Good Sweltering Morning,
At least we are sweltering here in California (inland valley) in triple digit temps. In May? Typically, we’re experiencing May gray now. Next, we go into June gloom. And then we start heating up. It could be a very long summer.
It is hot, but I continue to write. We have the swamp cooler and numerous fans set up to keep us and the two cats relatively comfortable.
Are you writing? Many people I encounter are writing their own stories. I wonder, after you’ve done the writing and you read your story for the first time, what do you feel? If what you’re reading doesn’t move you in some way—if it doesn’t evoke an emotion or an image—you may be writing too much from outside of yourself. Unfortunately, this is all too common. And this is also one excellent reason why you should have someone else (or many someone elses) read your story before sending it off to the publisher or printer.
It’s easy to write from outside oneself—to simply point to the activity, action, events and tell the story. But what will your reader get out of it? He or she will say, “Okay, that happened, so what?†If all the reader knows about the scene is that the woman is in the stagecoach as it rounds the bend, she’s not going to care too much about the woman or the story. The writer of this passage is, for all practical purposes, pointing to the action. She is not drawing you into it. And readers want to be drawn into the activity, action and emotion. The reader doesn’t want to watch a couple make passionate love, she wants to be a part of that scene. She doesn’t want to be told that there’s a woman sitting inside the stagecoach, she wants to be in there with her. She wants to see what it’s like inside the coach and experience it. She wants to know the woman, feel her pain or her joy and understand why she is in the situation and a particular emotional place.
I tell my clients, avoid pointing out the story—actually lead the reader by the hand into the story.
Have you read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book? If you have any aspirations at all toward becoming published, this is an absolute must read. Dozens of industry professionals can’t be wrong. This book has received numerous 5-star reviews. And readers also sing its praises. If you are new to publishing or you are struggling within it—no matter where you are in the process—I wrote this book for you.
Don’t arrive at the publishing gates without arming yourself for what’s ahead. This book is designed to provide you with the ammunition you need in the form of information, education and resources. Order it at http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html And check out the companion Author’s Workbook. http://www.matilijapress.com/workbook.html
I just learned that there were 400,000 new books produced in 2007. If this is true, book production is up by over 100,000 titles since 2006. And we thought the competition was stiff then.
Folks, publishing is not kids play. It’s not an activity born of writing. It’s a fiercely competitive business and you must prepare yourself to enter it or you will be one of the millions of authors who fail every year. Prepare yourself for success. Read my book before you start writing yours and then keep it close at hand to use as a reference guide.