Author PhD: Do I need a college degree for this?

As I meet other authors, I find that very few have any formal training in creative writing. I know a few authors who have a journalism background and have achieved a degree in this field of work. It seems natural for someone with this kind of experience to gravitate toward writing novels, however, most authors I’ve crossed paths with come from professional careers totally unrelated to writing.

The great thing about becoming an author is that you’re not expected to have a series of letters following your name. If  you can wow a reader with your words, you’ve got what it takes. This is not to say that you shouldn’t consider seeking an education to improve your writing skills. There’s always room for improvement no matter how good  you or others think you are. The worse thing any author could do is get to a place where he or she feels they know all there is to know. The literary market is always changing. It ebbs and flows as readers’ interests change, what is fashionable at the time, and what’s newsworthy. A smart author must keep a pen in one hand and an ear to the market. Know what readers want and then find out what publishers require in order for you, as an author, to deliver.

So, if not college, then what? There are so many opportunities to learn and grow as a writer. For starters, you can network. That’s what I do. If you’re reading this blog, then you’re well on your way. Internet access opens up a world of opportunities to network your heart out. There are social sites where you can introduce yourself and your writing, there are blogs authored by literary professionals, and there are sites designed exclusively for writers. As you get acquainted with these websites, blogs, and forums, you may find that many offer writing workshops, webinars, and other venues for improving your skills. One of the first writing sites I joined was American Christian Fiction Writers. There is a fee to join, but the wealth of information it offers is priceless. In addition to the internet, consider purchasing books on writing. Look into classes offered by a local college, join a writers group, or attend a weekend workshop. If you can afford it, attend a writers conference. Humbly, I’ll admit that I have yet to attend a conference, but someday, as God provides the resources, I’ll have the opportunity to attend one. Hopefully, this will cheer you up if you’re like me and haven’t been able to go.

As an author with just a few years under her belt, I’m thankful that all I need to pursue my creative interests is the ability God gave me to do so. I don’t need an AA, BS, MS, or PhD after my name to put my thoughts on paper, fulfill my dreams, and accept God’s call.

What are your thoughts? What formal training, if any, have you had before you became a writer? Did you simply get a spiritual thunk on the head (sort of a wake-up call from God) like I did before I realized God gave me a gift to write and I should do something with it? I’d love to hear from you!

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Linda, September 16th 2010 | Tags: ,
Posted in General

Don’t Fight The Urge

When is a good time to write? Early morning before the rest of the family awakes? Noon, during your lunch break? Evenings, after the day’s activities are behind you?

Most authors know that inspiration can hit at any time, and not always when it’s the most convenient. Have you ever struggled for hours in front of your computer trying to come up with the perfect cliffhanger only to have it hit you at three in the morning, waking you from a dead sleep with no pen and paper close by and you’re too tired to get up and write it down? Or, perhaps you’re in the middle of a business meeting and your mind wanders to your latest manuscript, then suddenly the writer’s block that plagued you for the last two weeks is gone and all these ideas pop into your head. What do you do? Our creativity can peak at the oddest times, but there are ways to work around it. Don’t fight the urge to write. Losing a few minutes of sleep is worth getting up and writing those thoughts down. Getting them out of your system just may give your mind the rest it needs. Keep a notepad and pencil on your nightstand so you’ll be prepared for those middle of the night mind forays. When you’re stuck in a meeting or in class, getting up out of your chair to write down your thoughts isn’t what I’d recommend. However, you might be able to inconspicuously sneak a few words on paper, or wait until you have a break. A small notebook is a must-have tool, just don’t get it mixed up with your homework or business paperwork, and don’t allow your writing to cause inconsideration of others.

There is a season for everything under heaven, including writing.

Can you think of other times the urge to write may happen? While grocery shopping? When driving to and from work or school? During a phone conversation? Sometimes we can excuse ourselves long enough to jot down a phrase or two, but often we can’t. As Christians, we need to ask God to help us remember the ideas we get. Praying before we sit down to write should become a habit. As we learn to listen to God, we’ll hear Him tell us WHEN to write, and how we can retain those ideas when we aren’t able to put them onto paper.

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Linda, August 23rd 2010 | Tags: ,
Posted in General

Our complicated English language

This week I had planned to post something that would fit in the WHEN category now that I’ve touched on the WHO, WHAT,  and WHERE of writing.  However, time is getting away from me (planning a weekend trip, not to mention school starts next week), so I’m going to post an article I wrote back in January 2009 for another blog.

English is undoubtedly one of the most complicated languages in the world, and we authors can attest to this. Having done well in school, especially English, I usually don’t run into problems with my spelling. However, there are certain words I stumble over—words the typical spell-check program won’t catch. Words like chose, choose, breath, breathe, lose, loose, and so on.
When writing, I do a lot of reasoning when words like these pop up. Should I type choose or chose? My character is faced with a decision. She needs to pick which way to go. Well, the word I don’t want is chose (rhymes with hose) because that’s past tense, so the correct word is choose. Okay, good so far. Now I need a word to indicate that she stands to misplace something. Since we’ve established that chose rhymes with hose, the word I need should rhyme with choose. She will loose her mind if she’s not careful. No? The correct word is lose? Like loser? Oh, man! Loose has a harder s sound, like goose, but the word choose has a z sound like lose (with one “o”). What gives?
No wonder people from other countries have a hard time learning our language!
How about breath and breathe? My character needs to take a moment to inhale and exhale. She needs to do something that rhymes with eat. I guess she needs to breath. Eat doesn’t have an e at the end of it, so breath has to be the right word, but that doesn’t look right. It is supposed to be breathe.
See what I mean about this crazy language of ours? Not everything is consistent. So, what’s an author to do? Many times I consult my big, fat Websters dictionary, other times I rely on my critique partners to catch my blunders, but these methods aren’t foolproof. What I’ve chosen to do is make a list of my most troublesome words. The act of writing them down reinforces something in our brain so chances are the naughty word is less likely to go unnoticed next time. I don’t know if there’s scientific proof to back this up, but it works for me. What works for you?

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Linda, August 10th 2010 | Tags: , ,
Posted in General

Your Writing Space

The last two weeks I talked about the WHO (the author) and the WHAT (the genre). This week I will discuss the WHERE (the place where you hang your author hat). This writing space could be a small table in the corner of the family room, a fancy L-shaped desk in the den, or even a seat at the local library. No matter where you plant yourself and your imagination, here are a few hints to keep those creative juices flowing.

* Designating a specific area trains your mind to get to work. The act of sitting down at your desk or table cues your brain to focus on the task of writing, much like the bell at school tells students it’s time to get to class.

* Atmosphere is a great motivator. If you write historical fiction, making a desk out of an old door or surrounding yourself with antiques will feed the imagination. Hanging pictures on the wall of places, people, and events pertinent to your story will help keep you inspired.

* A reliable computer (desk top or lap top) with a good word processing program is a must. I use MicroSoft Word which enables me to format my manuscript, track changes, and check spelling. It also comes with a built-in thesaurus.

* Keep plenty of office supplies on hand: computer paper, replacement toner for your printer, note paper, pencil, and pens.

* Reference books: Keep a dictionary, thesaurus, and even a road map at your disposal.  There are many good books about the writing craft that will help you hone your skills. Those that teach plot and structure, character development, and self-editing are especially good to have on hand as well as books about the setting and era of your story.

* Adequate storage space: You’ll need a place to house your supplies and reference books. This is no problem if you have a den, but if space is limited, all you’ll need is a small book shelf or a couple of bins.  Consider purchasing a crafting tote on wheels. They’re large enough to carry a lap top computer and several books, have lots of pockets where you can store notebooks, paper, etc., and are mobile so you can take your “office” with you.

Remember, you can write anywhere. Always keep a note pad and a pen or pencil with you so that when ever an opportunity to write presents itself, or if you’re hit with an inspiring idea, you’ll be ready.

Here’s a list of some great writing spaces:

  • On the bus commuting to and from work.
  • A doctor’s waiting room.
  • In the park during your lunch hour.
  • The food court at the mall–one of the best places to people watch. Good for character development.
  • In a garden.
  • Hotel lobbies.
  • Libraries.
  • Coffee houses.
  • A quiet spot overlooking a river.
  • Near an old building, church, or temple.
  • At an airport.
  • Living room in the middle of the night when you can’t sleep.
  • Fire look-out towers. I hear you can rent them when not in use. Talk about solitude!
  • Lounge areas at book stores.
  • A court room while in session (if open to the public).
  • A vista point along a “safe” stretch of highway.

Do you have a favorite place to write? If so, please share it.

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Linda, August 3rd 2010 | Tags: , , , ,
Posted in General

Congratulations, it’s a blog!

Born July 19, 2010 at 2:08 pm and weighing in at barely one post, babyblogthis baby blog is not too long to be boring (I hope) and just long enough to inspire and encourage. Seriously now, it seems God had placed upon my heart a longing to jump on the blogging bandwagon. I ignored it for a long time thinking that I wouldn’t have the time to commit to properly maintaining a blog. That is until the other night when I found myself unable to sleep due to all the ideas streaming in and out of my mind. I tossed and turned for several hours before getting out of bed, grabbing a notebook and pencil, and making a list of all the thoughts keeping me awake. Within an hour, I had 52 items written down. That’s a year’s worth of ideas I can blog about at one post a week.  I knew at that point I needed to do this. Excitement bubbled up inside despite the late hour as I placed my newly formed list in my “to do” file and returned to bed.

On an even more serious note: The main purpose of this blog is to inspire and encourage authors, specifically those new to the world of writing and publishing. I want to get down to the basics, explore what it takes to be an author, and provide information in plain English. I also want this blog to be inviting and fun. All my posts will come from a Christian prospective. As a sinner saved by grace, I wouldn’t be here if not for the Lord Jesus Christ. It is my desire to convey that all things are possible with God, including reaping success as an author if this is what God has called you to do.

I’m looking forward to this new adventure, and if there’s one thing I’d love for all who read this blog to realize, it would be to know they are valuable part of God’s Kingdom.

Will you join me on this journey?

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Linda, July 19th 2010 | Tags: , , , ,
Posted in General
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