Jennifer Becton's Blog, page 7
February 13, 2017
Writer: Know, Like, and Be Thyself
I debated how to start off this series. Do I begin with a-nuts-and-bolts planning-your-novel post? Or do I begin with a voice post?
I’ve decided to begin with voice because voice involves self-awareness. And planning your novel is personal and individual. If you don’t know who you are, you won’t be able to plan your novel to suit your personality. Make sense?
So, when it comes to writing a novel your way, we’re really talking about that difficult-to-define idea of “voice.”
What is voice?
There are tons of definitions out there, but in my mind, voice is the author being herself. It’s you being you. It’s picking the subjects, settings, and characters that thrive in your imagination. It’s using words the way you use words.
People struggle to find their unique voice, but your voice is already inside you. What holds you back from sharing your unique ideas with the world?
Fear.
What will people say when they find out that you secretly fantasize about delicious men or that you sometimes plot the perfect murder in your mind? What if you’re not creative enough? Or funny enough? That is fear talking, and fear will rob you of your voice.
Be yourself. Even if your as nerdy as this guy.In order to write a novel with your authentic voice, three things are required. First, you must know who you are. Second, you must like who you are. Third, you must show who you are.
Who Am I? The answers to questions like those listed below will set you apart from other writers in your genre and will give you clues about how you will prefer to organize your writing process.
As a person?
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
Do you prefer to plan in advance or wing it?
Do you require quiet to work, or do you listen to music?
What are your favorite hobbies?
Favorite vacation spot?
What is your oddest interest?
If you could be doing anything right now, what would it be?
As a reader and a writer?
What types of books do you like to read? (Not what books do you feel you ought to read, but what books do you love to read.)
What are your most and least favorite types of plots?
What themes do you enjoy and which do you detest?
Favorite and least favorite characters?
Seriously, sit down and make a list of what you love and hate in books because if you begin to feel insecure about your voice, the first thing that will happen is that you will begin to write what you hate. Stop it immediately!
Do I Like Who I Am?
At the risk of turning this into a ra-ra blog, let me just say that most people have struggled with self-esteem at some point. Embrace who you are, fix what you want to fix, but use your unique qualities to your advantage! Everyone has something unique and different to bring to the book world. But you cannot bring this special something if you dislike those aspects of yourself that are different.
Before you can write a novel in your own unique voice, you have to accept your quirks and foibles. You have to like what sets you apart. Your oddities, flaws, and wacky humor are exactly what will set you apart from other writers and help display your true voice.
What if you don’t like yourself so much? You will be tempted to adopt the voices of other writers you admire, and your voice will disappear from the page. And really, why bother writing a whole book if it mimics somebody else? Be yourself.
Do I Flaunt It?
If you know who you are and like who you are, then be who you are. Everywhere. In public, in private, on paper. When starting a novel, new writers (and not so new ones too) become afflicted by “Great American Novel syndrome.” This is their dream! It’s serious business. As a result, they put so much pressure on themselves to write an “important” book that they freeze up and write the most inauthentic, boring text ever. Or worse, they never finish.
As you begin planning your first novel, pretend that no one will ever read it. Write your novel to please yourself. Make it wacky, ridiculous, sexy, audacious…whatever you want. If you write only for yourself, your voice will be real.
This post was adapted from content I originally published at Indie Jane.
February 7, 2017
February 6, 2017
Dead Inside: Chapter 16
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Dead Inside Snap ch 16
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February 4, 2017
January 31, 2017
Photo: Sunset Clause Timeline
A photo posted by Jennifer Becton (@jenniferbecton) on Jan 31, 2017 at 1:08pm PST
January 30, 2017
I Am Frank Churchill and an Invitation: My First Video
Holidays with Jane: Will You Be Mine? on Kindle*: http://amzn.to/2kKQHXB
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How to Write a Novel YOUR Way
When people discover that I write for a living, they either look at me as if they are questioning my life choices, or they ask if I think they should write a book too.
Writing a novel is a long and difficult process, but it’s supposed to be fun. If you don’t have a passion for writing, then find another passion to pursue. It’s okay. Be true to yourself and don’t allow outside forces—even well-meaning outside forces—to pressure you into writing something you don’t truly love.
If you aren’t passionate about your subject, genre, and characters, then the book is going to seem less like fun and more like working on a chain gang.
In order to write an authentic novel, you have to be true to yourself at all times, from beginning to end. So let’s start that the very beginning.
Step 1: Making the Decision to Write
Before you write a novel, you must want to do it. Sounds obvious, doesn’t it? But strangely enough, personal desire often gets overlooked in the decision-making process. Here’s a handy flow chart to help you:
You smell where I’m stepping?
If you do not have a burning desire to write a novel, if you don’t love books, if you didn’t dream of writing as a child, if you don’t already compose stories in your head, then don’t let yourself get talked into tackling such a huge project.
If you do meet any or all of the above qualifications, then make the commitment to start and finish your novel.
Okay, decision made. How do I get started?
Open up a blank document and start writing.
Need more direction? Well, that’s what the rest of this series will do. We’ll discuss everything from creating a writing process that works for your individual needs to embracing your authentic authorial voice. We’ll go from rough draft to publication. Alpha to omega.
Happy Writing!
This post was adapted from content I originally published at Indie Jane.
January 26, 2017
Sunset Clause Sneak Peek
WARNING: This document is unedited and could contain mindless typos. Uncorrected advanced proof for online viewing only. Material and/or information herein is not in its final form and should not be further disseminated. The characters and events in this book are fictitious or used fictitiously. Any similarity to real people, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Sunset Clause Ch 1 Sneak Peek
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January 23, 2017
Dead Inside: Chapter 15
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Dead Inside Snap ch 15
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January 9, 2017
Dead Inside: Chapter 14
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dead-inside-snap-ch-14
Thank you for reading this SnapStories installment of Dead Inside by J. W. Becton.
The Next Installment of Dead Inside will become available January 23!
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