Overcomplicated Simplicity – My article for AHA Authors Helping Authors.

Overcomplicated simplicity.

 

My last article was based on writers block and I suppose this one sort of hovers around the same topic. You see as a writer for the last lord knows how many years it has been extremely frustrating that I could not write my book. The ideas were in my head so why were they not coming out on the paper? I would have sticky notes covering the wall above my computer filled with all kinds of notes and words I found inspiring yet every time I opened my word document and tried to write the first sentence I was immediately stuck.

Dean turned to Dillan about to ask a very important question.

A simple sentence yet in my mind other questions where spiralling. “Do I need to introduce Dillan earlier? Should I explain more about his background? What if I need some background history on him later? Should I write that now? Yes I should. So where would I like this character to have grown up? A small village or a big town? Which country? Should I make him exotic? What colour eyes and hair should he have? What personality and build should he have? Maybe I should start with Dean and go from there? So where would I like Dean to have grown up? And what could have happened in his life to make him what he is today? Should I add another character to that? They could show up later out of the blue and save him? Or try to destroy him? What if the readers don’t think this question is as important as the next question. Should I move that sentence down and use it later? But then what sentence do I use here?” these questions were circling my mind constantly until I just gave in assuming it was because I had no idea what I was doing.

One day I opened a word document, and I wrote a short story. Reminding myself that if something doesn’t sound correct or make sense it doesn’t matter, it’s only a rough draft. There is always time to go over and fix the problems when you are done but if you try to do it as you go you will get stumped. The other thing to remember is that nothing will get published until you are happy with it, so relax and just have fun with it. Stop beginning a story imagining the book you want at the the end of it or you will completely forget what you are trying to say. Another thing I myself am guilty of. See my first book Awake Again is based on legend and myths from vampires to mermaids and includes awareness of my daughters rare disability, it is my way of raising awareness in a fun way instead of leaflets with statistics and facts which let’s face it just aren’t interesting. But once I started writing it seriously I started to forget that the aim was to make this disability more known about and support easier to find and began aiming on making it exciting for the reader, it grew into an exciting romance story between a vampire and a demon that began with a horrific rape scene of a prostitute and it was only after a publisher friend had read it and asked me one simple question that I realised what I had done wrong.

“That first chapter is amazing.” He had said. “You managed to make a violent rape scene inviting and enjoyable to read and I couldn’t put it down.” Obviously these words had me beaming from ear to ear. But then he continued. “But I am confused, you said you wanted this book to help raise awareness of a rare condition so other parents with children born with the same condition could feel more relaxed. How did you feel after Jessica’s diagnosis? How do you think reading a violent rape scene of a prostitute would have helped you to relax?”

I was speechless that I had made such a horrific error in judgement. I remembered the main goal was the book being for disability awareness, but I forgot that the readers I wanted would be affected by a disability. See what I am trying to say? Again I focused on the book I wanted at the end and forgot what it was I wanted to say.

My point is that wether you are trying to write a book, a short story, an essay for school or even an article for a website you must try to forget about what it is you want at the end and always remember what you want to say and that the keyboard has a delete button you can use at any time. There are no limits with writing so we do make it so difficult for ourselves? 

Do you ever just sit and wonder about the world?

I do, I am definatly one to sit and lose myself in thought. But I think that is part of what makes me a writer. I mean my book might not be any good, it might not sell at all! But it is just a learning curve after all. I am determined to write books that people like and in my first attempt I take everything that I personally don’t like about books and change it. But… what I don’t like is probably what others like most. So as I say it’s a learning curve. Though my book will be short it is less detailed allowing the reader to imagine things however they like to!

But as I say others might like to have MORE details, I will find out when I get feedback. I also wonder about other types of books, and hope to write children’s books, teen fiction books, adult books and even comedy books! (I have my first comedy idea already).

So do you ever sit back and wonder about things? How was this drink in my hand created? Just how was that children’s playhouse built? I wonder if you could freeze jelly? Why is my sunburn tingles more in cold water than hot water? If everything has to have an end then where does space end, and what is beyond that, and surely THAT space has to end….? What if this universe we live in is really a cell for some gigantic creature? What if the sun explodes? What if I take this ice cube and add something fizzy to it? The world really is like a giant playground, so why am I so bored all of the time?!

I guess I am just deep in thought tonight but I have to say that everything out there is definatly worth a try, well…. Maybe not EVERYTHING! (cringes at some of the fetish’s known) I keep getting asked “What if you get bad feedback from the book? Won’t that upset you after all of the work you put in?” and my answer is this. Honestly. No it won’t, because the negative feedback is nothing but a lesson learnt, and we could all do with more of those when following our dreams! So if you read my book and you don’t like it, feel free to stop by on my facebook page (at the side of this blog) and say “hey, I didn’t like having to think up the characters descriptions / the way it rushed through it / the ending was predictable. Maybe next time jazz it up a bit.” Because at the end of the day, how can I teach my children to follow their hearts and take all the advice they can if I don’t do the same?

Thank you for reading yet another randomn thought of mine, and I am sorry to have bored you with it. J Its how the mind of a loner writer works sometimes ^_^