 For Authors: September 19, 2012 Issue [#5240] |
  For Authors
This week: Writers Have Other Hobbies, Too! Edited by: Crys-not really here  
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| Hello! My name is Crys-not really here and I am the guest editor for the For Authors Newsletter this week. I hope you enjoy and join in on the conversation! |
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Writers Have Other Hobbies, Too!
I recently started painting minis, those little miniature representation of various characters in D&D games. I don't really think I'm very good at the game itself, but I've always loved arts and crafts, so when I was introduced to painting minis, I was at least willing to give it a try.
Writing has always been my main hobby, and one that I've been able to make a little money off of as well. I've still had outside interests, although it's always been hard for me to stick to one for very long. I think it's important for writers to have other hobbies, whether they are creative or not, for a number of reasons.
First of all, hobbies make us more well-rounded people, and therefore leave us with experiences to write about, and fictionalize in our writing. Whether you play a sport or a musical instrument, your characters can dabble in your hobbies as well, and you can write about it with expertise and accuracy. The same is true for those of us who write creative non-fiction or how-to articles.
Many writers are solitary creatures by nature, so it's also good to have a hobby that allows you to socialize with non-writers and keep you from becoming a recluse in your pajamas in front of your computer for days on end.  For example, maybe you like to play board games. Joining a board game group may give you a reason to socialize more. You can always slip in a plug for your new book or recruit first readers while you're playing!
I like to use painting minis as a method for de-stressing myself after a long day. Something quick and creative such as painting could be used as your mid day break from working on that novel that is driving you crazy. Or you could go for a run, play some tennis, cook a gourmet meal, or whatever it is that gets you mentally back on track.
Even if writing is your full time job, you shouldn't worry that having outside interests will make you seem "unfocused." In fact, I would argue that enjoying other hobbies will make you a better writer! |
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Thanks to everyone who wrote in about my last For Authors Newsletter about why more women than men write YA!
Right on, Crys! 
Boys do like reading YA novels if it fits their thinking. Many moons ago, my son used to read Judy Blume, especially her books with a character named Fudge.
Male writers could probably come up with more palatable YA characters for boys. I'm saying this only because I know some boys in latency don't like to read about "girly" characters, unlike their female counterparts who like to read just about anything. -Joy 
We could also try thinking outside the gender box. Labelling stories "driven by emotion, growth, relationships and romances" as "for girls" is part of the process of excluding men and boys and stealing our humanity, which is hard-wired within our gendered culture. John Green blazes a trail by tackling underage sex in a story driven by emotion and realism that boys can relate to. This is where my novel is coming from, and banning it from the YA review group doesn't exactly help. -Jed Jones - banned novel 
I agree with you. We as a society should not be labeling stories as "for girls" or "for boys." Which is precisely why I chose the wording that I did. " all things that females typically relate to more than boys." I never said that there was anything wrong with a boy showing emotions, or reading about romance or relationships. But if you look at things from a publishing standpoint, which I do, it is unrealistic to market every book to every teen. So, publishers make decisions about who their audiences are, and right now the majority of young adult novels being published are marketed toward young women.
I'm sorry to hear about your novel. I hope you and the group can work something out privately.
A very interesting take on why more women write Young Adult than men. Great Newsletter. -monty31802 |
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