I attended my RWA chapter writer meeting yesterday and listened to a great workshop by author Alexis Morgan.
I am very inspired by Alexis because even though she has many books out and writes 3 series a year, she still takes the time to learn. She reads books on writing, attends workshops and if she can’t, she gets the CDs from the conferences.
What a great role model she is.
When I look at my huge list of goals for 2009, I see that I had a section for honing my craft and did very little of what I had planned. I wanted to study debut books, study my favorite authors, do some writing prompts from a writing group I belong to and also try the exercises at the end of John Gardner’s book The Art of Fiction.
Now that I sold and know a bit more about what I want to write and now that I’m focusing on writing my series, I’m looking at how I can learn, because I really feel I know very little.
I notice that I am both a craft book and online classes junky so I decided to keep doing that. I also decided to follow James Scott Bell’s suggestion and copying some scenes from my favorite writers in a notebook, just to study them. I like Robert B. Parker’s dialog, Sherilyn Kenyon’s love scenes and Philip Pullman’s decriptions for example . I know I’m terrible at first chapter so I decided to go through my huge pile of thelatest paranormal romances to see how they do it, see what the elements are and if there are similarities between each books.
I just cannot read paranormal right now when I’m writing but maybe just reading the first chapters will be okay.
And who know, I may actually be brave enough to attempt a Gardner exercise.
I think this week shall be a good one to set a schedule for writing and fitting everything in, including working on a college class I’m taking and studying for a science exam.
Have I mentionned yet that I don’t watch T.V.? I couldn’t possibly find the time even if I had one.
Sadly no writing today. I miscalculated my little one waking up time and when I’m not the only one awake in the house there is no point even trying to write.
So only 6000 words this holidays but it’s still much more than last year. It’s a process, trying to build habits for life, not a race that I’ll quit after a month.
Leaving you with a little Steampunk art.
Blessed Be
Revel – Antique Tones by ~cambler on deviantART
No related posts.
4 Comments, Comment or Ping
Isn’t it great to know that authors we admire believe they still have something to learn and grow as much as we do. I remember a few years ago asking a New York Times bestselling author the same thing when she attended a synopsis workshop that I was taking. This is what she told me when I asked her why she was taking the workshop. “The day I stop learning is the day my writing carreer stalls.” I have never forgotten that.
Here’ s hooping 2010 brings you tons of writing time.
January 4th, 2010
Alexis sure was great, wasn’t she? I always learn so much from her. She’s a wonderful role model for us newbies!
I love James Scott Bell’s craft books! Do you have his latest called The Art of War for Writers? I LOVE it. I’m putting together a writer’s notebook for 2010. I’m working on the same section you are–putting together samples of writing I love.
January 5th, 2010
What a great quote Leeann. I am forever stressed about my second book and if I stop and think of it as a way of learning even more, I feel much better. It’s good to know big authors out there still don’t know it all!
January 5th, 2010
Laurie, I do have the Art of War for Writers. It is on my night table! That’s where I was reminded of the idea of studying other authors
Bell is just great. I love all his books!
January 5th, 2010
Reply to “And don’t forget to learn…”