ago, and overheard some of them murmuring to each other when they had all met up outside of the up-scale office building before heading into this room together.
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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I received some wonderful feedback to my last newsletter [#4450] "Thinking Outside The Box" and I'm proud to share it with you.
From Jeff
Awesome NL this week, Brooke... packed full of great advice and information.
Thank you Jeff! As always, your opinion means a lot to me.
From Kyle Peterson 
Taking the shower I just thought of is quite true, every time I'm in the shower I, for some reason, am always thinking about new things for my story. I also have another thing of advise. Just free write and see where it leads. I've had this story I'm writing for awhile and I started free writing instead of going off what I wrote down and found myself writing more interesting things into my story and helps out a lot. I hope that advice helps any new writers out.
That's a great idea! Thank you for writing in and sharing your thoughts.
From Fiona Hassan
Thanks for the tips for thinking outside the box! And yes, from personal experience, showering does stimulate creativity :P
-Fiona
It's hard to believe but it works!  Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
From NickiD89 
Fantastic NL! Thinking outside the box is hard for so many people because to do it, they have to step clear of their comfort zones. Few actions are more frightening than that, but nothing is more rewarding, either!
I couldn't agree more. Thank you for writing in and letting me know what you thought of this article. 
From ghrocker31
Wow, what you said in the newsletter was so true. I used the What If statement to decide how I was going to end my cliffhanging chapter. I was thinking something vampiric, but i'm thinking something demonic because not many people write something about the damned.
The "What if?" scenario is very helpful in working on your story and scene building. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me. 
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Noticing Newbies: July 13, 2011 Issue [#4498]
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