BY TERRI WAGNER tweet this!
Writing advice from the College of William and Mary.
I once had the opportunity to take a writing course at the College of William and Mary, located in Williamsburg, Virginia. Our professor was a very successful niche nonfiction writer. He spent most of the class harping on our observational skills. Yes, you read that right, observation skills. I would add analytical skills as well.
As first-time writers, we often make minor mistakes with our grammar and/or spelling. We might mix up our metaphors, change voice, or drag out a scene. There’s where our editors prove to be our best friends IF we let them. I call these minor mostly because they are fixable, if an author is willing.
So what would I consider a major mistake? Not using our powers of observation. First, do not consider writing in an unfamiliar genre. Not without taking time to learn the genre’s rules—when to break them and when to adhere to them. (An aside advice: as a newbie, don’t break them.) Let that come later. Know the market for that genre. Are you writing to teenage girls? Young adults? Preteen boys? Whodunits?
Second, observe the successful books of your chosen genre. Do they use active voice? Are they generally fast paced? Do the characters count—is the story character-driven? Or do the action-packed scenes bear more weight? Is there a mixture of both? Analyze the books. What do reviews say about them?
Third, stay true to the genre. Don’t mix them up. Don’t write half fantasy, half fiction. Is there a difference? Yes! Check if out if you don’t believe me.
Fourth, try writing a chapter or two. Then ask the target group to beta read for you. Preferably not friends. Choose your beta readers wisely. You need honest feedback. Rework until those chapters become well-liked by your beta readers.
Fifth, arc your story. End with the beginning in mind, and visa versa. Nothing is more irritating to a reader than a book that doesn’t follow itself properly. Oh, the typical beta readers probably will not be able to say why it doesn’t work, but they will say it doesn’t really work that way. Listen to them.
Sixth, having crossed all those thresholds, continue with analyzing your market. Is it saturated? How will your work fit in? Will it get lost in the crowd? Will it round out the current market? Will readers want to read it?
Seventh, pitch your piece to the right publisher. Does it have an indie appeal? Traditional publisher appeal? Local appeal? Take the time to pick the right one.
While a highly acclaimed professor, and an academic whiz, this professor made a nice comfortable nest egg out of his writing. And what did he write? Guides for the smaller resorts in several national locations. He updated them as needed. Pulled in a good bit of money.
I may have forgotten the grammar, the pieces he had us write, the ideas I had, but I never forgot to first observe. And don’t just take his advice. George Lucas said Power of the Myth is what led him to write Star Wars.
Terri Wagner lives, writes, and edits from her home in Alabama. Her most recent project, Terra Mechanica: A Steampunk Anthology, was released in May 2014.
Other works to Ms. Wagner’s credit include Shades and Shadows: A Paranormal Anthology, Mr. Gunn and Dr. Bohemia by Pete Ford, and Conjectrix (Vivatera Book 2) by Candace J. Thomas.
