 For Authors: July 08, 2015 Issue [#7093] |
  For Authors
This week: Do What You Want To Do Edited by: Jeff  
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"The two most engaging powers of an author are to make
new things familiar, and to make familiar things new."
-- Samuel Johnson
Trivia of the Week: Polysyndeton is the use of several conjunctions in short succession, when some could be omitted or replaced with punctuation. For example, "We laughed and ate ice cream and went to the movies and had a great time" as opposed to, "We laughed, ate ice cream, went to the movies, and had a great time." The interesting thing about this literary device is that it can be used to both convey solemnity and to convey excitement and exuberance. This technique is used extensively in the Bible, as well as a variety of successful authors like Ernest Hemingway and William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens and Maya Angelou and Cormac McCarthy.  See what I did there? 
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DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
Over the past few years, I've noticed a marked increase in the number of people who are frustrated with the creative process and getting their work out to an audience. Whether it's a novelist hoping a publisher will pick up his manuscript, a filmmaker hoping a production company will finance her movie, or painters and sculptors trying to find gallery space to showcase their work, a lot of talented artists are waiting to break in as the creative space becomes more and more crowded with new voices.
The other thing I've noticed, though, are that the barriers to entry are much lower than they've ever been before. You don't need a publisher to release your book; you can self-publish it on Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords, etc. You don't need a gallery exhibit your paintings; you can sell them online or exhibit them in nontraditional locations like crafts fairs, the walls of local restaurants, etc. You don't even need millions of dollars from a Hollywood studio to produce a movie; consumers now have access to professional-quality equipment and can shoot a movie for as little as a few thousand bucks.
That freedom, however, comes with two trade-offs.
First, since many more people can get their art out in the world, many more people are getting their work out there. If you've wandered through the catalog of self-published books on Amazon, or the indie-produced movies on Netflix, you might have noticed that there is a lot of content out there, and much of it isn't very good at all. Which means that you have to stand out from the crowd. Taking the independent route means that instead of struggling to be one of the chosen few that an established company selects and develops, you're now struggling to be one of the chosen few that stands out and grabs an audience's attention among hundreds or even thousands of alternatives.
Second, pursuing an independent route means sacrifices need to be made and you don't have the complete freedom to create whatever you want. You have to think about the cost because you're the one footing the bill. When making a movie, that means you can't write a lot of special effects, or have a lot of stunts, or have the budget to hire Bradley Cooper to star ... so the price of making it yourself means you have to sacrifice those things and make something that you can afford. Similarly authors may be able to put anything they want on the page, but if you're on your own, you pay for things like editing and marketing yourself ... so the price of self-publishing it means that you might have to spend longer editing the work yourself because you can only afford to pay an editor $500 to go through it once rather than having an editor (and paying an editor) through multiple drafts. And maybe you have to spend a little extra cash to go with a better, more appealing cover ... but that comes at the cost of taking longer to recoup your investment through book sales.
As long as you're aware of those trade-offs, though, there's nothing stopping you from doing what you want to do now. At no other time in history have artists had an easier time creating material if they really want to. You don't need anyone's permission, as long as you're willing to make the kind of art you can afford to make, and understand that it needs to be really good if you hope to rise above the swell of other people who all think they can do the exact same thing.
While there is value in doing other kinds of work to develop your skills (i.e., short stories before you tackle a novel, short films before you try your hand at a feature, small paintings before you try a mural), there's also a lot of value in doing the kind of work you want to be doing, so that you can hone your skills and get experience doing what you want to make a career of doing. Don't be afraid to roll up your sleeves, dive in, and get your hands dirty. Maybe you have to make some adjustments to the particulars until you're a little further along, but that shouldn't stop you from going for it if that's what you really want to do. And the two paths are not by any means mutually exclusive. By all means pursue a traditional publishing contract with that Random House imprint while you self-publish other stuff on the side. By all means write screenplays you want to sell to Paramount while you also self-finance your own ultra-low budget indie films.
There are a lot of people who will tell you 'no' in this world, and I think a lot of people get discouraged as they spend long periods of time (even their whole lives in some cases) waiting for someone to say 'yes.' I say figure out a way to do it on your own, say 'yes' to yourself. While you're waiting for everyone else, make sure you still do what you want to do.
Until next time,
Jeff
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EXCERPT: When did it happen? It wasn't an overnight thing. It happened gradually, one or two of us at a time. Then the movement picked up momentum. Suddenly, here we are. A pack of blood-thirsty people-wolves, anxious to tear the flesh from our own friends and families. Anyone with a perceived weakness is fair game. If you get caught parking your car in the wrong spot. If you get caught taking an "extra" dessert. Whatever the "crime" of the moment is, the pack mentality will take you down.
EXCERPT: Have you ever experienced a wet rainy day that seemed to go on forever? You know the kind, that even after driving for perhaps a couple hundred miles all you see is a large vast of gray clouds overhead and the constant torrent of rain. While we all know that rain is very much needed for crops and plants and the well being of the planet, for the most part we do not like experiencing it when it inconveniences our best laid plans for outdoor activities. Sometimes our personal lives go through periods of overwhelming gray and darkness and it seems as though the relentless rain of difficult times keeps pouring down on us. Yes, it is true that those times are real and sometimes painful and highly discouraging. I have experienced it on many occasions and it does not at all feel good.
EXCERPT: The two words ' I ' and ' We ' have got a great deal of difference, grammatically as well as literally. But, going a bit deeper and analyzing the significance of the two we can reach the conclusion that ' I ' represents individuality whereas ' We ' stands for the society. The inherent idea proves itself more realistic when, we hear a man saying --- " Don't bother Sir ! I will manage or I'm sorry, Sir ! I can't handle this job. " Both types of sentences spoken above by the man tell nothing but the strength of individuality in him.
EXCERPT: If you’ve been with the writing community for any length of time, you’ve probably heard the term “Show, Don’t Tell”. This is one of the most misunderstood, frustrating, vague pieces of advice out there. Some writers will say to ignore it all together, yet others will say it’s the most important rule in writing. I’m in the middle of these two extremes. I think it’s important to understand, but it’s not the be-all-end-all of writing. I’m going to explain what “show, don’t tell” means, how to use it in your writing, and also how not to use it.
EXCERPT: I can remember when I was young, my mama showing me cards and letters that my older brother sent home from Vietnam. She was so proud of them, and as creased and worn as they were, it was obvious that she had read them many times. Although my brother had been back home for many years, my mama still cherished these mementos, just as she did when they had arrived. They were her link to her son; her way of knowing that he was safe and unharmed. Most soldiers today use electronic messaging, video chat, and emails to keep in touch with loved ones. Although this is a quick and easy way to check in and share their day, visit with their wife and kids and just let everyone know that they are okay, the letters home are a hands-on, personal connection that computers will never be able to duplicate. They give loved ones something personal, an item that they held in their hands, to hold onto now, once they come home, and often sadly, when they don't make it back.
EXCERPT: After adults divorce or separate, they often engage in a series of 'get even' tactics against the other with the couple's children becoming objects of manipulation and revenge. Little thought is given to the effect this behavior has on a child's emotions or what they are being deprived of. The sense of betrayal and anger felt by the estranged parents spills over, and the desire to strike back against the other becomes paramount. Reaction, driven by emotion, replaces rational thought, and any children born of the relationship become caught in the crossfire.
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Feedback from my last newsletter about a writer's purpose:
monty31802 writes: "Your N/L is good advice for all writers even us Poets?"
Yep, even poets. 
JennyHeart  writes: "The reason I started writing was all about a miracle that came to me from above i do believe. I was setting in thee doctor's off one day when I found an ad that was asking people to take a test to see if they were eligible to write children's stories. I quickly found out how interesting and rewarding that writing can be. I took thee test that was required in ordered for me to register to take a class from the,'Institute of Children's Literature.' The class taught me how to be creative when writing about anything. I later on lost one of my jobs, and this devastated me. One day soon after I lost my job I came across a writing site ,'EHow.' The site spark something good within me. I learned there are many options for writers if they have the desire to write in order for the readers to learn from them. later I joined,'Associated Content, which in my opinion a more known writing site. I received an award from this site. The award was for most inspiration writer. The award made me feel my writing was taken seriously. Helping the world if what living should be all about. I have started a novel and one day hope to finish it. All thee experience I have had from the moment i started writing I know will help me complete my novel.Being a writing has taught me to keep looking for as many opportunities when it come to writing. Our minds have so much to information to bee shared with our readers.I write because I love helping others as well as what come from the satisfaction of writing thoughts about all the things that eenter out minds about life."
Thanks for sharing a little of your writer's journey with us!
Elfin Dragon-finally published  writes: "You're right, it is difficult to decide "what purpose" writing serves when you love to do it. There's a certain point when you decide you actually want to start making money with it, yet still enjoy what you do. For me it's a difficult transition, most likely because I'm already in a difficult point in my life and I know that turning my writing into cash isn't the easiest thing to do. I need an alternate source of income since I'm on my own, so planning is key. In the end, I may get there slower than I might like to, but I know I'll get there. "
That's a great attitude to have. I think it's more important to get to a destination or reach a goal on your own terms (even if it takes a little longer) than it is to get there quickly. 
Quick-Quill  writes: "I pondered this question recently. Why DO i write? I love to tell a story. That's the best reason. Its sharing the story to engage others. That's the reason I write them down and share then with WDC and my family. Why did I write a novel? Because I felt the story needed to be told and I wanted others to read it and feel about it the same way I did. Then I remembered a scene in the Richard Gere movie "Shall we dance?" Susan Surandon says, " Marriage is a witness to our lives. Its a promise that your life won't go unnoticed because I will be your witness." That's how I feel about writing. Each story is a witness that i am here. I am creating and I will become better and better at crafting stories people want to read. do I hear an Amen? "
Amen! 
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