The Tricks and Treats of Writing
By Kristan Hoffman | October 31, 2013 |
Photo by Shauna Younge Dessert Tables.
Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. The laughter, the screams, the decorations, the ghost stories — it’s all such fun. But even from a young age, I knew that “trick-OR-treating” was a misleading term, because you can’t have one without the other. No costume? No candy.
Unfortunately this is true of writing too. The good and bad go hand-in-hand.
But what if we look at it another way? The good and bad go hand-in-hand. That means whenever one of those pesky writerly “tricks” comes up, we can flip it around and find a wonderful writerly “treat” too. For example…
TRICK – Doubt
So much of writing involves just 3 people: Me, Myself, and I. Writers toil for hours in solitude, every sentence like a private conversation with ourselves. In that kind of a closed loop, it’s easy for confidence to flag and questions to seep in through the cracks. Why am I doing this? What are the odds that I will succeed? Hasn’t someone already written this? Am I even any good?
TREAT – Affirmation
When we do let other people into our writing — whether through blogging, publishing a story, or just talking to a friend — that support and encouragement is one of the warmest feelings in the world. In times when doubt threatens to pull me into a dark place, I call upon my reserves of reassurance to get me through: friendly blog comments, fan emails, complimentary rejections from literary magazines, the unconditional love and faith of my family.
TRICK – Jealousy
In a cruel twist of irony, writers tend to work alone, yet at the same time, doesn’t it seem like everyone and their mom is a writer now? We see people tapping away on their laptops at the coffee shop. We read about their signings with hotshot agents on Twitter. We hear about their mega-dollar book deals on entertainment TV. I think we would have to be dead not to feel at least a little pang of envy over all the good news that isn’t happening to us.
TREAT – Community
The great thing about writing is that there’s room for everybody. The more, the merrier! And having all these other writers “around” (on the internet) is an amazing gift, because here is a whole group of people with the same kind of hopes and dreams and methods and madness as us. Some are farther along in the journey and can show us the way. Others are walking the path at the same time and can keep us company. Still others are just starting out, and we can offer them guidance and support.
TRICK – Negativity
Rejections. Unfulfilled word counts. Another year gone by without a book deal, or an agent, or even a finished manuscript. The tough stuff adds up quick, and it can turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy. When I have a couple bad writing days in a row, it’s hard to reverse the momentum.
TREAT – Joy
Fortunately, a little goes a long way. There is nothing in the world — nothing — like the feeling I get from putting my thoughts, feelings, or imagination into words. Watching that page fill up, line by line. Even if I only manage to focus for 15 minutes each day, even if I only get through 1 or 2 paragraphs, it’s enough to change my whole outlook. It’s like fireflies sparking on a summer night, or a quick soft kiss from someone you love. Fleeting but beautiful, it fills you up.
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Well, is writing a trick-AND-treat kind of thing for you too? Or have you somehow managed to grab all the candy and run home before the goblins could catch you?
Also, just for fun, who dressed up for Halloween? Bonus points if you show us your costume.
Originally from Houston, TX, Kristan Hoffman studied creative writing at Carnegie Mellon University and later attended the Kenyon Review Writers Workshop. Now she lives with her husband and two children in Cincinnati, OH, where she writes both fiction and nonfiction with a focus on feminist, multicultural stories. Her words have appeared in the New York Times, Switchback, and the Citron Review, among others. She is currently at work on a Young Adult novel. For more, please visit her website.
Kristan,
What a clever post. The trick is to persevere. The treat? Since we have little control over whether we land a publishing contract we must be content in the knowledge we have created a work that is original and wonderful. And there is always self publishing. Happy Halloween.
What a fun post, Kristan. The biggest trick about writing for me is keeping focused on writing and not being distracted by book sales ups and downs. My blog (about reading fiction) is doing great but it demands a lot of time and research, which I love, but it takes me away from writing fiction. The treat is seeing my short stories published, which happened this month, so I’m indulging in that fleeting sweet taste. Is all about readers anyway, right?
Kristan-
There’s a saying they use in Alcoholics Anonymous: Turn it over. (You see bumper stickers where the “over” is flipped upside down.)
That’s what you advocating here. Instead of seeing the bad, see the good. Focus on the positive. Big dark clouds shed small life-giving drops of rain.
You’re so right and there’s more: Turning it over is something you can do on the page. Take any interior moment or emotion you choose to portray. Turn it over. What’s on the other side? Work with that instead, or in addition to that with which you started.
Surprising readers is the way to keep them gripped with your words. Inner conflict–either conflicting emotions or confounding reader expectations–is the moment-by-moment tension that brings large-scale story events down to everyday (every page) level.
What’s on your page today? Turn it over. See what else is there. Ah. Now your focus is no longer me, myself and I. It’s where it should be: on your story.
Hi Donald. Great points on inner conflict. I just wanted to let you know that I am reading and enjoying your book, “The Fire in Fiction”. I took several creative writing classes several years ago in college. I quit writing as the advice of well-meaning people that told me I should “get a real job.” After an early retirement a couple of years ago, I decided to write a novel, which I have always wanted to do, but never pursued it. I’ve been an avid reader all my life and I didn’t expect it would be easy, but there is so much I have missed! With the advent of the internet, it’s like an entire new world. I never finished college and much of what I have learned has been self-taught. Your book is very helpful to my re-learning the craft. I just wanted to thank you for all your help for those of us still learning the craft.
Don,
Great advice! I love how you’re always able to bring these analogies back to the work itself. :)
Kristan
Don,
Great advice! I love how you’re always able to bring these analogies back to the work itself. :)
Kristan
What a really cute timely way to write an article and use the Halloween holiday ;-)
Esp liked the pointing out of the middle two points, between jealousy and community. Maybe more applicable today, where we both have more competition (that we know of) yet humongous more resources of companionship and sharing.
And then that last line, “Or have you somehow managed to grab all the candy and run home before the goblins could catch you?” –
Cute cute cute! Loved this, thanks so much Kristan :-)
This is great! I’ve shared this with my clients. Writing on the slant — seeing things in a fresh perspective, a new light — is such a fantastic way to find out what one’s story is about!
As a middle-aged Brit, trick or treat is still a somewhat alien concept to me, but I love this post and the fun you’ve had with it as a writer. In many areas of life we’re balancing the opposing sides of the same coin. Sometimes it can be hard to flip it over but it’s a good start to know the other side is there.
I put on a sweater I never wear and called it a day *laugh* that’s my costume . . . lawd.
I’ll “scare” myself every time I am ready to write a new novel – I won’t even list the crap that goes through my pea-headed brain, but, once I start, once I fall in love with the characters, I wonder always wonder why I waited so long. That dark alley really isn’t scary after all – for it leads to sum’pin wunnerful.
Fun, Kristan. I call them my yings and yangs. They are all good. In reality, life would be dull without both.
Oh, and come 3:30, when my kids arrive home from school, I will be Mama the Mummy, wrapped in toilet paper. I must admit, I am not looking forward to my girls growing out of Halloween.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!
Denise Willson
Author of A Keeper’s Truth
I feel like I just walked up to your house and yelled, “Trick or Treat” – and got treats ONLY!
The next time I start to think negatively, I’m going to remember this post.
Thanks!
Happy Halloween!
Well said, Kristin. We all have to battle our inner demons.
Happy All Hallow’s Eve!
I nearly spit out my cheap mocha (Kuerig hot chocolate + coffee of choice) when I read “In a cruel twist of irony, writers tend to work alone, yet at the same time, doesn’t it seem like everyone and their mom is a writer now?” because not too long ago, I had a dream that my mom had written a book and was shopping it around to agents, and yes, my dream-self felt jealous.
I do have a fabulous writing community that is supportive and that will cheer me on, and whom I cheer on, regardless of where we are with our writing journeys–but it’s interesting that my subconscious seems to not want family or close friends invading on my turf.
And I always took “trick or treat” to mean “give me a treat OR you get a trick”–but thank you for flipping the phrase for me and making me think of it in terms of both/and, and applying to writing!
(No, I did not dress up today. Work is doing a themed Wizard of Oz party and I couldn’t think of a cheap way to cobble together a costume…)
Amanda,
Lol at your dream. I know what you mean about not wanting friends and family “on your turf.” My fiancé wrote and self-published a book before we started dating, and even though WE know it’s not the same thing as what I’m trying to do, the distinction is hard to explain to other people.
Kristan
Yeah, “trick or treat” was actually a threat. “Do you want us to soap your windows, or do you want to give us a popcorn ball?”
Such a really good post. I can relate to every single one of your points, although I wouldn’t tell others about them most of the time. For example, the envy/jealousy. I feel bad that I feel that way, but it’s true. I see “everyone else” getting published and think, “Why me?” Now isn’t that really selfish? I should be happy for them. And I AM. But that little green monster sneaks up on me and I feel myself turning greener by the second. The most important thing, though, is that I turn that around and go back to my book and edit the heck out of it to make it the best it can be.
Thank you for your post.
Patti
Patti,
I think the jealousy is a “dirty little secret” for most of us. But like you said, what matters is not whether or not we feel it, but rather what we do with that feeling. Do we let it consume us, or do we let it fuel us back into the work? Glad to hear that you’re taking the latter path. ;)
Kristan
I often wonder if it’s worht the time. After all, I make good money in my “day job,” I have a nice house, family, two coffee grinders. What am I killing myself for every night? But I know none of that other stuff defines me. My writing is the only real legacy I’ll leave. When I think of going through life with nothing more than a fat bank account and countless hours of TV time logged, I get rather depressed. The very act of attempting something impossible is the success story of our lives. It’s our mountain. We may not reach the top, but we’ll never utter those horrible words at life’s end: What if?
Ron-
You have two coffee grinders? Aw, man. I’m jealous…and thinking to myself, what if?
Tragic. Don’t let go of that dream, Don!
I love how you set this up. Very clever!
I’ve experienced every trick on this list, and have been delighted to find each one tempered by the treats. :)
Great post. Really, really great post.
I have a confession to make. I’m scared. Truly. Why? Who knows. I have several blogs that I own and contribute to on a regular basis. I also contribute to other blogs that are not mine on a regular basis. But, I am scared of book writing.
I have an eBook written that is, in my opinion, needed in the community. But, I can’t click publish. I am afraid to. Why is this different from writing on my blogs? I’m not afraid to write on them. I put myself out there in multiple niches each day.
I’ve had this book written now for months. But doubt consumes me. What if it fails? What would I do then? Would my name be tarnished from that point on?
Thanks for the insight,
Josh
Josh, do your best work and be brave. Courage!
Josh,
It’s always scary to put oneself out there as an artist. It’s great that you’ve gotten some practice with it, through blogging for yourself and others, but you’re right: a book feels different. My advice would be to share your ebook with trusted readers — friends who the content is relevant to, strangers who the content is relevant to, maybe people you’ve met through the Writer Unboxed community (this blog or FB group). Your fear seems to stem from not knowing how people will react to what you’ve written, and getting a small sample set may help you prepare for that. :)
As for whether or not your name will be “tarnished” by a “failure,” I highly doubt it. The path is not linear; there isn’t a right and a wrong way to go. It’s more like a great big park that we’re all walking around, enjoying the different nooks, occasionally getting lost in a grove of trees.
Kristan
Thanks for your comments, tweets, and shares, everyone! I’m glad you enjoyed my little pun of a post. :)
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