Dear Frustrated Author,

I’m going to offer some advice that contradicts what most writing instructors say: Let yourself feel discouraged. By that, I mean, let yourself feel the emotion because it is a real worry for you. Don’t let it overwhelm you, but realize it’s okay to feel like that. It doesn’t mean you’re a failure, and feeling that way doesn’t mean you won’t ever write a great story.

One thing I’ve learned about myself is that if I feel like I’m forcing things with a book, I need to take a break. Do something else. Take care of other worries in my life so that those things aren’t pressing against the back of my brain while I try to write. Honestly, I’d suggest taking a bit of time away from writing and let something else occupy your mind for a bit.

I’ve noticed that writers often ask too much of themselves. We tell ourselves that this story must be perfect on the first try, or we’ve failed. We have to finish this book because we’ve already put so much work into it, even though the story isn’t going anywhere and the whole thing is lackluster because we lost our passion for it. If we don’t finish every book we start—and in the order in which we started them—then we’ve failed.

It took me four years to write my first book because I told myself those things. It took me a lot longer than it would have if I’d known these things earlier, but I didn’t. I had to learn them for myself. I did finish that book and went through the whole process of revising and querying. I got plenty of full and partial requests, but none that took.

So I moved on to my next book and tried to force it like I had the one before, but it wasn’t working. Then, in a moment of what I can only describe as enlightenment, I started another book. The day had been incredibly frustrating at work, with one person screaming at me on the phone for a good half hour. When I sat down that evening with a pad of paper and pen, I didn’t have any expectations other than I wanted to write out my frustration.

I did write, and as I kept asking myself, “Why?” and “What next?” I realized it was a story coming. I finished the first draft three weeks later, and though it’s been more than a year—going through yet another revision at the moment—it taught me how to write. More importantly, it taught me how I write. If I try to force a story, it won’t come. But if I take a break for a few days, maybe tinker around with another idea for a bit, eventually the story starts nipping at my heels, begging for another look. Then I fall in love with the story and characters again, because I let myself do something other than obsess over how it just. wasn’t. working.

Honestly, this is what I learned about myself, and it may be completely different for you, but I’d say to anyone who thinks they have to write like ___(insert famous bestselling author’s name here)___, step back a moment, take a break, and let those preconceived notions go. Try different ways of writing so you can figure out how you write.

It’s okay to be sad and scared. Let yourself worry about it for a bit, but then start again. But please, don’t beat yourself up for feeling like a failure. We all feel that way at one point or another. What makes for success is getting back up, then trying something else that eventually will work.

So please, don’t fret too much. You’ll get back to where the story is bursting from your fingertips in a frenzy of tapping keys. Until then, be happy with your life, your family, and every other joy in life. When your tired brain has rested enough, it’ll be ready to start in again.

Sincerely,

Someone Who Understands Because She’s Been There

Who: Writers struggling to perfect their query letter and synopsis

What: Query and Synopsis Workshop

When: Saturday, June 12, 2010

10 am–12:30 pm

Where: Fire Petal Books

386 North Main

Centerville, UT 84014

Why: To tame those beastly queries

How: Reserve your spot by clicking on the PayPal link at the bottom of this post and paying the $45 workshop fee. Then email michelle .witte @firepetalbooks .com with your contact information.

Questions? Contact Michelle:

michelle .witte @firepetalbooks .com

801.992.3776

Note: Bring multiple (at least 3) copies of your query and your 4–5 page synopsis. We will be discussing and critiquing the queries/synopses you bring.

No question that writing a book can be hard. Even worse is writing the query and synopsis. Without a great query, however will you get an agent or editor to take a further peek at your story?

To help writers with this seemingly daunting task, Fire Petal Books is hosting a Query and Synopsis Workshop, taught by owner Michelle Witte. Seating is limited, so reserve your spot early for the workshop.*

During the first 45 minutes, Michelle will teach the principles for writing a good query followed by a discussion on crafting a synopsis. The rest of the time will be spent workshopping queries and a few synopses.

Learn the art of the query and synopsis. Your book will thank you.

Michelle is the owner of Fire Petal Books, a children’s bookstore opening in Centerville, Utah. She has worked as an editor for the past 6 years, first with the Deseret Morning News and then 3 years with Gibbs Smith, a national nonfiction publisher located in Layton, Utah. In addition to helping writers craft better books and stories, she writes books for young adults. Working in multiple aspects of publishing—from editing, publicity, writing, and sales—has given her a better understanding of the process a book travels before a reader cracks the book open for the first time.

*Depending on demand, we may schedule another class either this week or next.

I’ve decided to embark on a new adventure, and it comes after years of semi-pondering the idea. I’m opening a bookstore.

Not just any bookstore, but one catering to children and teens. We’ll sell books, yes, but we’ll also sell community, support, and education. My plan is to create a place where conversations happen, whether through book clubs, story time, or a chat upon the couch. There will be classes on to show adults how to write for teens and children—but more importantly, classes where teens and children learn how to write.

I’m posting a widget here that will show how the worldwide reading and writing communities are supporting the idea financially. If you haven’t heard of Kickstarter.com before, I recommend visiting their website to see the incredible things people are doing to improve their corner of the world, and then support them as well.

If you’d like to receive updates on the project’s progress, I’ll be posting to the updates page on Kickstarter as well as the Fire Petal Books blog (http://www.firepetalbooks.com/blog), twitter account (@firepetalbooks), and Facebook page.

Save the Prince (sure, easy) from an enemy kingdom (no problem) without them knowing (of course) and before the planned execution (obviously). Oh, and don’t forget, your guards will betray you (that’ll make things more exciting), then lead the foreign army in its hunt for you (time to dodge and roll).

Yes, and the Prince will try to claim you as his next conquest (Wait, what? We said nothing about romantic entanglements. I’ll get in and out, do my job, but there’s no way I’ll let some prick of a prince put his moves on me.)

If you could finish this by next month, it’d be appreciated, as we’ve a war to plan. (Sigh . . . )

It is vital that authors get to know their characters, especially the main characters. I’ve compiled a list of questions that will help authors create complete personalities and histories for their characters.

These are frequently referred to as character bibles because they will be the go-to resource for information on your character. While it is important to know some of this information for minor characters (especially physical description), their bibles don’t need to be nearly as extensive. Not all points will require answers, but it is still beneficial to consider each of them. It is most helpful when the answers are written down for later reference.

This list is still evolving, so if you have suggestions for more questions to add, please include them in the comments.

Character:

Physical

Physical appearance

Age:

Height:

Weight:

Body type:

Shape of mouth/nose:

Shape of face:

Color/quality of eyes:

Color/texture/length of hair:

Shade/texture of skin:

Birthmarks:

Size/condition of hands:

Manner of dress:

Illness:

Voice and speech

Tone/pitch of voice:

Soft-spoken or loud:

Accent:

Odd rhythms of speech:

Nature of character’s vocabulary:

Grammatical or ungrammatical speech:

Curse words:

Slang:

Multilingual:

Movement and gestures

Hyperactive or slothful:

Awkward or graceful:

Expressive with hands or body:

Poor or good posture:

Ticks:

Agile or not:

Emotional

Personality

Bad:

Good:

Flaws:

Raison d’etre:

Fears:

Pleasures:

Joys:

Ideals:

Regrets:

Defeats:

Triumphs:

General likes/dislikes:

Sense of humor:

Dreams:

Plans for the future:

Attitudes toward children:

Attitudes toward money:

Attitudes toward life:

Grudges:

Revenge:

Personal history

Date of birth:

Place of birth:

Parents rich, poor/middle class:

Parents good, bad/indifferent:

Father’s occupation:

Mother’s occupation:

Ethnic background:

Childhood traumas:

Mental illness:

Brothers/sisters:

Most influential person in character’s childhood and why:

Spiritual

Belief System

Attitude toward sin/evil:

Attitude toward virtue/good:

Attitudes toward death:

Deities:

Atheist/agnostic:

Involvement of deities:

Religion:

How often attend services:

Devoutly or casually faithful:

Attitudes toward liquor/drugs:

Forbidden acts:

Virtues:

Vices:

Sexuality

Marital status:

Sexual preference:

Virgin, well-experienced or promiscuous:

Likes sex or not:

Good or bad lover:

Guilt-ridden or guilt-free:

Attitudes toward opposite sex:

Attitudes toward love:

Intellectual

Education

High school:

College:

Higher degrees:

Course of study:

Completed education:

Success in school:

Reading habits:

Politics:

Literacy:

Vocation

Job history:

Nature of career:

Has character changed career:

Performs job well or not:

Likes the work:

What boss/co-workers think of character:

Skills and talents

Skills

Talents

Hobbies:

Childhood hobbies:

Sports:

Supernatural

Magic

Ability:

Strength:

Weakness:

Physical appearance:

Rules:

Laws:

Consequences:

Societal perception:

Personal perception:

Harm/heal:

Redemption:

Weapons

Trademark weapon:

Special weapon:

Who made them:

Proficiency:

Appearance:

Markings:

Special abilities:

Species

Human/nonhuman:

Intermarry:

How many in world:

Shapeshift:

Procreation:

Death:

Age at death:

Feuds:

Mortal/immortal:

World of Origin

Family:

Society:

Procreation:

Social position:

Dependence:

Social class:

Birth rites:

Death rites:

Resources:

Friends:

Enemies:

Good fiction is, at its heart, about truth. Some may disagree with this statement, but think about it for a moment. The books and characters that resonate with us most deeply as readers and humans speak to us on a level that is hard to describe. They tell us something about ourselves and the world around us.

Some of the things they tell us aren’t nice. They can be unpleasant and downright uncomfortable. But if the writer is being true to the story and characters, she is writing exactly what those characters would do and say.

There’s a saying common among writers: Write what you know. Okay, so if I followed this strictly, I could only write realistic fiction about a 28-year-old single Mormon woman. That would be fine if I were writing a memoir. But I’m not.

The thing about writers—the best ones, the ones who create the most believable worlds, whether realistic or fantasy—is that they imagine. Their minds are filled with what-ifs. They see a situation, hear a story, notice a person, and their mind takes them down a long road of “what if this person … ”

Now these writers, they imagine a lot of things. Some of those things continue the story and keep it moving forward. But sometimes writers must stop and ask themselves deeper questions. If I write this, people may get upset and ban my book. Am I willing to accept that? Should I tone this down and write it so no one would get upset? Would my character really, honestly, truly act this way?

Swinging around to where we started, we have to stick to truth when we write, truth at its most basic. We have to accurately portray the world of these characters and write them honestly.

My biggest frustration with books is when a heroine does something so completely out of character that the entire story feels false. When a story ends in a way that doesn’t feel right. I’m not referring to “right” in the moral sense of the word, but “right” in the sense that the story doesn’t ring true, isn’t true to the people in it. The book could have been absolutely perfect up to that point, but then that moment comes when the writer messes it all up. The character says or does something alien to their nature, so the entire book feels false and unrealistic.

I see this happening when the writer doesn’t really know who her characters are. She hasn’t delved enough into their psyche. But this can also happen with the writer comes to that point in the story—that pivotal moment when one action or word changes everything—and they take the easy way out. They back off, pull back, and make everything better. Or they throw in violence, sex, something so sensational that it’s sure to cause tongues to wag. In either case, they have committed the fatal error of not being true to the characters or the story. They took the easy way out.

Now let me explain what precipitated this entire thought process.

I don’t swear. I don’t drink, do drugs, sleep around. I’m the quintessential “good girl.” I don’t say this to brag in any way, but to explain. I don’t do any of those things, but some of the characters I write do. In the book I’m currently writing, none of the characters would be considered “good” girls.

These girls, well, they swear. I shied away from it for quite a while, tried to phrase things in a way that would tiptoe around it. Then I realized that I wasn’t being true to these girls I’m writing. Their lives are so different from my experience and my life, but when I imagine these girls, I can see and hear and know them. They are in difficult situations and they don’t always keep their language clean. They have made choices and taken actions I would never even consider. But they have.

Some people may well be disappointed in my choice to write about characters in these situations without lambasting them and their actions. I’m neither condoning nor condemning them, but whatever my personal views, I have to be true to these girls or I would be the one lying.

Everything is not clean and easy with this book. I’ve already bawled my eyes out while writing, and I’m only a third of the way into the manuscript. I’ve had to confront some really tough emotions and thoughts because these girls do. I wanted to take the easy way with this story, but the girls wouldn’t let me. I was lying to them and myself. Now that I’ve realized this, I understand these girls so much better. Now I can tell their story honestly and truly.

It’s hard getting published. Take it from me, someone who works both sides of the fence as an editor during the day and a writer at night. I’ve been actively trying to get published for more than a year now, and I’ve yet to get an agent or a contract. I’ll even tell you a secret: I’ve pitched ideas to my own house, and I’ve been rejected there too. Being an editor doesn’t guarantee publication.

Why do we do it? Day after day, we toil so hard to write, placing pieces of ourselves in the stories, bleeding across the page. It’s not easy—not if you’re doing it right. And yet we keep on, praying someone—anyone—will like our manuscript enough to give it a chance.

Is it worth it?

Working in publishing, I think a lot of us are asking this question as the future of publishing appears a little bleak. The answer I hear from editors, agents, writers, and readers is a resounding YES! Most people don’t get rich working in publishing, and yet so many of us work in this industry because we love it. We need books as much as we need air. Stories, words upon paper, give us strength to live. The magic that happens between the covers of a book surprises, delights, and fulfills. It gives our lives meaning.

Still, it can be discouraging. Months and years struggling to make these stories come alive only to be told no. It’s not good enough—not yet. And so we try again. Revise. Rewrite. Write another story.

I imagine non-book people think us crazy. Why give your life over to a labor of love that often doesn’t bring large financial rewards? They don’t understand. It’s part of us. We can no more deny who we are than deny our need to create books.

To answer the question “is it worth it,” I have one thing to say: the moment you see a finished book for the first time—glossy cover, thick pages, glorious images—it’s like seeing your child for the first time. All of the years going back and forth between editor, agent, writer, and illustrator. The discussions, disagreements, and frustration all had one goal—to create a book. It is beautiful and it is yours.

Where do you get your story ideas from? I know this is one of those questions that authors tend to have a hard time explaining. For some reason, I remember the exact moment I started thinking about or suddenly came up with an idea.

Many of you may have seen Stephenie Meyer’s interview with Oprah last week. The thing that struck me about it was Stephenie’s description of how the idea for Twilight came to her. She had a vivid dream of what later became chapter 13 in the first book.

Whether you do or don’t like her books, the way the idea came to her is fascinating. This got me thinking about how ideas for my books arrive (for lack of a better word). I have a list of good ideas for books, some that are more pressing than others. Some are still percolating in my brain, so I put those on a shelf for the moment until they’re ready to be written.

One idea in particular blindsided me. I’ve mentioned this before, but when I started writing Mark of Jasmine I had been frustrated after a difficult day at work. So I went to my local coffeehouse, pulled out a pen and pad of paper as I nursed my hot chocolate. It only took a moment before I got an image in my head: A girl running away from something. Okay, why is she running? She’s trying to get rid of something, to bury it. All right. What was she trying to get rid of? A necklace.

Sitting there in the coffeehouse, I asked myself a series of questions, each time writing until another question came up. This continued until I had written several chapters, coming up with back story and plot and voice and characters. Names were pulled out of the air, just to keep the writing going. By the time I finished my hot chocolate and rushed home so I could transpose my writing to the computer, there was a complete story there. The details weren’t all filled in yet, but I knew the basics for the entire book (which has since turned into three books because one just wasn’t enough to tell the whole story). Three weeks later, I finished the first draft. Life was a frenzy during that time: working, eating, sleeping, and writing. But most of all writing. In every spare moment I had, my thoughts centered on the story.

It felt almost like I was Zeus with Athena bursting fully grown from my brain. Maybe not as painful, but just as amazing. Not all my books have come that way. The first one took me four years to write, but I learned a lot in that time so I was able to write my second book so quickly. Just the other day, I had another idea come to me while miniature golfing during a blind date. Random, I know, but you can’t decide when ideas will come to you. I’m pondering that idea now, and we’ll see if something comes of it. Another time I had a dream that could make a good book. I took notes and set it aside for the time because others were taking precedence.

So now my questions for you: Do you remember how or when you come up with your ideas? Is it slow or sudden? Do they come fully developed or does it take you months to piece the story together?

by Robb Grindstaff

What I’ve learned about writing would fill a book. But a guest post on Michelle’s blog will have to do for now. First, a quick recap of my fiction journey thus far.

My second grade teacher asked all her students what they wanted to be when we grew up. I said, “An author.” I have no idea where that came from. Obviously something had been brewing in that little still-developing brain. She asked me, “What have you written?” I said, “Nothing yet. I’m not grown up yet.” She said, “You’re not an author until you’ve written something.”

So I went home and wrote something. A story, fit on a single page. Perhaps I invented flash fiction but didn’t get the credit. I showed my mom, who gushed over it and said what a wonderful story it was and what a great writer I was. My first review. She posted it on the fridge. My first publication. I’d never been prouder.

This continued, but by high school I realized there weren’t a lot of paying jobs for writers. I took journalism and joined the school newspaper—a paying career until I sold my first best seller. Went to college and majored in journalism. Went to work for a newspaper. Got married. Had kids. Got a mortgage. Writing fiction sort of fell by the wayside as life took over.

Good thing. I needed some life experiences before knowing how to write any fiction that might resonate with readers other than my mom.

Then, kids almost grown, an additional twenty years of life, and the fiction bug bit again. Bit hard. I began writing a novel.

The story flowed out of my fingertips. The character took over my mind. The thrill, the obsession, the joy of writing changed my life from that point forward.

I had almost finished the novel, and I’d read lots of articles about finding an agent and getting published. Read books on the subject. Researched agents. Attended a writers’ conference. Pitched my book to an agent at the conference.

Lesson #1: Do not pitch an agent until you’ve finished writing the book. He loved the pitch, wanted to see the opening chapters. I sent him the opening chapters, emailed about midnight that evening. Figured I had a few weeks to finish writing the novel. He emailed back at five a.m. wanting to see the whole manuscript. I finished writing it that weekend.

Lesson #2: When you’ve finished writing your novel, you’ve just begun. It’s not a novel. It’s a first draft. I didn’t realize that. I thought it had fallen perfectly onto the page the first time.

I joined a writers group to learn more about writing, the craft and the business of getting published. An incredible bunch of writers, all of genres I never read. I learned more from this group in a year than I knew was possible. How to build a world from the fantasy writers. How to stir the emotions from the romance writers. How to build suspense from the mystery writers. How to shock and surprise from the horror writers.

Lesson #3: Associate with other writers. You need the camaraderie of those who share the passion. Non-writers cannot understand what goes on inside your mind.

Lesson #4: Read outside your genre. It broadens your scope of writing tools.

Lesson #5: Learn to take critique and criticism from other writers. Don’t just look for people to tell you how wonderful you are or you’ll never get better. And when the criticism really starts to get under your skin and make you a bit defensive, even angry, that’s a good time to really listen carefully. It’s probably hitting close to home. Thank them for ripping your soul to shreds. It needs it if it’s going to improve.

I revised and edited and rewrote based on feedback from the writers group. I queried more agents. And more. Some form rejections. Several asked for partial chapters and a synopsis. Quite a few asked for the full manuscript. I got glowing letters back saying how great it was, how the character was mesmerizing, the writing impressive, the story compelling, but . . .

Lesson #6: Learn to accept rejection and not let your emotions go on a rollercoaster ride (a partial, I’m excited; a full, I’m deliriously happy; a rejection, I’m depressed to the point of never writing again). Allow yourself a reasonable amount of emotion for a reasonable amount of time, wallow in it, and then move on. Keep querying.

I joined an online writers community for more feedback. I learned how to participate in an online group. I learned what, and who, to avoid in online groups. I made some writer friends for life whom I’ve never met in person.

Lesson #7: Be judicious with online groups, and with what you allow yourself to say. Your words online live forever and can be searched by prospective employers and agents.

While still querying my first novel, I’ve been writing my second. I found it amazing how much better my writing is—from word choice to character arc to plot development to scene-setting to the novel’s organization, pace and flow. I didn’t realize how much I had learned about the craft of writing during the writing and revision of my first novel. Beta readers often say something to the effect of, “I liked Carry Me Away, but I love Hannah’s Voice. Have you finished it yet?”

Lesson #8: Keep writing something new while querying the finished work. It keeps honing your skills and keeps your creative juices flowing, which helps to offset the emotional rollercoaster of queries and rejections. You might even realize that your second book is so much better than your first that maybe your first isn’t as great as you thought it was. Maybe your first book will never be published. Or your second. But with each novel you write, your art is honed and your craft is polished. Many of the greatest writers we know today wrote several novels before ever getting one published, and often that was after dozens or even hundreds of rejections. Why should it be any easier for you?

Lesson #9: Never, ever, ever give up.

You need to write. Your soul requires it of you. And there are readers out there waiting to read what you have to say. They need to read it. As soon as you learn to write it the way it’s meant to be written.

Lesson #10: Looking back on the journey thus far and how much I’ve learned about writing, I realize this: what I have yet to learn about writing would fill a library.

Robb Grindstaff is managing editor of an international English-language daily newspaper. He writes short stories and novels, and does freelance fiction editing. http://tiny.cc/RobbWriter

I’ve got nothing when it comes to a brilliant blog post on publishing. Instead, I’ll share with you a poem I wrote at only twelve years old. (If, after reading, you really want to know how I came up with the poem, I’ll tell you. But be forewarned that my brain is a strange and mysterious thing.)

Eyes of a frog

Lie near a tree.

Wind has carried

Them by a fire,

Through a windy sky,

Over a rock.

A scream shot out,

A girl surprised.

Running away

From those soft dull eyes.

A person she sees

Says with surprise,

“Don’t worry about

Those soft dull eyes.”

Eyes of a frog

Now lie in some mud.

They’ll be buried

Deep in mud.

—January 27, 1994