10/3/2006 - A Novel is a Novel… Really?

At Minneapolis Writers’ Conference in August, I asked one of the speakers if we were looking for a writing consultant, how important it was to find someone who had experience in the genre that we were writing. To be exact, I’m writing a YA novel and I wanted to know if I should look for a writing consultant who was specialized in YA.

“A novel is a novel,” he said.

I thought about what he said and at the time, I had no reason to disagree with him. After all, all stories should have some structure (even if it is “beginning, middle and end”); all stories were told with some kind of voice; all should have conflicts and resolution.

A month later, when I discovered the mistake I had made, I was surprised and, at the same time, extremely proud of myself. True, all stories were told with some kind of voice, but a YA novel is told in a different voice from an adult novel. The language, even the word count between the two can be different. Most of all, our passion toward each genre can be totally different.

I don’t know about other writers - my writing consultant must match the passion I have toward the genre I’m writing ;-)

9/28/2006 - Writer’s Block

Wikipedia: Writer’s block is a phenomenon involving temporary loss of ability to continue writing, usually due to lack of inspiration or creativity.

One article says: Having a writer’s block means you have the desire to write but can’t.

What about losing one's desires to write? (It’s not that she can’t write; it’s more like she doesn’t want to write.)

Funny how it was started… I was sitting in my writing coach’s living room and had a great time listening to him. As the time went by, I felt weight had been gradually lifted up from my shoulder and I became more and more weightless. I wasn’t sure what I had experienced, but I understood it now – it doesn’t matter if I publish a book or not. It just doesn’t matter.

How could this happen? I paid a lot of money for that meeting and I was supposed to be inspired. In fact, I thought I would be so inspired that I could finish my book in a week. (I can hear you laughing.)

To be fair, it wasn’t coach’s fault. He’d tried hard to inspire me; I’d sensed every ounce of his effort.

Well… it took me a while to figure out that I could only write at my own pace. I have a life to live (at least I think I do) and no one can balance my life better than I do.

So… if I want to watch Wife Swap after working eight hours, I would just do that.

9/22/2006 - My Experiences on Writing Consultants

B was the first writing consultant I had ever hired. I didn’t really want him to teach me anything; I just wanted to know where I stood in the field. He said I could call him and it would cost me $25 for every 30 minutes.

Before I picked up the phone, I had written down at least 15 questions. As soon as he picked up the phone, after I told him who I was, I spoke as fast as I could, like 300 words per minute. Whenever he started talking something that was not related to my short story, I interrupted him immediately. On my third interruption, he said to me, “Helen, I really enjoy reading your story and I am not going to charge you anything.”

The only thing B pointed out in that half hour was my story should have a stronger opening. However he didn’t offer any suggestion. Later, I took one of his online classes and learned a lot more about writing great openings.

Two years later, I send another story to a different consultant who charged $60 an hour. It took him four hours to finish my 1000-word short story. I received a couple of pages written evaluation. I could tell he did spend a lot of time commenting my story, but I couldn’t help wondering if I just happened to find a slow reader. His comments were good, but they weren’t as helpful as I had expected.

J. Cleaver had a very convincing website. Yes, you guess it. I send him a check for near $300 (after I talked to him on the phone making sure I wouldn’t waste my money.) I was supposed to finish a novel in a year with his guidance, but I quit after reading his two emails. His short paragraph sounded like a casual conversation between two strangers at a bar.

I begin to see that not any good writer could be a good writing consultant. Of course, to be fair, wanting to be a writer doesn’t automatically makes me a good student.

09/09/2006

Writing a YA novel has its advantage. You don't have to drill down to all the little details. The pace is fast and in most of the case, you also write fast. However, it also has its disadvantage. You constantly have to think what you can say and what you can't. You are somewhat limited and sometimes you wonder if you have left out some important parts – the parts that means so much to you.

After completed 12.5 chapters, that’s close to ½ of the book, I decided to get a professional opinion and I did. So I found myself a writing coach.

“Do you really want this to be a YA novel?” my coach asked.

Not a question I’d expected to hear. I understand why he asked this question, but I almost wish he didn’t ask.

I sit in front of my PC tonight, thinking hard. To be or not to be... I have a headache.