need to know?

[adelaidesean]

Take a look at Robert J Sawyer's "Eight Things New Writers Need To Know".

Not a response to my ever-evolving 10.5 Commandments post, but a list of things I really wish I'd been told 17 years ago, when I first set out on this crazy adventure.

Every word is gold. It amazes me, for instance, how often people forget numbers 6 and 8. (No one here is guilty of it, I'm sure!)

Thanks to the gang at the Writers of the Future Contest for e-printing this great piece from the contest anthology, Volume XXII.

Comments

[stephen-dedman.livejournal.com]

But I take it you wouldn't necessarily agree with Number Three?

[benpeek.livejournal.com]

i love number six. heh. i dunno if i'd go along with that, though, but i figure if you read any body of work, you'll read award winning stuff.

like stephen, i am curious to how you see number three, tho.

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Actually, I completely agree with him. Fan fiction is, for the most part, a waste of time for anyone hoping to make a career out of *original* writing. The professional writer's job (well, one of them) is to establish a unique brand (which I felt I had done already before taking on the Star Wars gig). I can't think of a writer off the top of my head who continues a solo career that began with media writing.

Of course, it's not impossible that someone out there has broken all these guidelines and is a roaring success for it. That wouldn't surprised me at all, because there are always exceptions. That doesn't undermine the advice, though, imho. I don't think Robert is talking utter absolutes here. I hope. :-)

Neither is he disdaining media writing. He's just urging caution and advising people not to think it's an easy route to megastardom. That it most definitely ain't.

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

See my reply. Does it make sense?

[benpeek.livejournal.com]

yeah, works for me.

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of new writers forget No.1 and are devestated if just one person dislikes their writing. Not everyone is going to be a fan.

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Yes, and no matter who you are or what you write, *someone* will absolutely love your work. Someone other than your Mum, I mean. :-)

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Of course, you have to find them. But, rejection is part of the process. Get used to it. Everyone has to find their niche. Also a lot of new writers (in every field I can think of, not just SF), forget that you have to have something to say. In the end, EM Forster said it best: "only connect". That is the whole point of any endevour, big or small, literature or painting or whatever.

Also, I think no. 6 should include reading OUTSIDE the SF area. Good writing is everywhere. Reading great stuff outside your field of interest can show you new ways to look at things, how to explore different ideas.

And any aspiring SF writer should be made to sit down and read all the short stories of Cordwainer Smith.

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Also, I think no. 6 should include reading OUTSIDE the SF area.

I absolutely, totally agree.

And any aspiring SF writer should be made to sit down and read all the short stories of Cordwainer Smith.

I did read one, back when I was aspiring and all, but didn't take it any further. Whoops.

The Forster quote is a great one. Thanks for introducing me to it. It underlies every guide to communication, whether it's about the written word or sculpture, art or just chatting. When we forget it, we're lost.

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Glad you like the quote. It's a favourite, and is indeed aboutthe essence of all art and all life. Need any more good quotes? I have lots. I have a database of them....(how very librarian of me).

Another favourite quote about writing is this one from Rainer Maria Rilke

If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself, tell yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches.

I remind myself of this whenever I think my life is boring.

Try and read more Cordwainer Smith. It is worth it. Thre stories you should try to read are "The Colonel came back from the Nothing at All", "the Lady that sailed the Soul", and Ralpha Alpha Boulevard". I 'd lend you my copy of the short stories, but you're in Adelaide and it's very heavy. It's the NESFA edition. Brillant production.

[damienw]

You can drop by and raid the S section of the "library" sometime...

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I might just do that.

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Failing that, I could photocopy a few of the stories for you and send them via snail mail. Or http://www.cordwainer-smith.com/

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Oh, I forgot, one ofthe most perverse stories I've ever read is "Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons"......

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

That's the one I read, way back when. I promise I'll track down more, once things quieten down a tad (around April, the way things are going).

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

I'm holding you to it. If I remember in April, of course. Great story isn't it?

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

It has certainly stuck in my mind, and that's a good sign from 15-odd years ago.

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

The first Cordwainer Smith I ever read was at uni, in a anthology of short stories (I forget the title, something like Fantastic Beasts). It was called "The Game of Rat and Dragon", about the planoforming ships and the humans and cats who guard them from the Pyschic terrors of space. That 's one of things I love about his stories. Space is hugely dangerous on a psychic level (as well as a physical one) to humans. Severals stories are about this: "Count two, think blue", "Scanners live in vain", Game of Rat and Dragon" and "The Colonel came back from the-Nothing-At-All". And like LeGuin (who he influenced), the essential core of his work is the question of what exactly a human is.

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

the essential core of his work is the question of what exactly a human is

Well, that explains why a recent "Which SF Writer Are You?" quiz (see here (http://deborahb.livejournal.com/163021.html) for a link) said that I was most like Cordwainer Smith.

I retract my harsh words herewith and redouble my promise to read more. It does sound interesting.

Boo

[ceret.livejournal.com]

Hey Sean!

The chances of you remembering me are slim to none, but we were on a panel together at a Brisbane Writers' Festival panel a coupla years back. I forget the topic. Something about writing novels, or things that are adaptations I suppose. Anyhoo, it's just been pointed out to me that you have a LJ and I thought I'd friend you. Hope that's cool.

Craig.

Re: Boo

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Cool as anything. Sorry about the late reply!

My memory is shocking at the best of times, but I do recall that I'd had my wisdom teeth out a couple of days before that festival, so I'm playing that card now. :-)