Resources for Writers
- A Victory for Self-Publishing
- Recovering Lost Writing Files
- Where Do Real Writers Write?
- The Search for the Perfect Journal
- The Benefits of Procrastination
- Speed Writing Contests
- Spring Cleaning for Writers
- Dreams and the Creative Process
- Freedom to Read Week
- Using the News in Your Writing
Posted by
Sarah Turner
Sarah Turner
When publishers weren't interested, Fallis released his book as a podcast, and then a self-published trade paperback. Who's laughing now?
The Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour is awarded annually to the most humourous book published in Canada, by a Canadian. It includes a $10,000 cash prize, sponsored by TD Bank Financial group. This year, the award went to Terry Fallis for "The Best Laid Plans," a satirical book on Ottawa politics.
What's interesting about this is that Fallis' book was self-published. The manuscript had been circulated to several big-name publishers, but none were interested in publishing it. Undeterred, Fallis released it himself: first as a weekly podcast and then as a trade paperback through iUniverse.
Fallis, a Toronto-based communications consultant, distributed copies of his book in Toronto and Ottawa, and to the Stephen Leacock Medal judges. “The Best Laid Plans” [Terry Fallis, 2007] beat out books by humourists Will Ferguson, Douglas Coupland, Scott Gardiner and Ron Wood.
Now, of course, the publishers are interested. McLelland & Stewart is going to publish a fall edition of Fallis' book through their division Douglas Gibson Books.
So I say, if you've got a writing project you believe in, go for it. Evidently the publishers aren't always right. With publishing houses cutting back on staff and resources, self-publishing may be the best way to go.
What's interesting about this is that Fallis' book was self-published. The manuscript had been circulated to several big-name publishers, but none were interested in publishing it. Undeterred, Fallis released it himself: first as a weekly podcast and then as a trade paperback through iUniverse.
Fallis, a Toronto-based communications consultant, distributed copies of his book in Toronto and Ottawa, and to the Stephen Leacock Medal judges. “The Best Laid Plans” [Terry Fallis, 2007] beat out books by humourists Will Ferguson, Douglas Coupland, Scott Gardiner and Ron Wood.
Now, of course, the publishers are interested. McLelland & Stewart is going to publish a fall edition of Fallis' book through their division Douglas Gibson Books.
So I say, if you've got a writing project you believe in, go for it. Evidently the publishers aren't always right. With publishing houses cutting back on staff and resources, self-publishing may be the best way to go.
Posted by
Sarah Turner
Sarah Turner
My writing routine has been thwarted by an evil computer crash. Even though I have backups of most of my files, I am lost without my trusty laptop friend.
I didn't know I was addicted to my laptop until it died. I thought I was pretty comfortable writing wherever, whenever. Doing rough drafts on scraps of paper, writing in my journal. Now I see that my laptop is the center of everything writing: it stores all my drafts, the lists of submissions I currently have out, my cv, my photos.
And what about my internet favourites? All those writing sites I've researched and favourited so I can refer back to them? My long list of possible places for submission?
I even miss my desktop image. Sigh.
The crash - of course - occurred just three months past the end of the warranty. The guy in technical services laughed sort of sheepishly, and said, "Yeah, that happens a lot." What?
Then he told me it would cost at least $400 to fix the problem, so I might as well just buy a new one.
Which is what I've done. I bought the cheapest one I could find, convinced it will also crash just past the warranty. After phoning every repair shop in town it seemed like the best idea.
Now the new laptop sits on my desk, and I sit glaring at it. It is not yet familiar: everything looks wrong. It will take a long time to feel like this computer is home. Next step: copy over all the back up files I created.
Then just start writing again.
And what about my internet favourites? All those writing sites I've researched and favourited so I can refer back to them? My long list of possible places for submission?
I even miss my desktop image. Sigh.
The crash - of course - occurred just three months past the end of the warranty. The guy in technical services laughed sort of sheepishly, and said, "Yeah, that happens a lot." What?
Then he told me it would cost at least $400 to fix the problem, so I might as well just buy a new one.
Which is what I've done. I bought the cheapest one I could find, convinced it will also crash just past the warranty. After phoning every repair shop in town it seemed like the best idea.
Now the new laptop sits on my desk, and I sit glaring at it. It is not yet familiar: everything looks wrong. It will take a long time to feel like this computer is home. Next step: copy over all the back up files I created.
Then just start writing again.
Posted by
Sarah Turner
Sarah Turner
Whether you write in a home office, at a coffeeshop or in a quiet library, writing is still hard work.
I write all over the place. I have a writing desk in a room that doubles as our guest room, but I rarely end up doing my real writing there. My laptop comes along with me to coffeeshops, basement bars, airport lounges. The energy of a public space is great when I'm at the beginning stages of a project - I guess it matches the excitement I feel about starting something new.
I know other writers who have to write in the same place all the time, with the exact same pen, at the exact same time of day. They claim they can't write a word without that routine.
I've often wondered about where famous writers write. Do they have fancy offices with fantastic views? I imagine they have pristine work areas and golden pens from which the prose just flows flawlessly onto the page.
The organizers of the Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival (VIWF) are trying to set me straight about that delusion.
VIWF has just launched a new section on their website called "Writer's Rooms." Each week the site will feature an intimate look into a B.C. writer's workspace, with a photo and text by the author about their workspace. The first writer featured is Jen Sookfong Lee, whose book The End of East (Knopf Canada, 2007) received great reviews.
Writer's Rooms is an excellent way to get a glimpse into the spaces where the magic of writing happens. And a good reminder that no matter where you do it, writing is still hard work.
I know other writers who have to write in the same place all the time, with the exact same pen, at the exact same time of day. They claim they can't write a word without that routine.
I've often wondered about where famous writers write. Do they have fancy offices with fantastic views? I imagine they have pristine work areas and golden pens from which the prose just flows flawlessly onto the page.
The organizers of the Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival (VIWF) are trying to set me straight about that delusion.
VIWF has just launched a new section on their website called "Writer's Rooms." Each week the site will feature an intimate look into a B.C. writer's workspace, with a photo and text by the author about their workspace. The first writer featured is Jen Sookfong Lee, whose book The End of East (Knopf Canada, 2007) received great reviews.
Writer's Rooms is an excellent way to get a glimpse into the spaces where the magic of writing happens. And a good reminder that no matter where you do it, writing is still hard work.
The Search for the Perfect Journal
Posted by
Sarah Turner
Sarah Turner
The perfect notebook is different for every writer. My journals have to be lined, small, sturdy and above all cheap.
I am picky about the notebooks I write in. When I finish one journal, the frenzy to find the perfect replacement begins.
I need something portable - small enough to slip easily inside my bag without weighing me down. Yet a flimsy paper cover won't do - the notebook needs to be able to take a beating. I want something subtle that won't call attention to itself. I want to be able to lie the pages flat. But I detest spiral notebooks, because those metal spirals are always getting caught on things.
Last year I was given a gorgeous journal with an art deco cover. It has thick, luscious pages with rounded corners. It's so nice that I've never used it. I'm scared to sully the beautiful pages with my chicken scrawl.
Someone suggested the Moleskine, supposedly the notebook of choise for Hemingway and Picasso. Moleskine journals come in a few sizes and offer a choice of lined or unlined paper. They've got soft leather covers and thick, quality pages. They also come with a pricetag of about $20. Too much for someone like me, who writes and writes and writes.
So once again I found myself in the stationery aisle of the local dollar store. The journal I chose cost two dollars. It has a plain black cardboard cover and an elastic to keep the journal shut. It has 200 lined pages. I bought a cheap pen to go with it and I'm set.
At least until I finish this one.
I need something portable - small enough to slip easily inside my bag without weighing me down. Yet a flimsy paper cover won't do - the notebook needs to be able to take a beating. I want something subtle that won't call attention to itself. I want to be able to lie the pages flat. But I detest spiral notebooks, because those metal spirals are always getting caught on things.
Last year I was given a gorgeous journal with an art deco cover. It has thick, luscious pages with rounded corners. It's so nice that I've never used it. I'm scared to sully the beautiful pages with my chicken scrawl.
Someone suggested the Moleskine, supposedly the notebook of choise for Hemingway and Picasso. Moleskine journals come in a few sizes and offer a choice of lined or unlined paper. They've got soft leather covers and thick, quality pages. They also come with a pricetag of about $20. Too much for someone like me, who writes and writes and writes.
So once again I found myself in the stationery aisle of the local dollar store. The journal I chose cost two dollars. It has a plain black cardboard cover and an elastic to keep the journal shut. It has 200 lined pages. I bought a cheap pen to go with it and I'm set.
At least until I finish this one.
The Benefits of Procrastination
Posted by
Sarah Turner
Sarah Turner
Sometimes when a writing deadline looms, we find ourselves doing everything but writing. This procrastination is not always a bad thing.
I am a procrastinator. I always have been, and I probably always will be. Some people tell me this is a problem: they propose cognitive behavioral therapy or elaborate work schedules to cure me. The trouble is, I'm not convinced it's all bad.
First of all, so much gets done when I'm avoiding a writing project. I do laundry, scrub the floors, and clean the cupboards. I get a sudden urge to bake and end up churning out pies and cookies like a pro. I organize my first aid kit and replace the light bulb in the storage closet.
My productivity on everything but writing is astounding.
Second, when I finally do sit down in front of my computer to do what must be done (usually just hours before the deadline) I find that some of the work has already been done for me. Somehow, while I've been busy baking and scrubbing and walking the city streets, my brain has been busy processing the project I was avoiding. The writing comes easier.
I'm not prescribing procrastination. Sometimes it's just an excuse to not work and it can be damaging to your writing career. If you are unhappy about being a procrastinator, there are strategies that can help you.
But I truly believe that sometimes stepping away from your writing to do something else can be just what you, and your writing, need.
If not, at least you'll have clean floors.
First of all, so much gets done when I'm avoiding a writing project. I do laundry, scrub the floors, and clean the cupboards. I get a sudden urge to bake and end up churning out pies and cookies like a pro. I organize my first aid kit and replace the light bulb in the storage closet.
My productivity on everything but writing is astounding.
Second, when I finally do sit down in front of my computer to do what must be done (usually just hours before the deadline) I find that some of the work has already been done for me. Somehow, while I've been busy baking and scrubbing and walking the city streets, my brain has been busy processing the project I was avoiding. The writing comes easier.
I'm not prescribing procrastination. Sometimes it's just an excuse to not work and it can be damaging to your writing career. If you are unhappy about being a procrastinator, there are strategies that can help you.
But I truly believe that sometimes stepping away from your writing to do something else can be just what you, and your writing, need.
If not, at least you'll have clean floors.
Posted by
Sarah Turner
Sarah Turner
Can you write a stellar poem in two days? A novel in a month? Speed writing competitions force writers to amp up their creativity and get it all down, fast.
Contemporary Verse 2, a leading Canadian poetry magazine, recently announced its Second Annual Two Day Poetry Writing Contest. Two days? Two days! At the beginning of the contest, poets are given ten secret words they must include in their poem. First prize is $350, with more prizes for runners-up.
Speed writing contests encourage a new approach to writing: get it down, don't worry about perfection, trust your first creative instinct. An approach that is in stark contrast to the excessive editing and analysing that most writers rely upon to create strong writing.
Two well-known writing contests that focus on fast writing are the Three Day Novel Writing Contest and National Novel Writing Month (known as NANOWRIMO). The winner of the three day Novel Writing Contest wins publication, the winners NANOWRIMO win the satisfaction of having completed a novel.
A few years ago, I signed up for NANOWRIMO. For the month of November I wrote furiously, fantastically, without looking back to correct as I went along. In the end I didn't meet the 50,000 word deadline that qualifies as the completion of a novel, but I did get down 35,000 words – which was probably more in one month than I've written in the entire past year.
Recently I pullled out the draft of the novel I came up with. It's not good, but it's not terrible either. There are scenes that can be salvaged, characters to work with. It contains the bulk of a story. And it's amazing to hold all those pages in my hand and see, well, almost, a novel!
If you're fighting writer's block or looking for a new challenge as a writer, give one of these time limited writing contests a try. You might just surprise yourself with what you produce.
Speed writing contests encourage a new approach to writing: get it down, don't worry about perfection, trust your first creative instinct. An approach that is in stark contrast to the excessive editing and analysing that most writers rely upon to create strong writing.
Two well-known writing contests that focus on fast writing are the Three Day Novel Writing Contest and National Novel Writing Month (known as NANOWRIMO). The winner of the three day Novel Writing Contest wins publication, the winners NANOWRIMO win the satisfaction of having completed a novel.
A few years ago, I signed up for NANOWRIMO. For the month of November I wrote furiously, fantastically, without looking back to correct as I went along. In the end I didn't meet the 50,000 word deadline that qualifies as the completion of a novel, but I did get down 35,000 words – which was probably more in one month than I've written in the entire past year.
Recently I pullled out the draft of the novel I came up with. It's not good, but it's not terrible either. There are scenes that can be salvaged, characters to work with. It contains the bulk of a story. And it's amazing to hold all those pages in my hand and see, well, almost, a novel!
If you're fighting writer's block or looking for a new challenge as a writer, give one of these time limited writing contests a try. You might just surprise yourself with what you produce.
Posted by
Sarah Turner
Sarah Turner
If your writing work space is cluttered and disorganised, your mind probably is too. It might be time for a good spring cleaning.
My desk is a mess. It's more than a mess. It's a disaster area. Crusty old coffee cups fill the corners, knitting needles crisscross my desk and there's a broken clock on my filing cabinet. Stacks of random papers threaten to topple at any moment.
When I sit down to write I feel cluttered and distracted. It's time for the spring cleaning.
Now, by spring cleaning I don't mean busting out the Lysol and disinfecting everything in sight – though that may not be a bad idea. For my writing space, though, spring cleaning is more of a ritual of purification. It's like recreating the blank page.
First step, files. I label my files like this, though each writer has their own system: Drafts, Ideas, Prompts and Freelance Ideas. The most helpful organization advice I've received is, “touch each piece of paper only once – it goes into one of the files, or into the garbage.”
Spring cleaning is also a good time to back up any computer files of your writing, either onto a disc or onto a remote location. That way if your computer crashes, your work will be safely stored elsewhere.
Then clear away the dirty dishes. Find another home for the broken clock, the inkless pens, the scrunched up balls of kleenex. Put your books back on the shelf.
There is something therapeutic in cleaning a writing space. Even if your writing space is a corner of the kitchen table. It's about clearing your mind and refocusing on your projects. A little order outside can help bring order inside.
Get some fresh flowers to signify the change in season. Hang a new picture on the wall.
Then, get back to writing.
When I sit down to write I feel cluttered and distracted. It's time for the spring cleaning.
Now, by spring cleaning I don't mean busting out the Lysol and disinfecting everything in sight – though that may not be a bad idea. For my writing space, though, spring cleaning is more of a ritual of purification. It's like recreating the blank page.
First step, files. I label my files like this, though each writer has their own system: Drafts, Ideas, Prompts and Freelance Ideas. The most helpful organization advice I've received is, “touch each piece of paper only once – it goes into one of the files, or into the garbage.”
Spring cleaning is also a good time to back up any computer files of your writing, either onto a disc or onto a remote location. That way if your computer crashes, your work will be safely stored elsewhere.
Then clear away the dirty dishes. Find another home for the broken clock, the inkless pens, the scrunched up balls of kleenex. Put your books back on the shelf.
There is something therapeutic in cleaning a writing space. Even if your writing space is a corner of the kitchen table. It's about clearing your mind and refocusing on your projects. A little order outside can help bring order inside.
Get some fresh flowers to signify the change in season. Hang a new picture on the wall.
Then, get back to writing.
Dreams and the Creative Process
Posted by
Sarah Turner
Sarah Turner
Every night as we sleep, our minds are busy creating plots, characters, settings and moods. Can we tap into this dream world and use it in our creative writing?
This morning I woke up dreaming about writing. Not of the physical act of writing, but of the story I'm in the middle of. The twist I can't quite work out. I rolled out of bed, blurry eyed, stumbled to my computer and typed madly, trying to capture the last fragments of the dream. What resulted was illogical and incomplete, but surprisingly rich in detail and character. It's like my story talked to me through my dreams. And the twist, remarkably, cleared itself up.
Our dreams are a resource we can use to help with our creative writing. Through dreaming, our mind works out emotional and psychological issues and filters through the day's events. Dreams are a way for us to tune into our creative unconscious.
Robert Olen Butler, Pulitzer prize-winning author, emphasizes the importance of dreams, yearning and sensuality in writing. In From Where You Dream: The Process of Writing Fiction (Grove Press, 2006) Butler argues that new writers would do well to listen to their dreams and the unconscious, rather than relying exclusively on logic and analysis in their writing.
For some of you, I'm sure this sounds too flaky or earth-mother-like. I say don't knock it 'til you try it. For just one week, pay attention to your dreams.
Our dreams are a resource we can use to help with our creative writing. Through dreaming, our mind works out emotional and psychological issues and filters through the day's events. Dreams are a way for us to tune into our creative unconscious.
Robert Olen Butler, Pulitzer prize-winning author, emphasizes the importance of dreams, yearning and sensuality in writing. In From Where You Dream: The Process of Writing Fiction (Grove Press, 2006) Butler argues that new writers would do well to listen to their dreams and the unconscious, rather than relying exclusively on logic and analysis in their writing.
For some of you, I'm sure this sounds too flaky or earth-mother-like. I say don't knock it 'til you try it. For just one week, pay attention to your dreams.
- Keep a journal by your bed, and jot things down as soon as you wake.
- Do some free writing from anything in your dream that stands out.
- Later, read your dream journal for elements that suggest story. Look for strong characters, interesting locations or fierce emotional responses.
- Don't take anything too literally, and don't be afraid to explore different meanings of the events dreamed.
Posted by
Sarah Turner
Sarah Turner
This February, Canada celebrates it's 24th annual Freedom To Read Week, featuring lectures, readings and other events to remind us of the struggle against censorship.
In a liberal, democratic country like Canada, it's easy to feel like we can write whatever we want and find an audience for it. With the wide range of magazine and book publishers, as well as the internet, there is a market for pretty much anything.
Yet in Canada, writing is still censored and writers can find themselves under suspicion. In 2004, Ottawa Citizen reporter Juliet O'Neill had her home and office raided by the RCMP after she wrote about Canada's new and controversial anti-terrorism laws. Other Canadian writers whose work has been censored include Margaret Laurence, Leonard Cohen and Mordecai Richler.
Bookstores are also targeted. Little Sisters Bookstore, a gay and lesbian bookstore in Vancouver, has repeatedly had its material seized at the border by Canada Customs.
Censorship of children's literature continues to be an issue. Celebrated children's author Robert Munsch has been censored, as have other Canadian children's authors. The book And Tango Makes Three has been repeatedly condemned, along with other books that feature gay parents.
Freedom to Read Week is organized by the Book and Periodic Council and the Freedom of Expression committee, and will be recognized with events across the country. In Vancouver, author Karen Connelly will read from her novel The Lizard Cage (2005) about a Burmese singer imprisoned for his anti-government lyrics.
For a complete list of events, look here.
PEN Canada also continues to fight for freedom of expression, both in Canada and around the world.
Yet in Canada, writing is still censored and writers can find themselves under suspicion. In 2004, Ottawa Citizen reporter Juliet O'Neill had her home and office raided by the RCMP after she wrote about Canada's new and controversial anti-terrorism laws. Other Canadian writers whose work has been censored include Margaret Laurence, Leonard Cohen and Mordecai Richler.
Bookstores are also targeted. Little Sisters Bookstore, a gay and lesbian bookstore in Vancouver, has repeatedly had its material seized at the border by Canada Customs.
Censorship of children's literature continues to be an issue. Celebrated children's author Robert Munsch has been censored, as have other Canadian children's authors. The book And Tango Makes Three has been repeatedly condemned, along with other books that feature gay parents.
Freedom to Read Week is organized by the Book and Periodic Council and the Freedom of Expression committee, and will be recognized with events across the country. In Vancouver, author Karen Connelly will read from her novel The Lizard Cage (2005) about a Burmese singer imprisoned for his anti-government lyrics.
For a complete list of events, look here.
PEN Canada also continues to fight for freedom of expression, both in Canada and around the world.
Using the News in Your Writing
Posted by
Sarah Turner
Sarah Turner
In our media-rich culture we are bombarded with stories every day. How can we take these news flashes and use them to develop our own creative ideas?
There is a tragic news story in our local media. In Tofino, a small coastal community in British Columbia, a seven year old boy has just gone missing. He disappeared during a beach walk with his dad. His dad looked away for two minutes, and when he turned back the boy was gone. Search crews have been combing the area for nearly two days now, still holding out hope that the boy will be found.
I find myself thinking about this boy and his family all the time. As a young mother, I try to imagine how it would feel to be a mother who has lost her son. I find myself wondering specific things: like what conversation did the mother and father have over breakfast on the day their son went missing? What preceded this life-changing moment? What is the boy's favourite colour, favourite toy? Or I think about the rescue workers, woken by a phone call – what life of theirs was interrupted, and what is going through their mind as they search?
Every day there are dozens of these news flash stories, each accompanied for me by a hundred questions about what's not told. To me, that's the stuff of fiction.
There are also bizarre stories, like the recent news on the BC coast of three severed right feet washing ashore over the last six months. Investigators have no idea where they might be coming from. This is straight out of a science fiction or crime novel. The cliché fits: sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.
Lately, I've started keeping the news clippings that capture my attention. This file is a great resource for when I feel I have nothing to write about. Here's an article with some helpful tips on how to use news events for inspiration.
I find myself thinking about this boy and his family all the time. As a young mother, I try to imagine how it would feel to be a mother who has lost her son. I find myself wondering specific things: like what conversation did the mother and father have over breakfast on the day their son went missing? What preceded this life-changing moment? What is the boy's favourite colour, favourite toy? Or I think about the rescue workers, woken by a phone call – what life of theirs was interrupted, and what is going through their mind as they search?
Every day there are dozens of these news flash stories, each accompanied for me by a hundred questions about what's not told. To me, that's the stuff of fiction.
There are also bizarre stories, like the recent news on the BC coast of three severed right feet washing ashore over the last six months. Investigators have no idea where they might be coming from. This is straight out of a science fiction or crime novel. The cliché fits: sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.
Lately, I've started keeping the news clippings that capture my attention. This file is a great resource for when I feel I have nothing to write about. Here's an article with some helpful tips on how to use news events for inspiration.
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