rewriting, rewriting, rewriting.

"In those early pages and chapters anyone may find bold leaps to nowhere, read the brave beginnings of dropped themes, hear a tone since abandoned, discover blind alleys track red herrings and laboriously learn a setting now false."

-Annie Dillard.

It takes a lot out of any writer to be forced to part with their words. It takes courage and faith to let go entirely. It's necessary however to move forward.  The real writing process begins with a draft.  The first copy you show to another human being, the first soul crushing edits you receive, that is where progress is made and where great stories are born.

That's not to say threads can't be saved to bind together new ideas. Perhaps a few sentences from a page are what's left after the edits, whole paragraphs even.  It won't be easy but it will be helpful.  Once you've reached that ninth edition of prose it should look nothing like the first draft you wrote in the wee hours of the morning.

It can be hard, but its best, once finished, to get up and leave your work. Let it steep and give yourself a break. Go back to it, read it out loud, read it in funny voices, read it to your stuffed animals. Then sit down again and be honest with yourself. Was that description necessary? Could I have written a stronger opening? Is that character too flimsy? DON'T LIE, you're only ruining your work.

Just like people change, stories change. From day one to day 67, your characters may undergo some major personality altercations, your themes may not wish to be straightforward and weak, and you yourself may not wish to ever see the same words on a page for fear of going insane.

So in short, no one will ever write perfect first words. Thinking so will only weaken you as a writer and as a person. So delete, scratch out, or throw away what you thought was gold and rebuild with courage that you did not just throw away the best story ever written, but you will soon be much closer to it.



http://theamericanscholar.org/endless-rewriting/#.Ut2UsWasEy4

&

The Writing Life by Annie Dillard

Choose Your Own Adventure: Canadian Writing Groups

Please watch this first!

 

Let's Begin.
FIRST QUESTION: Poetry, Prose, Script, Journalism, or Translating?

Poetry:  Please Skip down to section One and continue.

Prose: Please skip down to section Two and continue.

Script: Please skip down to section Three and continue.

Journalism: Please skip down to section Four and continue.

Translating: Please skip down to section Five and continue.

 

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SECTION ONE: Poetry
Hello poets.  From here you're at your ending.  That's right, no more questions.  Poets have their own groups usually, it's sort of hard to divide up from there.

For you I would encourage you to check out the 'League of Canadian Poets' here: http://poets.ca/wordpress/

They are a group focused on getting poets equal opportunities in the literary world.  They are all for the poets.
Please head on down to Section 6.

 

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SECTION TWO: Prose
Well, hello, writers.  You've got a couple of options moving on from here so let's get to the next question:

Do you write about science?  If the answer is yes, please jump down to Section 2.A.

Not science? Do you write children stories?  If so please, move on to Section 2.B.

Still nothing? Do you write crime stories?  Section 2.C is for you then.

Are you published? Section 2.D please and thank you.

If you answer no to these questions, have no fear  ̶  there's still a place for you.  Some associations just have a broader spectrum which includes all forms of writing.  Those are likely for you.  Please head on down to Section 6.

 

 

SECTION 2.A: Science Writers
That's right!  There is a Canadian group for writers focusing on science called the 'Canadian Science Writers' Associtation'.  Go on and check it out here: http://www.sciencewriters.ca/

They are out to increase public attention to science in Canadian culture and you can help! Please head on down to Section 6.

 

 

SECTION 2.B: Children's Literature
Yes, children's authors have a place in the Canadian association sea too.  In fact it's right here, the' Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers': http://www.canscaip.org/

People who illustrate children's books and performers are also welcome here.  It's all about bringing attention to the section of Canadian culture focused around children.
Please head on down to Section 6.

 

 

SECTION 2.C: Crime Writers
Are you surprised you have your own group?  Well don't be, it's right around the corner, the 'Crime Writers of Canada': http://www.crimewriterscanada.com/

They are out to raise the profile of Canadian crime writers through everything from libraries to the media.
Please head on down to Section 6.

 

 

SECTION 2.D: Published Writers
So you're doing awesome so far and have already published.  Good for you.  You've now got a group to help encourage you to keep going and help you work through the tough places! 'Writer's Union of Canada':  http://www.writersunion.ca/

Keep going and don't give up!
Please head on down to Section 6.

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SECTION THREE: Script
Hello, playwrights.  You have gone as far as you can go.  It's difficult to divide script up anymore so you're done with silly questions.

 

Your group, or should I say guild, is here: the 'Playwrights Guild of Canada:  http://www.playwrightsguild.ca/

 

This group is here to advance your rights and interests not only on a national level but an international one, too.
Please head on down to Section 6.

SECTION FOUR: Journalism
You've reached the end of the journey, no more questions, just an association.

 

Journalism is a great profession and it's even better knowing that you've got others on your side.  Am I right?  Well, look no further than here:  the 'Canadian Association of Journalism: http://www.caj.ca/

 

This group acts like your voice in hard times when the media gets challenged.  You're not in it alone!
Please head on down to Section 6.

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SECTION FIVE: Translating
All questions are done for you.  You get your answer here and now.  Whoot!

You've got a group:   the 'Literary Translators' Association of Canada';  http://www.attlc-ltac.org/node

They're out to promote the art of literary translations.  Nice to have some help right?
Please head on down to Section 6.

 

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SECTION SIX
You're near the end. 

 

You might have noticed that I wasn't lying when I said there were a lot of Canadian groups and associations for writers.  Above are the more specific ones depending on the genre and style you write in, but there are some general groups.  I would suggest you check them out as well.

 

There's the 'Writer's Guild of Canada': http://www.writersguildofcanada.com/
They help with international rights for Canadian writers.

 

There's the 'CWILA' (Canadian Women in the Literary Arts): http://www.cwila.com/
They're working on equal rights for all in the Canadian Literary field.

 

AND THERE'S EVEN MORE:

French Writers: http://www.alcq-acql.ca/
Italian Canadian Writers: http://www.aicw.ca/
and
Christian Writers: http://www.inscribe.org/  and   http://www.thewordguild.com/

 

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So, believe me when I say there is a place for everyone.

Hope this helped you at least narrow it all down.

 

 



 

Hope that helps you all!

Literary Agents: The What and Why

     In the creative writing world, authors want to focus on one aspect above all else: create something that will captivate an audience. But let’s be honest, just because one’s work impresses friends or family, it doesn’t mean it’s going to get the attention of a professional publisher. Unfortunately, the life of a novelist is a highly competitive field; publishers aren’t lining up to hand out contracts, and this is where an agent can be of significant assistance.           
     The idea of an agent seems pretty enticing. They can save the writer time, and there is no upfront cost. The tricky part for the writer is finding an agent who wants to represent their work. Just like publishers, agents want to see something that’s worth reading. The difference is that writers are able to figure out what sort of work certain agents are looking for, and which agents are signing new clients. The idea is to keep at it. Continue to improve your work, and continue sending it to possible agent candidates. The process can take time, but it’s about commitment, and it will be worth the wait. 
     For more in depth information on this subject, read this article by author, Simon Haynes.  

     
     The main prospect of an agent is to get the writer’s work into the hands of a good editor and, in turn, have that work published. But why is this useful? Can’t the writer forward their work to these resources on their own? Simply put, yes; however, agents have more inside knowledge about whom or where to send the work. Don’t feel helpless; this is an agent’s job, and it can save the writer months of waiting, quite possibly, for a rejection letter. Another question that may concern the writer is the matter of payment. Without publication, how can a writer pay an agent for their services? The answer is that their money comes from the publisher to whom the work is sold. In other words, the writer and the agent work as a team to receive income from the same source. 

Purple Potatoes - Why Research is a Writer's Best Friend

Screen-capture from http://thetimetravelersguidetothegalaxy.tumblr.com
originally posted to http://wittywallflower.tumblr.com

Now, we all know Napoleon was the strongest woman in the Ukrainian army in 1996.

Oh, he wasn't?

YOU'RE KIDDING?

Yes my friends, I know a lot of us hate to do it, but research is a very important part of being a writer. Now, I know what you're saying:

“But Emily! I write fiction (or fantasy, or sci-fi, or creative non-fiction, or what have you), I don't need to do research for that!”

Well I hate to tell you but you're wrong (no that's a lie, I need to tell you that you're wrong). Even if your story has llama's from Uranus beaming down and attacking a small village with purple potatoes, you still need to make it at least somewhat believable.

I bet that most of you didn't know that purple potatoes actually exist.

It's true, but how did I know that? I Googled it of course. We live in a great time for research, my friends. You can browse the internet, check out the library, interview experts, or even get field experience. If you want even your most outrageous of stories to be believable you need to add an ounce of truth.

So my little situation that I described above could, quite possibly, be somewhat believable for several reasons. 

1. Llamas are real animals, and a few of us have even touched them at petting zoos (did you know that Llamas live to be about 20 years old?).
2. Uranus is a well-known planet in our solar system, even if most people giggle at the mention of it (Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun and also a friend of sailor moon).
3. Purple potatoes are an actual food (often used in a variety of Indian dishes, don't forget the spices!).

Yes, so maybe there are no Llamas on Uranus and you can't actually 'beam down' from somewhere, but I bet being pelted with purple potatoes would be a terrifying experience.

If you need more information on the importance of research for writers you can check out Helena Schrader's Blog.

-Emily