Books about the craft of writing can be very helpful. If you use a good craft book you plan out your novel, you can save yourself a lot of frustration by developing characters and plot before you actually write. Jody Hedlund has compiled a great list of writers' favorite writing books.But those books can also be a trap.
A writer I know recently showed me a new draft of a few chapters.
"What happened to Character A?" I asked. "I liked him when he was hardhearted and more interesting. He's all soft now. You already have enough sympathetic characters. You need a few harder ones for balance."
My friend told me that he had recently looked back over a writing book and made all kinds of notes about what his characters would or would not do, based on the principles in the writing book. Those notes changed his perceptions of his characters. And that was what led to my dissatisfaction with Character A's transformation into a sensitive New Age man.
"But you already knew your characters," I said. "You didn't need to think about them in a developmental way anymore. You can't let those writing books mess with your head. They're best at the beginning of the process, or as an emergency backup in the middle if your novel starts to fall apart. But yours wasn't falling apart. It was good!"
He agreed with me that he had been led astray by over-thinking, both in that change and in a subplot twist that grew way too big for its britches. He told me that he had had that funny feeling that all writers get when we know that something is not quite right, but we need an objective reader to help us identify the problem.
One of the things I love about this friend is that he also can tell ME when I've pushed something too far in a novel. That's what writing friends are for!
Have you ever been led astray by a writing book that you read at the wrong point in your writing process?
14 comments:
Yes! I read one a few months ago that really put me off track. Or, I allowed it to. It stymied me, because I didn't feel I could live up to what it proposed. Since then, some new ideas have come to me that feel fresh and vibrant. My only hold-back now is getting to a place in which I can have a routine for this particular work. I'm not quite there yet, but getting closer. I guess timing is important when it comes to these things. And sometimes, the best kind of studying we can do, as an author friend once reminded me, is to simply read good books.
As all writers have their own voice, so do writers on writing. Some of them don't so much lead me astray as just confuse me. I don't like when they use so many allegories that you forget what you were actually reading about.
I think the key is to get what you need out of an instructional book, and not let it dictate your work or stifle your imagination.
Thought provoking post :-)
What a great critique partner you are. And how true. I have a love affair with craft books, but at the same time, I know that I have to let myself go to the story and write what feels right in my gut. Or, listen to the Holy Spirit. I usually read craft books before or during plotting/brainstorming and during revision. I hardly ever read them while pounding out a rough draft.
Rosslyn,
I have a two-foot shelf of writing books in my office, and I've studied every one of them. I've gleaned pearls from each one, but I realized long ago that if I tried to take every bit of advice in each of them, my work would end up as convoluted as a 6-year-old playing Twister.
The same goes for critique groups and input from others. Consider the source, think about the comments, and then decide whether the result would be good or bad.
This writing thing gets complicated, doesn't it?
This is part of the craft, isn't it? Learning to trust voice.
I've found myself caught in the trap of wanting to write more formulaic after I read certain books and that isn't the kind of writer I am. In fact, my best work comes when I'm just letting it flow and not forcing a plot into a pre-pegged hole.
It's been cool to receive feedback from my critique partners recently commenting on how they enjoyed my unique style of writing. I never want to lose that just b/c a book tells me ________ sells better.
~ Wendy
Not really read astray but just kinda discouraged. Finally realized that you have to find your own way to capture those words on paper, which is often a triple combo (sounds like a fast food special, huh) of SEVERAL true-and-true methods and a splash of your own thing!!
Great blog, Rosslyn. LOVE IT!
Patti
Thanks for this potent reminder, Rosslyn. I've been more often led astray by unhelpful crits from non-writers. But the concept is the same--yanking your story in a direction that it falls apart because some outside voice raised doubts. My early derailings now have me running pages past two crit groups. It's not that a single voice should always be ignored, but it helps to balance and weigh a number of opinions.
I think you have to take all advice on writing from books or wherever with a grain of salt. Some things work well for some and not for others. I have to be careful to stay true to what I want to write and trust in myself to know how to write it. Though it is good to learn too. It's a balancing act.
Yes. Actually, if I read too much of that, I lose my self-confidence. I doubt my own intuition. There's the "you need to do it this way," and then, there's the "but, have a fresh approach." Blah, blah, blah, sometimes you have to shut the book and just write.
No, because I do a different genre of writing. But, I can see some comparable issues in the non-fiction style I do. I sent some drafts of my book to a well-known writer and asked him what he thought. He liked it, but he thought my essays were too diverse - some were first person stories, some 3rd person stories, and some were expositions. He thought they should all be the same. Yet, the diversity is the very thing I wanted, so I didn't accept that particular suggestion of his. And at the same time I'm thinking, "Who am I to disagree with him????"
Writing (and reading) books does mess with your head. And I love it.
Good post.
wb
Great perspective, Rosslyn. I don't read writing craft books while I'm in the middle of a novel. I usually read them after I finish and before I start a new WIP. It's a great way to get me pumped up for the next book, to refresh my mind of principles I know, and to help me learn new things to try to apply to the next book.
Great post!
Roxane - I agree about reading good books. Sometimes watching good movies helps too.
Charmaine - I had to laugh about the use of comparisons in writing books!
Katie - I just read your post about your excitement in the plotting stage. Wish I shared that. :-) My favorite part is always the middle and end, when the plotting is out of the way!
Richard - I'm building my own shelf. MUST stop buying books. :-)
Wendy - I agree. Many writing books are formula-oriented, which is why I like Donald Maass's non-formulaic books more than others.
Patti - You're right! Sadly, there is no magic bullet.
Laurel - I also find it helpful to have several "first responders."
Angie - Good point. It's a constant give and take between external advice and internal creativity.
Mary - I need to just write today!
Warren - Thanks for the perspective of a non-fiction writer. That's interesting about the POV switch comment. I also think the diversity of your stories/explications is a strength in your book.
Jody - The books I use most often mid-stream tend to be research books, I would guess you are similar, as we both need our historical tidbits to fuel the work.
Oh gosh yes! At least once during every WIP! I have to turn my self around quite a bit.
Hmmm... the only thing that leads me astray at times in writing craft books is that they all profess to have the one way of writing the best book. I find that constrictive. I now try to take away what works for me and leave the rest.
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