While reading a few blogs today I came across some words of wisdom from bestselling author Jennifer McMahon: "Everyone’s got advice and theories; people want to pigeonhole you, put you in a
genre with its own rules and conventions. I think the work comes out better when
we leave all that behind; when the only thing to be true to is the writing."
Her comment came in a guest blog on the Writer's Digest website on "How to Write a Novel: 7 Tips Everyone Can Use."
Her other words of advice are excellent, but the last one on "the only thing to be true to is the writing" is something we all must remember. For me, it's being true to myself, and letting my words emerge in the story. Being original.
That's not to mean they're aren't rules to follow when writing, such as point of view, but to let it be your story and not trying -- or pretending -- to be someone else. I can only be me, not Angelou, Hemingway, Faulkner, Grisham, King, Updike, McMahon or anyone else.
No doubt when I am reading a novel that I'm being influenced to some extent by the words and message, but when I sit down to write, it should be true words that flow through me than artificially from trying to imitate another writer.
Until the next time...
Her comment came in a guest blog on the Writer's Digest website on "How to Write a Novel: 7 Tips Everyone Can Use."
Her other words of advice are excellent, but the last one on "the only thing to be true to is the writing" is something we all must remember. For me, it's being true to myself, and letting my words emerge in the story. Being original.That's not to mean they're aren't rules to follow when writing, such as point of view, but to let it be your story and not trying -- or pretending -- to be someone else. I can only be me, not Angelou, Hemingway, Faulkner, Grisham, King, Updike, McMahon or anyone else.
No doubt when I am reading a novel that I'm being influenced to some extent by the words and message, but when I sit down to write, it should be true words that flow through me than artificially from trying to imitate another writer.
Until the next time...
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