MY ONE Piece of Advice for New Writers

And like Curly from the movie, City Slickers, I hold up the one finger (no, not the bad finger), the one thing that matters most for a writer (in my POV as a writer moving up at the bottom).

As a horror writer it's my job to know people. Granted I don't know everything, and I can't read minds despite failed attempts. But I know me, I know my life, and I know how those around me are effected/affected. I know things that I can't express, feelings that none can identify with. Things that make me a one-of-a-kind, which to be honest, I hate. I know what it is like to lose a family member to murder, and I know it is like to watch someone go insane. I know what it's like to watch someone you love slowly fall apart from health problems that can't be cured.

I know what it's like to venture into a dark mindset, the kind that makes the humanity I was brought up with cringe. And I know what it is like to love, the kind of love that transforms me to cater to the needs of that special person.

I'm not a good man, but I do care, and this is the missing ingredient in the world today. People either grow to be apathetic, or they're just born that way. And this happens to people of all walks of life.

If there is one thing I say a writer should do, it is to never stop caring. Never stop loving. Humanity can be a good or bad thing depending on how we take it. As human beings we are broken creatures, we can be the very worst the world has to offer. But, some of us flourish, shine above the rest, and not because they are super stars, but because they special. Most people in fact have this potential; they have it in them to shine.

As a writer it is hard for me to not look at the world from the POV of a seasoned homicide detective. But it is also hard to completely give up. I can't be a lot of things I want to be, or do a lot of the things I want to do, however, being there for others who truly appreciate it, feeling the passion of love, it has kept me from losing my mind altogether.

My biggest piece of advice to writers starting out is that no matter what you write, what mind-frame you get into, never stop caring. Don't let your heart turn to stone. Your proverbal balls can be stone (if you're tough like that), but always keep your heart soft, warm, and save the darkness for the fiction.

We are entertainers, and we record the feelings and problems of our lives. Well, most of us. Our fiction can have small amounts of us buried deep for the reader's enjoyment, and who knows, we might even touch someone with our words.

Our past, present, and possible future is fodder for our works. Don't let this kind of homework go wasted.

Last note, I lift my proverbal drink in toast, to all the writers who care endlessly, who have donated their entire checks for charity, who suffer needlessly, and to those madly in love for the first time, and those in love after years of marriage… cheers and be well my friends!

Rise of the Author

Though I'm still waiting on the gallies for my sub in an upcoming anthology, and it is my first, I wanted to share a little with those who either haven't had an acceptance, or who rarely gets in. If you are a huge success, this post will most likely bore you. :^)

The professional is the amateur who didn't quit

It's not easy writing, I mean if it was, then everyone and their dog would be doing it (kinda like self publishing (and no, that isn't directed at all self pubbers)). The first step to getting anywhere, is to NOT give up. But then again, if you are a true writer, will never completely give up. A real writer has it in their blood. We have to write. That's how we roll. So if you give up, and never go back to serious writing again, you were never a real writer to begin with. It would be like a fish who decides he hates swimming and one day leaves the ocean and walks on solid ground for the rest of his life. A writer writes.

Form an alliance

Surround yourself with not only great authors, but a few of them who are willing to help you. The authors who make it that are willing to share some of their time is one of the biggest tools in making you a better writer. But, DO NOT ASK THEM FOR HELP WHEN THEY DON'T OFFER IT, WHEN YOU DIDN'T BOTHER TO DEVELOP A GOOD RELATIONSHIP. Why is that so Important? Because you want to pick THEIR brain, you can at least give them a good reason to care. (Just like giving readers a reason to care about your characters)

The best help I have gotten, didn't come from me randomly asking for it. It came as advice form a friend. Now some writers will offer it upfront, and that's cool. But don't expect an author to drop their writing schedule, chores, time with the kids, just for little old you. Be respectful.

The Overlords

And while we are talking about respect, always, always, always, always, OBEY the guidelines for a submission call. If you cannot do this for a good reason, then either walk away, or contact the email for the sub call, and ask them. But do so within the guidelines. Why should the sub-caller publish your work, if you won't even follow their rules? The rules are there for a reason. I hate rules as a rule, but some rules are necessary. And sub calls most of the time, are the necessary ones. K?

Wearing their shoes

When you are writing your manuscript, and think the editor will just love it, remember to look at it from their point-of-view. Odds are good they are eyeball deep in subs, anywhere from 50-200, either in one call, or a day depending on where you are submitting. They have to read what you send them. Well enough to determine whether or not you are worth their time. So if you can't make it worth their time, don't expect to make it on that round. I know, it's not easy. Tell me about it. But that makes the victory that much sweeter.

READ!

I have heard a few times that someone wants to write a great novel. It will be the greatest thing since invention of iPhones. BUT, *insert whiny voice here* they hate to read. *Palm to face* Okay, if you hate to read, then why do you want to write something that you want others to read? *Crickets* I mean c'mon, when I started out I wanted to read, I just couldn't stick with it. Now I love to read. You know how I got to reading so much? First I it was with comic books. Then as I worked at my writing, and started making more and more friends in the business, I started reading their books. And now I love it! Read, read, read, read!

WRITE!

Okay, this one is a doozy. The biggest thing you can do to be a great writer, is to write. The less you write, the worse your writing will be. This is one the biggest reasons why I push myself so much, because I want to be a great writer. Period. I don't have to win awards (but I would love to, hehe) but my stories have to be awesome. Not only for the publishers and the editors, but for my readers. My first story soon to be out in that anthology I mentioned, is not my best, but it was my best when I submitted it. It is a good story, and I'm very proud of it. But I have even better stories on the way, assuming I get the green light. Point is, the only reason I'm doing so well, is because I write as much as I can. And yes, I can do better. That's what I keep doing, working to improve myself. That's another great step for any writer wanting to make it.

Write every freaking day. Okay, I don't. But I write almost every freaking day. Anywhere from 300-2,000 words. On my days off I do a whole lot better. And now that I am on my two-week vacation, I will be writing with great intensity.

Maybe for you, five nights a week, for a half hour is all you can squeeze out. That's great! Because you are chipping away at it. Do not expect your schedule to be the same as mine, or anyone else. You can learn from other schedules, but you have to do what is best for you. And that might mean less time on something else, and more time on writing.

Also,

Don't say you are a wannabe writer (yes, yes, yes, I use to be that guy). If you write, and you really want to be published, and really want to crank out great books, then YOU ARE a writer. Not a wannabe, not an aspiring author. You are a writer. When you finish a manuscript, then you are an author. After that, the following titles are, published author, award winning author, bestselling author, ect. Those however, you have to earn. In writing, to earn the title “writer” all you have to do is write. All you have to do to be an “author” is to finish what you start.

Wield The Muse

It is your weapon. Your force. Your non-existent lover who hides inside your head making you do naughty things to your characters. Yes, I'm weird. For every writer, the muse is different. But to be honest, it is what drives you. You know when you use to be (assuming you don't do this anymore) the type who would wait for the inspiration to hit you? Well that inspiration was an outcry of muse energy. It welled up inside of you, and the moment an idea struck you, the muse drove you hard through the writing. But, you cannot wait on the muse. You have to go to the muse.

Sometimes the muse plays hard-to-get. But that's okay. You're a writer, you should love to play. Before you get to the editing process of your stories, it is all play. Have fun!

And leading into... THE BLOCK!

There is no such thing as WRITER'S BLOCK! Writer's block is your brain being a jackass. Now, as writers everything we do comes form our imagination. Including the block. Think Twilight Zone, Star Trek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, ect, you are in your mind when you write. And your brain sometimes won't give more. But, it is your brain. If you can't go further into a story, then take your characters through a different path. Writer's block is just something there to force you to take a detour. Like a race-track in a video game. You are driving along, and there is this huge wall with glowing arrows pointing to the left. But maybe you want to go straight. But the track doesn't go straight. It's all in your head, the block and the solution. Your brain is the Matrix, and you are the one. And oh yeah, there is no spoon. (Yes, the spoon in the movie The Matrix is kinda like the block)

If you have read this. If you have not given up, or plan to go back to writing; You. Are. A. Writer! Respect yourself. Respect your readers. Respect your editors and publishers. And respect your friends.

Keep writing, and remember, The Muse is always with you.