While getting a small pizza at Papa Gino's, an epiphany, if you will, came to mind.
I was talking to David of DavidMangus Press about new projects he had going on, and while I don't feel as I should mention them at this point and time, I do think I can tell you a little bit about it.He had told me a theme to a new anthology that's going to feature some pretty incredible writers; while I asked if he had openings for it, he offered me a shot to submit for it, pending if my story is good and not crap, of course.
What came to mind was written on top of, on the side of and inside a pizza box while I was sitting in the truck, waiting.Though it wasn't a full length short story or anything--it was just a good start to one, and according to the Microsoft Word count, 943 words were written on that pizza box.
I'm surprised the ink didn't fade from the steam.
This little story of fiction is called "Room 409." I won't begin to mention what it's about yet in fear that my story would not be selected in this anthology of super-cool-writers.
However, if my story is one of selection, I'd be more than happy to tell you all about it when the time comes.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
On Writing I
When I wrote "On Writing" as the title, I was not aiming for a spin-off of Stephen King's "On Writing."
This is basically a few passages on my views and my opinions of writing from me, the new guy in town.
Yes, I have one novel out in the bookstores and some short stories that found their way here there; according to BN.com, and as of April 20, 2007, I am competing with some mass-markets finest, including J.F. Gonzales' The Beloved, Simon Clark's Death Dominion and Michael Laimo's Dead Souls and other really gifted writers at #23 for bestselling new releases in the genre.
I'm no expert, and I don't pretend to be some great English wizard. I just simply know from my five years of experience how some things—not all things—work.
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You ask most writers how to write so well and 4/5 times they'll tell you: "Reader everyday, writer everyday." To me, and no disrespect whatsoever to whom of those who gave that piece of advice out, that's the biggest cliché in literature.
Of course you do need to read a little, and writing every day does improve your skills; you have to do more than that.
Now, I'm not going to tell you to take $500 and go join some writers' workshop—you can if you want to. All I may suggest it picking up five novels and one anthology of various authors and read them. Five novels of today's most talented group of writers. Study them to see what is being picked up and by whom.
Writing every day does help, but you need to see if you can stick with one novel long enough to complete it. And to be honest, you could finish a single novel in a month if you work at it long enough. However, a month won't cut it. After you first novel, I'd recommend you reading it over a good five times and really concentrate on it. Make sure the description is down pat some that the reader can visualize every aspect of the story; the characters need to become their friends, their neighbors. They have to love 'em or hate 'em—there's no in between.
Even though I read a lot (as you can tell from my previous blog), I recommend a book by Dean Koontz where I feel his character pops right up from the book in page one. That character is Christopher Snow in Fear Nothing.
It was an enchanting and well written book, one of my all-time favorites, to be honest. Koontz is a New York Times Bestseller and has been doing this for thirty years plus. And you got writers like Chris Golden, Brian Keene, Richard Laymon, Jack Ketchum, Tom Piccirilli—all legendary figures in dark literature, then there's Joe Hill, Bryan Smith, new writers who are shaken things up around town.
You can sit and stare at your computer screen all day wondering when words are going to flow from your mind to your fingertips (and in the meantime watch porn?). You need to make it happen. It's like any other job. It's a struggle at times. And sometimes (in my experience) you need to force the words out and then go back letter with a red pen (or the remark tool on your computer) and edit the hell of it. Cross this out. Re-writer that.
People have asked me how I write at such a young age, and why am I published at 21. My answer is: I tried. I worked my ass off to get it somewhat right. It may not be the best piece of American fiction, but hey—it's something.
And why is my short story on Amazon.com that got disregarded by peers at the Shocklines Forum based solely on a type in the synopsis a bestseller?
Hmm, the story itself my have appealed to readers someway or another.
Critics don't bother me much at all. If they bothered writers, I'm not sure if there'd be a single book in print right now; I love the readers. It's only them who buy my books and my shorts and the magazines my shorts are in. Only them. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the money too much, but to me it's much more important to be thought of as a descent writer, someone who can tell a story and make people think. If I've done this for one person, or for thousands—hey, I'm doing okay. It even makes me what to sing that Travis Tritt song, "It's a great day to be a live. I know the sun's still shining when I close my eyes. There's some hard time in the neighborhood, but why can't every day be just this good…"
Tom Piccirilli had said to me, "That's why we all get into this crazy business in the first place--because we are fans who enjoy what other writers have done before us, and with them in mind we try to carry on."
I couldn't agree with you more, Tom.
It's not about reading every day. It's about understand what you're reading every day, reading between the lines, finding the grey and putting color to it.
People for some reason or another keep buying my books—maybe someone's got a gun to their heads (wasn't me—promise).
Regardless if you sell one book or one million books, the main thing is (according to me) to attract readers and keep them by your side through your career.
This is just my opinion. This is no way guaranteed in any way from anything herein.
© Joseph McGee, 2007
This is basically a few passages on my views and my opinions of writing from me, the new guy in town.
Yes, I have one novel out in the bookstores and some short stories that found their way here there; according to BN.com, and as of April 20, 2007, I am competing with some mass-markets finest, including J.F. Gonzales' The Beloved, Simon Clark's Death Dominion and Michael Laimo's Dead Souls and other really gifted writers at #23 for bestselling new releases in the genre.
I'm no expert, and I don't pretend to be some great English wizard. I just simply know from my five years of experience how some things—not all things—work.
..:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
You ask most writers how to write so well and 4/5 times they'll tell you: "Reader everyday, writer everyday." To me, and no disrespect whatsoever to whom of those who gave that piece of advice out, that's the biggest cliché in literature.
Of course you do need to read a little, and writing every day does improve your skills; you have to do more than that.
Now, I'm not going to tell you to take $500 and go join some writers' workshop—you can if you want to. All I may suggest it picking up five novels and one anthology of various authors and read them. Five novels of today's most talented group of writers. Study them to see what is being picked up and by whom.
Writing every day does help, but you need to see if you can stick with one novel long enough to complete it. And to be honest, you could finish a single novel in a month if you work at it long enough. However, a month won't cut it. After you first novel, I'd recommend you reading it over a good five times and really concentrate on it. Make sure the description is down pat some that the reader can visualize every aspect of the story; the characters need to become their friends, their neighbors. They have to love 'em or hate 'em—there's no in between.
Even though I read a lot (as you can tell from my previous blog), I recommend a book by Dean Koontz where I feel his character pops right up from the book in page one. That character is Christopher Snow in Fear Nothing.
It was an enchanting and well written book, one of my all-time favorites, to be honest. Koontz is a New York Times Bestseller and has been doing this for thirty years plus. And you got writers like Chris Golden, Brian Keene, Richard Laymon, Jack Ketchum, Tom Piccirilli—all legendary figures in dark literature, then there's Joe Hill, Bryan Smith, new writers who are shaken things up around town.
You can sit and stare at your computer screen all day wondering when words are going to flow from your mind to your fingertips (and in the meantime watch porn?). You need to make it happen. It's like any other job. It's a struggle at times. And sometimes (in my experience) you need to force the words out and then go back letter with a red pen (or the remark tool on your computer) and edit the hell of it. Cross this out. Re-writer that.
People have asked me how I write at such a young age, and why am I published at 21. My answer is: I tried. I worked my ass off to get it somewhat right. It may not be the best piece of American fiction, but hey—it's something.
And why is my short story on Amazon.com that got disregarded by peers at the Shocklines Forum based solely on a type in the synopsis a bestseller?
Hmm, the story itself my have appealed to readers someway or another.
Critics don't bother me much at all. If they bothered writers, I'm not sure if there'd be a single book in print right now; I love the readers. It's only them who buy my books and my shorts and the magazines my shorts are in. Only them. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the money too much, but to me it's much more important to be thought of as a descent writer, someone who can tell a story and make people think. If I've done this for one person, or for thousands—hey, I'm doing okay. It even makes me what to sing that Travis Tritt song, "It's a great day to be a live. I know the sun's still shining when I close my eyes. There's some hard time in the neighborhood, but why can't every day be just this good…"
Tom Piccirilli had said to me, "That's why we all get into this crazy business in the first place--because we are fans who enjoy what other writers have done before us, and with them in mind we try to carry on."
I couldn't agree with you more, Tom.
It's not about reading every day. It's about understand what you're reading every day, reading between the lines, finding the grey and putting color to it.
People for some reason or another keep buying my books—maybe someone's got a gun to their heads (wasn't me—promise).
Regardless if you sell one book or one million books, the main thing is (according to me) to attract readers and keep them by your side through your career.
This is just my opinion. This is no way guaranteed in any way from anything herein.
© Joseph McGee, 2007
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