Writing Advice

I’ve been getting more and more emails asking for writing advice. My first thought is always, whom am I to give writing advice, but then I thought about it. I’m a writer who got lucky, that’s who I am. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not discounting myself, I believe I have skill and talent. At least I hope I do :) However, I honestly don’t believe that is what gets you published. I was lucky. I found the right editor, on the right day, in the right mood. Yes, skill was involved, but I think it’s safe to say we all know talented writers who are not published, so again I say luck has something to do with it.

Disclaimer: Please take note before I get into to this, it is my opinion and my way of doing things. For each instance I give you, I can name a famous author who has done it wrong (in my opinion) and has made big bucks doing it that way.

The question I get asked most often is “How do I get published?” Well my answer is simple, persistence. I’m going to steal a line from Galaxy Quest, “Never give up, Never surrender,” because it’s a damned good line and great advice for not just writing but reaching any goal. You may be one of the lucky few who find that right editor when the stars are aligned, or you might not, but if you let a rejection stand in your way, you weren’t meant to do it in the first place. Never give up, never surrender!

Now some unsolicited advice on POV, aka Point of View. Kimber has stuck me with two nicknames, 1) the princess of plot, because I’ll go to great extremes, to keep from axing scenes, including working in a new subplot. I’ve been known to write an extra 5k to keep from axing 2 k. I can’t help it, it’s like loping off an arm. It’s painful!

And number 2) the POV Princess. So Putting on my POV crown… There are several different kinds of pov, 1st person, 2nd person, 3rd person, 3rd person omniscient (limited and unlimited). There are more variations of course but I’m going to talk about deep 3rd person pov and my pet peeves.

1) headhopping (aka 3rd person unlimited omniscient pov). If you are truly going for a 3rd person omniscience pov, fine go for it, but most people do this on accident or because they are lacking knowledge about pov. Look them up learn them, know all the rules before you break them. If you are writing 3rd person pov, use 1 pov per scene please…. Otherwise, I feel like I’m at a tennis match. Yes, I’ve seen it done, yes some writers who make big money do it, but as a reader, I HATE it, and from what I can tell most good quality editors do too.

2) don’t tell me things the character can’t possibily know. This is my favorite pov mistake. It tickled me and makes me groan and roll my eyes at the same time. It felt as though his world had ended. Tears slipped out of Norman’s eyes. He didn’t see her smile as he turned and walked away. No Norman didn’t! End. Of. Story. No if’s and’s or but’s about it, Norman didn’t see it. You are in Norman’s pov so why in the hell are you telling me? If he didn’t see it, he can’t tell me, the reader. If you want me to know this put it in her pov or someone other than Norman’s pov.

3) vanity? She brushed her long flowing black hair out of her eyes, so she could read the map. Okay some people are vain and if you are trying to get that across, I suppose this is okay. But how many people think this way? Do you note the color and texture of your hair when you brush it out of your eyes? Maybe if you see it. But for the most part no you probably don’t. I know I know it’s so hard to get pov character description into a scene, but don’t take the easy way out. Try other options. How about: A black clump obscured her vision before she brushed her hair off her forehead. Yeah, I know kinda lame, but it’s still a better option of working in details. The question you need to ask is, would my character think this. If yes, then add it, if no? Find a better option.