Too Much Talk of Business Can Kill the Writing Spirit

This week I listened to children's book author Tim Myers speak to a room of 75 writers from the California Writers Club South Bay in Sunnyvale, CA. Myers is the author and co-author of over a dozen books, including Basho and the Fox, Tanuki's Gift, Let's Call Him Lau-Wiliwili-Humuhum and a chapbook of poetry. Tim talked about The Art of the Writing Life, and while he said many funny and interesting things, the gem of his speech came near the end of the hour when he said the following:

If you spend too much time on the business of writing, your success will be defined by numbers, whereas if you make sure to keep that inner fire stoked, and define yourself by your passion for writing, you'll live a much richer and less exasperating existence.

The advice at first seems like one of those expensive scientific studies that proves what everybody already knows. Yet if you've been writing for any length of time, you understand the importance of Tim's sentiment. Most of us start writing from a humble place. We write for the joy of doing so and have no expectations of getting published.

But as the years go on, we figure we should be getting published, because if we don't, we must really be awful. So we research markets, learn how many submissions publishers receive a month and practice query letters. A few more years down the line, after some publication successes and with big prizes dangling before out eyes — book deals, fellowships, contest prizes — we get overwhelmed by the business of writing. We read that all successful writers have websites, so we make one. We know you're supposed to blog, so we do. We learn about book trailers, the need to spread the word via the Internet, how many books need to be sold to pay off an advance, the necessity of doing speaking gigs. And before you know it, what's happened?

We've pushed ourselves out of the internal act of expressing the joy that comes from deep inside, the very reason we got into writing in the first place. As Tim said, "At what point do you stop knowing your audience and start pandering to your audience" by trying to produce what's marketable based on demographics and trends rather than writing the story that thrills your heart.

Therefore, here's a thanks to Tim for reminding us that our conviction for writing — that sense of we must — is what gives our life shape and meaning.

"There is beauty and goodness in anyone who lives the writing lifestyle in any form," Tim said.

That said, happy writing!

Make Yourself Squirm

The Buff Writer: Workout #21

Last week I found myself waiting with my two teenage kids in the reception area of a doctor's office. I picked up the local paper, read the front page headline and told my son, "You should read this. This is our country changing." The story was about how the California Supreme Court opened the door for same-sex couples to legally marry.

The receptionist behind the counter, a woman in her late sixties, stood up, dropped her normal soft-spoken manner and said, "I think it's just digusting."

I was not only surprised she would insert herself in an almost whispered conversation between my son and I, but that she would do so with such obvious passion. Since she and I apparently differed in opinion, I felt a surge of anger and so said with what I hoped was a smile of defusion, "Well, we need never talk of the subject again." She understood my meaning and we both smiled and made the type of small talk necessary to return the situation to impersonal and neutral.

Unfortunately, I realized almost immediately that no sooner had a door of opportunity sprung open than I slammed it shut, an appalling reaction, given I'm a trained journalist. The only explanation I can offer is that when I'm on the job, I set aside my feelings and am ready to receive what others have to say, whereas this time I was off duty, and apparently off guard, too.

Rarely do people hand over their true feelings and emotions unless they sense you share their point of view. If true, neither learns anything new. Whereas if the person shares an opposing view, and you're open to hearing her reasons, you'll learn another perspective. And why, as a writer, should you seek to learn new perspectives? So you can develop characters who are different from you in actions and thought rather than being clones. Following another person's reasoning also teaches you to think out your own character's reasoning so you'll understand his/her feelings and actions.

In my case case, had I tamped down my own reaction faster, I could have asked — in a respectful way that communicated I wanted to know what she thought — the woman would have answered my questions and indirectly given me a wealth of information about her background, fears, the culture in which she was raised, etc.

So for this workout, find someone who has an opposing point of view about a subject that makes you squirm and ask them the reasons behind their opinion. Remember:

• drop your anger
• refrain from judgment
• open your mind
• ask to learn, rather than persuade

Write about what you learn.

Need some help because you don't have a journalism background like I do?

Conducting an Interview

How to Interview Someone About a Sensitive Topic

Have you ever asked someone for an opposing viewpoint? Did the person comply? What did you learn? I'd love to know!

Happy writing!