Tidying Up

In Today’s Journal

* Quotes of the Day
* Tidying Up
* A Great Comment
* Of Interest
* The Numbers

Quotes of the Day

“The same boiling water that softens a potato hardens an egg. It’s what you’re made of, not your circumstances.” widely attributed to Roald Dahl

“It’s easier to fool people than it is to convince them they’ve been fooled.” widely attributed to Mark Twain

“If that writer had spent the last decade (or however many years she wasted) actually writing and producing new work instead of endlessly rewriting and paying for ‘manuscript assessments,’ she would have learned a lot, had more actual work to show for it, AND not have wasted a ton of money.” Natalie Keating

I would be remiss if I didn’t tidy up a little here.

In yesterday’s post on Stage 4 writers, I stated that

“Some Stage 4 writers write ‘how-to’ nonfiction books. But those books are always on craft and almost never on process.”

That’s true, but there are also professional fiction writers who write nonfiction books (or even offer courses) specifically to fleece you out of a few dollars by teaching you the same myths you’ve been hearing your entire life.

For example, the necessity of and how to

outline or plot or mindmap or otherwise “organize”;
perform conscious, critical-mind revision;
perform conscious, critical-mind rewrites;
perform world-building;
perform character sketches;
how to find critical input (beta readers, critique groups) for your story or novel;
how to find book doctors or “developmental editors”; as well as
the nonsensical notion that you need a literary agent or traditional publisher for “validation”; and
anything else that has to do with process instead of actual craft.

Unlike the writers I mentioned in yesterday’s post, these writers’ nonfiction books Almost Always address the myths inherent in the ‘traditional’ process.

By contrast, they very seldom teach the nuts and bolts of the actual craft, as in how to actually write

openings;
hooks and cliffhanger/hook combos;
dialogue or dialect;
the difference between (and uses of) dialogue tag lines and brief descriptive narratives;
the ‘proper’ uses of the marks of punctuation and why;
the direct effect the marks of punctuation have on the reader and how to manipulate that effect;
how to evoke an emotional response in the reader;
the necessity and use of character and setting description;
grounding the reader;
POV;
the various types of scenes, when to use them, and what goes into them; and
pacing.

Their only concern is that you remain mired in the myths so they can sell you more ‘how-to’ books that say exactly the same things that other books by other writers have said, albeit in different words.

Those writers are irresponsible, yet many writers automatically assume the instruction is valid because they recognize the writer’s name. And as it is designed to do, their sleight of hand creates a vicious circle:

The longer they can keep you mired in the myths, the longer they can maintain an automatic target audience for their seemingly endless supply of nonfiction books.

Don’t fall for it.

Many Stage 1 and 2 writers also write nonfiction books on writing, and again they’re almost always pushing the myths. That’s all they know because it’s all they’ve heard. They don’t write about the craft because they don’t know anything about it themselves.

Of course, I realize I’m only whispering into a strong, loud wind here. But all I’m really saying is this: In every case when you’re thinking of buying a nonfiction book on writing from anyone, I urge you to exercise caution:

Don’t buy ANY nonfiction books that promote the myths. You’ve been hearing that stuff all your life, so you don’t need to waste money on more nonfiction books to “learn” something you already know.
Vet the author by reading some of his or her fiction. Then, if you don’t want to write like that author writes, don’t buy his or her nonfiction book on writing.
Finally, if after you’ve read some of that author’s fiction you decide you DO want to write like that author writes, look for books by that author that deal with the actual craft instead of the process (myths) of writing.

A Great Comment

In a great comment yesterday one writer mentioned (I’m paraphrasing) that Dean Koontz makes sure each word on a page ‘sings’ before he moves to the next page. So would that make him a Stage 1 writer?

No, of course not. I’ve read very little of Koontz’ work (not my personal cuppa) so I can’t really comment on it with any authority, but the guy’s been around awhile.

According to AI, he’s “written over 140 novels and 74 works of short fiction.” You can’t write that much and be less than a Stage 3 or Stage 4 writer.

Remember, I don’t factor-in any bestseller status because beyond writing the best story you can at your current skill level, you have no control over that.

As I wrote in my response to that comment,

Right. Every writer is different.

Some writers can probably do what you’re talking about without consciously thinking about it. [The difference is,] Stage 1 writers engage their conscious, critical mind to focus on each word or sentence.

DWS (who cycles back about every 500 words) once said that some very fortunate writers can rewrite from the creative subconscious.

Some writers “see” a story unfold as if they’re watching a movie. Others experience it in other ways.

I personally am “in” the story with the characters (like an out-of-body experience, I guess), and I often ‘cycle’ (creative subconscious) on the fly while I’m writing. Just how my mind works. I can’t speak for anyone but myself, and of course I can only teach what I know.

Whatever the process, the trick to get an authentic story is to not allow the conscious, critical mind to intervene in the actual creative process.

Of course, all of that said, if you prefer the myths and constructing works of fiction rather than creating them, that’s strictly up to you.

On the publishing side, please, don’t get me started on “developmental editors,” “manuscript assessments” (see Of Interest), and “pay to be published” outfits. Ugh.

Of Interest

I paid for SIX manuscript assessments. Here’s what you need to know. Note: This is a cautionary tale. Take it to heart. She spent Ten Years and several thousand dollars on One Novel and she’s still very obviously (from her text) a Stage 1 writer. Sigh. Thanks to Natalie Keating for sending me this post.

Copyright for Authors: 5 Essential Things You Should Know

Ever get a little whiny? (grin) Darwin could be a grouch. Who knew?

The Numbers

The Journal………………….. 1100
Mentorship Words…………….. 0
Total Nonfiction…………………. 1100

Writing of

Day 1…… XXXX words. To date………… XXXXX

Fiction for February………………………. XXXX
Fiction for 2026…………………………… XXXX
Nonfiction for February.…………………. 11800
Nonfiction for 2026………………..……… 31390
2026 consumable words………………… 31390

2026 Novels to Date……………………… 0
2026 Novellas to Date…………………… 0
2026 Short Stories to Date……………… 0
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………….. 123
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)…………… 10
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……… 310
Short story collections……………………. 29