What are the Words You Write By?
We all have them. Words of writer wisdom. Pinned into corkboard, taped to walls, saved in a file. Mine are taped to my monitor. I'll share them now.
Trimmed from a TV guide (at least I think that's where it came from) a quote by Glenn Close in the movie "More":
"All great art comes from a sense of outrage."
The next two are both from writer's magazines and may be a bit outdated, although I hope not:
Best bets in fiction: The most reliable fiction area these days, where most of the long-range multiple-book deals get made, is that of genre fiction. That catagory includes romance (often with a "chick lit" flavor), science fiction/fantasy and, in particular, mystery and suspense series, preferably built around a protagonist (female just as often as male -- a comparatively recent change) with an unusual job, and done with a humorous twist, if possible.
"It is a truth imperfectly acknowledged that a certain type of book buyer is primarily interested in reading about herself. Slake the thirst of such readers for heroines who are spunky but not overconfident, wisecracking but not cynical, beleaguered but not downtrodden, and you may soon find yourself in possession of a good fortune all your own. That's the thinking (for publishers at least) behind the contemporary genre known as chick lit."
From a fortune cookie:
Your talents will be recognized and suitably rewarded.
A snippet from Writers Digest:
"What's the writing that makes you happy?" Rosenthal asks. "That's the writing to do."
A quote from I-don't-know-who out of the RWA mag:
"When I wrote that book, I hadn't read a Blaze. I simply sat down, put "the rules" out of my head and wrote the book that I wanted to write, and that was the one that finally ushered me into Harlequin."
And a bookmark, taped to the side of my monitor that a writer friend made on her computer with words borrowed from The Writer's Handbook:
The Writer's Creed
Character endures longer than plot in your stories.
Action intigues the reader more than passive language.
Scenes excite the reader more than narration.
Dialogue interest the reader more than expostion.
Nouns and verbs trump adjectives and adverbs.
So what words do you write by? Please share some of your favorite bits of inspiration.
21 comments:
Here are the sayings I have that I look at. Now, I never said I was a scholar. And what motivates me... well it may not motivate others!
A ship is safe in the harbor, but that's not what ships are for. (Susan Wiggs)
I love to hear an editor beg. (Snoopy)
Make every word count. (Alice Sharpe)
May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the crotch of the person who messes up your day and may their arms be too short to scratch... (anonymous)
Double ha, Paty. Don't you also have the words, "Never give up?"
I also have a small plaque with an iris on it. It says "Be still and know I am God."
Wow you guys. Danita, I knew that was your post as soon as I read the first words to live by! You know more about how sellable chick lit is than I do, but I think the underlying messages in your choices are ageless. And I love that fortune cookie!
Paty, I am so honored to be part of your line-up! I have arrived!!!!! Thanks. And Susan Wiggs remark is one i just love. Mind if I adopt it as my very own?
As for me? I have no words or sayings anywhere around my computer. I have a picture of my darling Katherine, two covers of paperbacks (I loved the art and so they got stuck up there) printed pages from the Internet detailing the cockpit of a Cessna, an invitation to a three year olds birthday party and a fan letter inside its envelope but I have no idea which one or what the dear lady said. I am breaking out in a cold sweat now hoping I answered it.
The only saying I recall at the moment is from a Sacramento newspaper people feature. It's a quote from an old man who grumbled about his long time wife's sagging butt, drooping breasts, fleshy face, then looked into the mirror and grinned at his own reflection. He said, "Hell, Harry, you ain't no peach either."
Now that's what I call words of wisdom!
Thanks Danita for a fun post, good to have you back!
Alice
Ah, yes....fan mail, Alice. You lucky dog. I got a few pieces of fan mail when I worked at the paper and a few when I had the nursery. I keep them in a special "thank you" file. Maybe I should take a few of those out and hang them around for inspiration...or maybe just reread them for an ego massage.
I like Paty's Susan Wiggs and Alice Sharpe quotes too.
Danita,
Yes, I do have the words "Never Give up." On a nice plaque with an adorable horse. :)
But that is something I live by not necessarily something I need reminded of. If that makes sense. It is a part of me.
I also liked the sayings on the book mark. I'm going to copy those.
Alice,
It isn't always words you surround yourself with that make you create, but the items. And yours sound inspirational.
We know one of the items you surround yourself with, Paty. Al or Sam or whatever-his-name-is, the pool boy candle. Ha. We all covet that. It may be the main reason some of us went to the chapter Christmas party -- in hopes of winning him for ourselves.
But we all know that didn't happen...because you didn't freakin' bring him.
I'm not bitter.
You're right Hal the Pool Boy is my inspiration. His shiny bald head, pot-belly, plaid shorts, and sandals give me goose bumps! And I wonder what kind of eyes he hides behind those sexy shades.
And you know what? I might one day bring my hero icon to a Christmas party as a gift... but not until I've had my fill! LOL
Hal, Hal, we all howl for Hal.
Let's hold Paty down and snap her with a towel.
Sorry, Paty. My inner Suess is mighty sassy today.
I'm in a jaunty mood because I finished the rough draft (very rough) of my WIP. Woo-hoo. Still many holes, and probably a couple months to go yet...but still, howls, woo-hoos and towel snapping coming from this direction.
Thwap...thwap...that's towel snapping coming from my end, too, Danita, congrats on the rough draft finishing. Way to go and with a bay, you overachiever.
Back to the synopsis writing and contrary to my somewhat convoluted reputation within this group, it's not something I love to do!
Alice
Every time I read one of those inspirational sayings from authors about writing, I think: That's great! I ought to print it out and put in by my computer. But I never do. So I don't have any to share. But I sure have enjoyed reading all of yours!
Congrats, Danita, on finishing your first draft! That's huge!
LOL on Paty's pool boy. I'd heard about him, but never had the privilege of setting my eyes on his gorgeous pot-bellied bod.
Karen
Alice, you may not love to write them, but you are the synopsis diva. I know you'll be a star.
Thanks for helping me snap that Hal-hogging Jager woman. Ha. (All in fun, Paty. You know we love you).
And thanks for the congrats. Although they're called rough drafts for a reason. Yikes. So much text to move around, fill in, rewrite, finish writing, etc...
Karen,
you're a writer, you could just make up something inspirational and share it with the rest of us....
Thanks for the congrats. Where are you at in what you're working on?
I'm like Karen and Alice - no pearls of wisdom taped to my computer or pinned to my walls. I do have a small, black wooden sign sitting on my measly desk though that I got a few weeks ago when I was stressing about the publishing business. It says simply: Believe.
Congrats on finishing the rough draft, danita! Doing a happy dance for you.
Eli--I like your sign. There are some powerful words out there.
Alice
Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Danita and Alice cut that out! I'll share Hal when I'm good and ready or he's worn out! Oops did I say that!
Woo Hoo to Danita on getting the first draft done!!
Yes, Karen, with all your wisdom you should throw us some sayings.
And Eli "Believe" is something we all need to do. Believe in our writing and Believe in ourselves and most of all Believe that Hal-snatching Danita will never get her mitts on him! HAHAHAHAHA
No, no Paty,
type it like this:
hahahahahahahahahahahahah
you can do it fast as lightening. It's very satisfying.
Eli,
I like your sign too. I've seen the word believe carved into garden stones too.
Nice. Simple. Empowering.
And here I thought all writers clipped little bits of written wisdom and taped them up all over their offices....
Paty,
So far it's just you and me, Babe.
I liked all the inspirational quotes. On my rejections bulletin board I've noted the numbers of rejections some famous writers recieved. Other than that, I love a good quote, but I don't really collect them :) Thanks for sharing yours.
Wavy,
If you read this, please share the rejection numbers with us.
I think Stephen King was rejected 26 times on his first novel, Carrie until it sold. Before he sent it out, I guess he threw it in the trash, and his wife, Tabitha, also a writer, pulled it out, read it and said, "I think you've got something here."
Chiming in late; here's my "Words of Wisdom" I don't know where the heck I got it either. Some smart writer, obviously. Sorry I can't give credit.
Listen with your heart. That's the best way to hear the sound of your voice. And remember that voice is the only thing that sets you apart from all those rule obeyers.
Here's one I need to read everyday; it's kinda like the "can't fix a blank page" thingy...
You'll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind. (Irish Proverb)
And here's a fun one...
Men are like bagpipes: no sound comes from them till they're full.
Here are a couple of mine:
"A writer is a man walking down the street describing himself walking down the street." --Anon (and my fav)
"You want something? You go get it. End of story."--Chris Gardner (The Pursuit of Happyness)
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