Beth’s Blog

In fact, it’s hard to get to writing when you know all this beauty will be covered with snow very soon…

(Click the pic for a larger version.)

I’ve read a gazillion (literally) how-to articles concerning writing. Heck, I’ve probably written at least a million of ‘em.

But just the other day, I was pondering this thing we call “writing” and it occurred to me that the reason so many how-tos need to be written is because nobody has taken the time to properly define, exactly, what writing is.

After all, once something is properly defined, it seems to me that many of the “how-tos” will automatically fall into place.

So, considering this article is heading out to over 10k working writers, it’s with just a bit of trepidation that I take on the monumental task of defining, to the best of my ability, what writing is.

As a somewhat intellectual person, at the barest sense, writing is communication. It’s the transmission of my thoughts into your mind. The tools I choose to transmit these thoughts are known as “words.” You filter each of my words through your experiences, perceptions, and biases and (hopefully) a modicum of my intent remains.

On the barest sense we’ve got: my thoughts transmitted through words, translated through your filters, and we’re left with your final interpretation of my thoughts.

Unlike verbal communications, your reader doesn’t have nonverbal cues like intonation, gestures, facial expressions to help with this process. We have printed words. Sometimes we can YELL, emphasize, highlight, or stress but that’s about it.

And how do you get words to say what you mean them to say? Let’s get back to defining writing.

My first definition sounds kinda clinical. Not sure I like it. I’m going to dig deeper.

I correspond with a ton of writers each week. From what I hear, and from personal experience, I have a hunch that to many of us, writing is a dream. It’s something we’ve longed to do forever.

In many respects, these people I correspond with seem to link being a writer with writing. Face it, the prospect of saying, “I’m a writer,” can feel pretty cool. If calling yourself a freelance writer and writing were linked, then barking and being a dog would be linked as well.

But both you and I know that isn’t necessarily true.

Yes. When you write, you’re a writer. But are you a “writer” if you don’t write?

I know tons of “writers” who talk about writing, they visit forums and discuss writing, they may even blog about writing. But writing about writing? Is that writing? Does that make you a writer?

In fact, if you were to really get clear about this subject, you’d have to acknowledge that many of the “how-to” articles actually trip you up when it comes to writing. You get so caught up in technique, not making “mistakes” and doing everything just right, that many aspiring writers wind up spinning their wheels, terrified to simply let go, and let the fingers start flying over the keyboard.

I understand, I’m venturing into some fairly gooey territory here. To make matters worse, I’m about to slip further into the controversy pool here. Starting with this little gem:

If you aren’t actively working on a project, any project of some sort, you aren’t a writer.

Writing isn’t preparation. Writing isn’t planning. Writing is… writing. It’s sitting down every single day and pounding out a few words. Hopefully far more than just a few, but a few will always trump zero.

Writing is not online communications. Writing an e-mail doesn’t make you a writer. Even writing an eloquent e-mail doesn’t necessarily count. Forum posting? Nah.

Writing is not perfection. It’s merely a reflection of your best on any given day.

Writing is consistency. It’s heaven, it’s hell. It’s a life long relationship with the tools of your trade: words.

It’s joy. It’s solitude. It’s introspection, it’s a reflection of your world.

It’s introspection; pouring the message you were given onto the page, unconcerned with potential backlash.

You are modern day scribes, recording the events, no matter how mundane, of your life.

Journalistic writing is often impartial, always striving to reflect both sides of a story. Writing is often manipulative, ask any advertiser.

Writing is pure power. This is why corrupt governments regulate the flow of words.

I agree with Stephen King when he says that writing is telepathy. When you read what I wrote yesterday, you are experiencing my telepathic communication. When you read an ancient manuscript, you are experiencing history.

Writing is magic. Time ceases to exist for the reader while in the throes of a great novel.

Writing can be boring, exciting, thrilling, harrowing… it all depends on the interpretation of the reader.

It’s a truly astounding subject, this thing we call “writing.”

And despite burning this much bandwidth trying to define this nearly undefinable subject, all I can say for sure is this:

Sit down, right now, and start writing. Once you do this, you’re a writer. Period.

I’ve posted this article on my blog and I want to hear from you. What are your thought?

Define writing. And just as an aside, does a working definition of “writing” change the way you approach the craft? Post your comment by clicking below.

I’ve been undergoing a light study of Reiki and was struck by its Five Precepts:

For today only:

Do not anger

Do not worry

Be humble

Be honest in your work

Be compassionate to yourself and others

Cool, eh? Much to ponder…

It’s April 12. I’m sitting in my office. I’ve got a foot of new snow right outside my window.

Snow. In April.

Go figure.

If you’ve been keeping up with freelance news, you’ve undoubtedly heard that Amazon is planning to remove the “buy” buttons from all books printed by LightningSource and demand that all those titles be printed by their own company, Booksurge.

This news is real. Wall Street Journal as well as Publisher’s Weekly have reported it. Angela Hoy at Booklocker broke the story when a Booksurge rep threatened to remove all of Booklocker’s “buy” buttons.

Already PublishAmerica and Whiskey Creek Press have had their buttons removed.

This move impacts all of us… as authors and publishers. Subsidy publishers, university presses, traditional publishers, we all use print on demand technology. In fact, Filbert Publishing has six titles affected by this move.

With literally thousands upon thousands of titles on Amazon, many of the subsedy POD presses will incur great expense moving all those books over to Booksurge. The squeeze on these companies companies will most certainly affect their freelancers.

Those who won’t move their titles to Booksurge will lose an outlet for book sales. Sure, we can head to other online bookstores, but let’s face it, Amazon is a book selling juggernaut.

So, if you’re an author who is (or who may be) impacted by having the “buy” buttons removed from your Amazon book page, you need to start weighing your options. First and foremost, don’t panic, act professional in all your dealings with this issue, and remain open to directing your potential readers to other outlets.

Whether or not Amazon will remove more “buy” buttons is unknown. I’m the kind of person who watches the world through rose-colored glasses and remain optimistic that everything will turn out just fine… in fact I’m sure it will. I would love to continue to sell through Amazon, but if it isn’t in the cards, so be it, it’s really Amazon’s choice.

And on a personal note, I sell very few copies of my own books through Amazon. I suggest that if you’re an author, get your hands on a few copies of your book and sell them direct on your website. You’ll make more money, you’ll grow your own customer list, and (most of all) you’re not as affected by the whims of retail outlets who can change their terms at a moment’s notice.

But that’s just me.

I used to wonder how people, famous writers, could churn out so many words, publish so many stories… their creative output was tremendous. “Stop watching TV,” I’d hear. But try as I might, I couldn’t seem to turn off that little tube and fire up the computer.

Sure, I’d make it a week of television-free living, maybe two, but then the lure of sweeps inevitably plunked me back into a couch potato, mindlessly watching the same drivel over and over.

But then one day a shift began. As I studied metaphysics, as I began to delve into things spiritual, as I became fascinated with mindset, the law of attraction, and other faiths, my television time naturally decreased as my reading/listening time increased. The more I read, the more I wanted to understand. The more I wanted to understand, the less time I had for the inane antics of imaginary characters in the latest sit-com.

In the best possible sense, my vacuous television time was replaced with something better… something I wanted more than finding out the latest outcome on the latest cliff-hanger. And as a result, my writing output skyrocketed. And with more writing output, I finished more assignments. As I finished assignments, my income reflected that activity.

It’s all connected, it follows a natural path.

Writing is, and should always be your greatest joy. If it isn’t, you really ought to reevaluate your ultimate goal in life.

The old saying is truly correct: Follow your bliss.

It really is that simple.

It’s been a huge day. I updated FilbertPublishing.com as well as 3Chix.com. What a lotta work!

Filbert’s getting too big again so I figure I’ll take down some back issues and place the articles in the “articles” section. I know. I should be able to update the site one page at a time, but XSite Pro doesn’t allow that. It carefully saves all 174 pages (very slowly I must add) and updates each one as well.

Drives me nuts sometimes.

However, I do appreciate the easy updating, plug and play. Guess that’s the price you pay for ease of use, eh?

I do recommend XSite. Just be aware that as your site grows, it will stagger under the weight of too many pages.

Hey, my dear son is uploading a cool Jake and Rudie video to YouTube. I’ll post it when he gets ‘er up.

How exciting…

Talk later,

Beth

So… how will this tidbit of information affect the next article you write? Think you’ll approach your next sales letter a little different? How ’bout the novel?

Interesting stuff here:

http://www.informatics-review.com/FAQ/reading.html

Talk later!

Beth