Writers in the Storm

I am a shark when it comes to reading. Always have been. In elementary school I walked home for lunch, book in hand, reading. The neighbors told my mother, urging her to tell me not to read on the twenty-minute walk. But I walked that same stretch of sidewalks on three streets four times a day, and with only one crossing of two lanes of traffic, she just reminded me to be careful—and that the neighbors were watching me. It's no wonder that I read ten books a week and looked forward to my Friday night visits to the library to check out the limit of ten books for the next week. In the eighth grade my parents signed for me to get an adult library card. My first read? Rafael Sabatini's Captain Blood.

I still read, but not as much. I'd love to do nothing but read. Unfortunately the adult world requires responsibilities be fulfilled.

I've made no secret of being a science fiction freak for half my life, concentrating on reading all the best from writers who tell stories about future societies and how humanity is the same...or different. Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Robert Heinlein, Frank Herbert, Ray Bradbury, Gordon Dickson, Orson Scott Card, Kurt Vonnegut, Niven and Pournelle, Saberhagen. And many more.

But then James Preston's wife introduced me to romance. It was hard, no—virtually impossible—to find science fiction romance books. So I read historical romance. Jude Deveraux, Diana Gabaldon, Julie Garwood, Johanna Lindsey, Judith McNaught. Like a shark. I read some contemporary, Jayne Ann Krentz mostly, since I loved her Amanda Quick regencies.

Fast forward to the past few years, and a more "balanced" reading list: Tessa Dare (historical romance), Linnea Sinclair (SF/paranormal romance), Lynn Raye Harris (Hostile Operations Team series), Cora Seton (The Heroes of Chance Creek), Zoe York (SEALs Undone series). And, of course, everything by Laura Drake. I'm always on the lookout for new authors to read. 

I read authors who write stories about strong-willed characters, both male and female. Usually there is some danger or suspense or mystery involved. And I do enjoy the occasional twist. Lately I've enjoyed reading series. It's fun to find out what happened to secondary characters from a previous novel and check in with the main characters from related books.

I've found that my taste in books has changed the longer I've been writing. I'm more discriminating in what I read. Gone are the days of waiting for a book to develop in the first hundred pages. I used to be more interested in the plot, but now I want emotion and character arcs. I want the characters to end up smarter, better than they started, and I want to know—gut-level know—that they're going to be happy for the rest of their lives. I want to know that the world is a better place with them in it.

And that brings me to writing. Engaging a reader in the first couple of pages by helping them root for my characters is as important as capturing their emotions in a fast-paced, hopefully engaging, story with twists and turns and new ideas and fresh challenges. I look for these elements in the books I read and the samples of work from prospective new authors. Don't you love it when you've thought about something you read yesterday, and you can't wait to continue the journey with those characters today? 

I read to be entertained. I could watch television or play video games, and sometimes I do enjoy those activities. But I have a much bigger TBR pile than list of TV shows to binge watch or games to lose myself in. When I read a book, I lose myself in that environment. I want to feel what the characters feel. For me, that's much easier to accomplish with a book than a game or a television show. And that's why I read. 

What genre do you read, and why do you read it? Who are your go-to authors?

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ABOUT FAE:

Fae Rowen discovered the romance genre after years as a science fiction freak. Writing futuristics and medieval paranormals, she jokes  that she can live anywhere but the present. As a mathematician, she knows life’s a lot more fun when you get to define your world and its rules.

Punished, oh-no, that’s published as a co-author of a math textbook, she yearns to hear personal stories about finding love from those who read her books, rather than the horrors of calculus lessons gone wrong.  She is grateful for good friends who remind her to do the practical things in life like grocery shop, show up at the airport for a flight and pay bills.

A “hard” scientist who avoided writing classes like the plague, she now shares her brain with characters who demand that their stories be told.  Amazing, gifted critique partners keep her on the straight and narrow. Feedback from readers keeps her fingers on the keyboard.

P.R.I.S.M., a young adult science fiction romance story of survival, betrayal, resolve, deceit, lies, and love.

When she’s not hanging out at Writers in the Storm, you can visit Fae at http://faerowen.com  or www.facebook.com/fae.rowen

Fae also blogs at YA Outside the Lines on the fifth of every month.

I love the idea of a fresh start.

There's something so appealing about a new beginning, an uncharted course, a do-over. It's why every year, I make New Year's resolutions and manage to keep many of them.

But for the last few years, I've also followed along with the idea of choosing a single word to steer your course. Our Writers in the Storm team chose single guiding words in 2016 and 2017, and we're ready to go there again. Here are our 2018 words:

Fae

My word for 2018: Balance

Last year, in my focus to publish my first book and prepare the next two, my life became directed to one thing: THE BOOK. I spent twelve to twenty hours a day working on revisions. Seven days a week. I didn't take trips with friends like I usually do. I even turned down week-end excursions. I didn't go to movies or out to lunch with "the usual suspects." I ate what was fast and easy. Not only did my body suffer, so did my writing.

For 2018 BALANCE is the word for every day. At least seven hours of sleep, at least two healthy meals, continuing with my exercise regimen—which saved me last year—and writing on a reasonable daily basis, which to me means four to eight hours when I'm not on a trip with friends. This seems like a good plan to publish two (maybe three!) books, get healthier, and enjoy my life. Healthy and happy will be the outcome of balance in my life.

Jenny

My word for 2018: Focus

My word last year was Becoming and I definitely allowed myself to play on the page, to write to the edges of my abilities, and to learn enough to increase those abilities as much as I was able. But I don't feel like I moved forward on my goals as much as I would have liked. All that learning takes time, and sometimes the work needs to be turned in as "good enough."

"Good enough" is a rough one for us perfectionist writers and the only way to get through it, in my humble opinion, is by setting (and meeting) manageable milestones and goals. I've downloaded Jamie Raintree's Writing and Revision Tracker and vowed to set firm weekly and monthly goals. I'll be depending on my tribe to help keep me focused.

Julie

My word for 2018: Forward

For too much of 2017, I felt like my writing career was moving backward or at least standing still. Some of that experience involved circumstances beyond my control, and some was self-inflicted. Regardless, by the fall, I was simply wallowing in my lack of progress.

In 2018, I want to leave those feelings behind, set my goals, and focus on moving forward. While I'd love to leap forward, I've been around the writing life long enough to know that you can't plan the tipping points of success, but you can keep moving in the right direction. This year, no more backwards movement or standing still—and no more wallowing. Instead, it's all about going forward.

Laura

My word for 2018: Rebuild

2017 was NOT a banner year for me. Lost my hearing in my left ear to a virus that fried the nerve for balance as well (didn't know that at the time). That led to losing my balance while fly fishing in Oregon in May, stepping in a hole, and snapping both bones in my lower right leg. A boat rescue, a titanium plate, 13 screws, and three months later, I was back on my feet.

Because my best plotting is done on my bicycle, this wreaked havoc with my WIP... and I had a deadline. A tight one. I made it, but about lost my sanity doing it.

In 2018 I'm rebuilding: my health, my bones, my writing process. I'm trying new 'planning' techniques (refuse to call it plotting, for fear my brain will revolt).

July, my first book of a new series comes out — I hope to rebuild sales as well!

Now we want to hear from you! What one word will guide your writing life in 2018?

Bryan E. Robinson, Ph.D.

Act as if you’re a writer. Sit down and begin. Act as if you might just create something beautiful, and by beautiful I mean something authentic and universal. —Dani Shapiro

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been unsure which direction to take with your writing, if self-doubt has nipped at your heels, or you’ve landed in the clutches of writer’s block or “second book syndrome.”

I thought so.

Writing rejections and disappointments nibble away at us like torture from half a million cuts. After a while, it feels as if we’re bleeding and can’t tolerate one more slash. Statistics show that more of us have the stamina to continue to take safety risks after a car crash than to continue after a series of psychological defeats. Writers often throw in the towel so they don’t have to continue feeling disappointment. Attempts to bring quick relief to the misery of defeat rob us of knowing what missed opportunities lay beyond the barrier. This impulsive reaction—scientists call it the what-the-hell effect—is a way out: permission to give up. Adding insult to injury, we seek comfort in the very thing we’re trying to conquer: writing failure.

Most of us who’ve written for any length of time have gotten stuck somewhere along the way. But there’s good news. Twelve Step programs have thrown a phrase around for years called “acting as if.” This principle can help us get through periods of writing paralysis.

What does it mean to act as if? Acting as if is a simple, yet powerful tool that says we can create outer circumstances by acting as if they’re already true. We give ourselves to a certain performance as if it’s how we feel. When we act as if, the mood we pretend becomes a reality.

Suppose we’re angry toward someone who offended us but want to be forgiving. We can start to feel forgiving by acting as if we are forgiving. Perhaps we’re feeling cold and detached but want to be happy for a fellow author’s good news. We can be happy by acting as if we are happy. Maybe we have difficulty getting words on the page, but instead of fighting tooth and nail, we convince ourselves it’s easy, write as if it’s easy, and tackle the difficulty with ease.

Authors of all genres have used this method to jumpstart their writing mojo. The Playwright Tennessee Williams said, “I believe the way to write a good play is to convince yourself it is easy to do then go ahead and do it with ease.” Screenwriter Steven Pressfield also recommends the as if approach: “You and I as writers must write as if we were highly paid, even though we may not be. We must write as if we were top-shelf literary professionals, even though we may not (yet) be.”

When I wrote Limestone Gumption: A Brad Pope and Sisterfriends Mystery and Daily Writing Resilience: 365 Meditations & Inspirations for Writers, I too, used the as if strategy in my fiction and nonfiction work, writing as if my books will be on the shelves beside Stephen King or J. K. Rowling, as if Steven Spielberg will beat down my door to sign me for the screenplay. I’m still waiting for Hollywood to call, but I can testify to the effectiveness of this strategy.

Scientific evidence supports the old adage when we act as if, the rest of us follows suit. It’s based on the mind-body connection. The cells of our bodies constantly eavesdrop on our thoughts from the wings of our minds. When we’re doubtful or disappointed about our writing, our bodies go with the downturn of our feelings, making us feel worse. Hunching our heads or slumping when we walk makes us come across as insecure.

On the other hand, if we change our body posture, breathing patterns, muscle tension, facial expressions, gestures, movements, words, vocal tonality, it releases a surge of chemicals and changes our internal state. For example, making the facial expression of a smile can make us happy. Or standing tall, shoulders back, not only makes us look confident, but also makes us feel more confident. Training the body to position itself the way we want to think and feel about ourselves adjusts our thoughts and feelings to the way we want them to be. Making body adjustments—pulling our shoulders back, standing or sitting up straight, walking in a more expansive way—can pull us out of self-doubt, disappointment, or any other self-defeating emotion.

When our minds and bodies proceed with the way we want to be (as if), our attitudes navigate us with easy sailing through choppy writing storms. This tool can salvage a bad writing day, repair or prevent a squabble with a fellow author, or kick-start a marathon in front of a blank screen turning dread into enthusiasm.

So let’s convince ourselves that a writing challenge is actually a piece of cake, act as if it’s true, then notice the ease with which an obstacle becomes a cinch to work through. To say we write “as if” is another way of saying we’re resilient warriors on a literary path, determined to persevere over the long haul.

Have you had success with acting as if? How can you see yourself using the technique in 2018? Do you have questions for Bryan?

BRYAN E. ROBINSON is consulting editor for International Thriller Writers’ online magazine, The Big Thrill and columnist for Southern Writer’s
Magazine and Psychology Today. Bryan authored two murder mysteries (working on the third) and 35 nonfiction books that were translated into thirteen languages. His debut novel, Limestone Gumption, was a multi-award winner for best psychological suspense. His latest books are Daily Writing Resilience: 365 Meditations & Inspirations for Writers (Llewellyn Worldwide, January 2018), and the thriller, Bloody Bones (forthcoming). He maintains a private psychotherapy practice in Asheville, NC.