An A-Z Guide
By Guest | March 29, 2011 |
Therese here. Please welcome novelist Rae Meadows to Writer Unboxed. Rae’s third novel, Mothers and Daughters, releases TODAY by Henry Holt and Co. What’s the book about?
Samantha is lost in the joys of new motherhood—the softness of her eight-month-old daughter’s skin, the lovely weight of her child in her arms—but in trading her artistic dreams to care for her child, Sam worries she’s lost something of herself. And she is still mourning another loss: her mother, Iris, died just one year ago.
When a box of Iris’s belongings arrives on Sam’s doorstep, she discovers links to pieces of her family history but is puzzled by much of the information the box contains. She learns that her grandmother Violet left New York City as an eleven-year-old girl, traveling by herself to the Midwest in search of a better life. But what was Violet’s real reason for leaving? And how could she have made that trip alone at such a tender age?
In confronting secrets from her family’s past, Sam comes to terms with deep secrets from her own. Moving back and forth in time between the stories of Sam, Violet, and Iris, Mothers and Daughters is the spellbinding tale of three remarkable women connected across a century by the complex wonder of motherhood.
Sounds like my kind of book. I’m thrilled Rae’s with us today to give us some A-Z wisdom. Enjoy!
An A-Z Guide
In the summer of 1999, I was living in New York City on break from my MFA program, and I had just begun writing a novel. My sister was dating her now-husband Darin Srauss (Half a Life, More Than it Hurts You). On the wall of his apartment was a huge grid of different colored note cards, a methodical diagram of his second novel. I was overwhelmed. It was clear my free-form approach was all wrong. And if I needed to be that organized about where a novel was going, maybe I wasn’t cut out to write one.
Of course I know now that there is no right way to write a novel, but at the time, Darin had already written a successful book so I felt like he knew what he was doing and I didn’t. It took me a while before I could accept that I had to figure out my own process.
Suffice it to say, what works for me might not work for you, and what works for one book might not work for the next. But here, from A to Z, are some things that I like to remember about novel writing.
Action. Get back to it. I don’t mean a fight scene. Action can be two people having tea. Background/backstory quickly gets boring. (It’s literally undramatic.)
Begin. Where to begin a novel? I still use the image of the boulder beginning to roll down the hill. Something has been set in motion.
Copy. Not really, but learn from books you love.
Description. Write less of it.
Every day? Nope. I take long periods of time away from writing. It took me a long time not to feel guilty about this, but I figured out what works for me.
Friends. Have a handful of trusted readers. One or two who are guaranteed to gush (my mom and my sister-in-law), one who is tough (my husband), and a couple others whose responses you respect (a novelist friend and my sister). I don’t like sharing my work, but I know it’s necessary.
Go back to the moment when you thought “yes” about the idea for your novel. Because you’ll definitely reach a point when you think it sucks.
Have an ending in mind. I don’t outline, but I know where/how/when a novel ends. This gives me a destination to work towards.
Iceberg. I still firmly believe in Hemingway’s iceberg principle. 10% of the iceberg is above water. 90% is below the surface. 10% is told, 90% inferred. Trust your reader.
Jealousy is an insidious waste of time. Someone is always going to have bigger advances, better reviews, more talent, more breaks, less wrinkles than you have.
Krispy Kreme. Or whatever reward gets you to the end of your writing goal for the day. Bribe yourself.
Lists of detail. You don’t need them, especially in describing what characters look like.
Metaphors and similes. Don’t labor over them. It always shows.
No one is going to make you write your book. If you want to do something else, do something else. If you want to write, write.
Openings. Ground us in the story’s present action. Engage us in the trajectory of a story. Make us wonder what will happen.
Phew. This writing thing is hard. I wish I could say it’s gotten easier for me, but it hasn’t. This is the gig. I have no idea how to write a novel.
Quit comparing yourself to other writers. (Try to, at least.) Comparisons are odious.
Research. Write what you don’t know. Research is fun and fascinating. It almost feels like cheating.
Specific. Always. It’s the only way to get to the universal.
Take a walk or a shower if you’re stuck. It helps.
Unclench your shoulders at the keyboard.
Value your non-writing life. Enjoy it. Try not to think, “I should be writing.”
Want. What does your main character want? I hate this question, even though I know it’s a basic storytelling principle. When I can’t answer it simply, I know I’m in trouble.
X-out those phrases that are too cute, that you like a little too much. As a friend once said, you have to get rid of your little darlings.
You know what you want your novel to be. Don’t be overly swayed by what others think. But if people tell you something’s not working, they’re probably right.
Zzzzs. As in get some. Your mind is always working. Sleep often delivers solutions to writing problems. You also look better when you’re well rested. Bonus!
Thanks for a fun and wise post, Rey!
Readers, do you have any A-Z wisdom you’d like to share? You can learn more about Rey on her website/blog, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter. Write on!
Photo courtesy Flickr’s curious flux
Many thanks to today’s guest.
You can read more WU guest posts by visiting this link.
Oh, I love this! Lots of good advice. I especially like K, but that’s because I’m a fan of rewards.
Your novel looks really interesting, too. Thanks for the post!
Fabulous! This is one of those great guides I want to keep on hand to go back to in those “What am I dooooooing?” moments, because it’s crisp and logical and warm.
Particularly like J… and K.
Happy pub day, Rae!
This is like all the best blog posts on writing ever written all balled up into one big post of awesome. Love it!
So much good advice and important reminders here. I do need to be reminded to Value my non-writing life. I get sucked into the writing, editing, blogging, posting, tweeting world — and it’s important to sometimes shut it all down. I’ll do that. Later! maybe…
New Theme Rusty Grunge is not my last post. This one is correct.
I DO need a break…
My favorite of all your great letters is W. That answer should never be a simple one, but the core of its complexity comes clearer to me as I write. The roots of the motivation, so to speak.
Nice list, and good luck with your novel, Rey!
So smart and so true. Thank you!
Great post, Rae. I’ve found H (have an ending in mind) to be crucial. It’s like a beacon in the night. Congrats on your new novel — gorgeous cover!
Another gold star post! Love this list — it’s very solid, comprehensive advice. And cute too. :)
Rae, what a great list. (Especially love the part about writing less description … I needed that today!).
“Trust your reader.” I need a T-shirt of that. Possibly a tattoo. :D
Thanks for a great post!
E and N are the things that took me a long time to accept because they require me to know myself and trust myself.
When I’m in “writing mode” the story flows wonderfully and the word tally zooms. If I’m not in the mode, stringing together 3 sentences is a chore.
I’ve learned to set a weekly word-count goal instead of a daily one. If I start worrying about the fact I should be writing, I think about the story and let my mind wander (playing my friend’s piano music on my iPod helps the wandering tremendously).
It’s amazing how many ideas can pop into my head…hence the new intro to my 1st chapter that led me to a rewrite!
It’s all good though!
Judy
I’m embarassed to say I am sitting at work, reading your post, and silently crying. I would cut and paste my favorites into this reply, but there are too many. Right now I’m knee deep in writing the sequel to my debut novel, which means I’m up to my neck in worry and self doubt. I needed to hear every single one of these (except the part about the donuts). Thanks.
This is my favorite:
“No one is going to make you write your book. If you want to do something else, do something else. If you want to write, write.”
I have to tell myself that every day and twice a day when I hit the more-or-less exact middle of the book and start wondering why I’m torturing myself.
you can always count on me to gush when there is something to gush about! it’s YOU rae, not Me!! great list. i like the idea of enjoying the non-writing-life. good reminder.
LOVE it. Thanks Rae. My favorite: “Phew. This writing thing is hard. I wish I could say it’s gotten easier for me, but it hasn’t. This is the gig. I have no idea how to write a novel.”
I’m most of the way through my second novel and I feel exactly that way; good to know it’s normal.
Agreed, agreed! Such a fun, light way to reconsider the writing process when things get you down. REALLY appreciate the permission to reward/bribe myself for good work done! Thanks, Rae!
Great tips, Rae! Can’t wait to read MOTHERS & DAUGHTERS!
Super fab guide to grounding yourself as a writer. I love “P”–whenever I acknowledge that I have no idea what I’m doing, there’s an influx of creativity. All about trust, isn’t it? Thanks for sharing.
I like “G”, “Go back to the moment when you thought “yes” about the idea for your novel. Because you’ll definitely reach a point when you think it sucks.”
Awesome post. I just spent the month of March not writing (to regroup for some major revisions) and was feeling really guilty about it. This makes me feel a whole lot better!
I enjoyed this post (& shared it on FB & Twitter). Some good advice for any writer. :)
Perhaps because my blog focuses on openings, “B” struck me as especially insightful, and I’m going to quote you tomorrow. Someting in motion, indeed! A wonderfully simple way to put–and teach.
What a fabulous, clever and hands-on-practical post! Thank you! And your book sounds right up my alley… :-)
Rae – great post. I love K (the reward idea) and U. Need to remember U.
Good luck with your book!
Barbara
This is such a user-friendly guide. Today I needed to hear E: Every Day? Nope. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who needs a break.
Love this post! Practical, fun, and simply put. Hope you had a great day enjoying MOTHERS & DAUGHTERS release by sitting back and taking a deep breath. XO
[…] Yesterday, she guest posted over at Writer Unboxed. I’d say that is a heckuva way to get a release day started! She writes an A-Z guide for writers…check it out at https://staging-writerunboxed.kinsta.cloud […]
Love this, Rae! I was printing it out even before I finished reading. Perfectly wonderfully said.
This was as clear and beautiful as the cursive ABC border up in front of the classroom.
another great post! My fav letter, if I were to pick is V. I do this to myself all the time – if I’m not writing, I feel like I should be. “Hey! I’m allowed to have a life.” I must remember that :)
Add my raves to these responses! Rae, what a terrific post. W yes a favorite. And Zzzz. I want to print this out and tape to the wall in front of me. Thank you for great insights and encouragement.
First, congratulations on your book, Rae! You must feel on top of the world (cliche’ alert, as Margie Lawson would say). I loved the A to Z way of listing what we as writers should keep in mind. My one BIG problems is “comparing myself to other writers”. I do it all the time, every day – telling myself I’ll never be able to write like her or him. And I sometimes look at my work and think, “Are you kidding? No agent will pick this up!” But, everyone has to start somewhere and my third novel is way better than my first. Hopefully someday it will happen to me – getting published, that is.
Of all the things I have read and learned, nothing sums it up better than this. I am printing this off and tacking it on a wall where I can see it everyday. Thanks. Truly.
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