For those that struggle with plotting your novels, you can now watch The Secret to Making Plotting Easier.
It’s a recording of the hour-long lecture of goodness I delivered to an audience of over 140 writers at Life, The Universe and Everything last week.
I’m happy to report that when it was over, a number of those in audience gushed quite profusely about how helpful it was.
Enjoy!
This is J. K. Rowling’s 2008 Harvard commencement speech, “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination.” It’s one of the best speeches I’ve ever heard. Watch and then watch again. Read the full text here.
Two quotes that in no way can do justice to the whole thing.
And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.
You might never fail on the scale I did, but some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.
. . .
Though I personally will defend the value of bedtime stories to my last gasp, I have learned to value imagination in a much broader sense. Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and therefore the fount of all invention and innovation. In its arguably most transformative and revelatory capacity, it is the power that enables us to empathise with humans whose experiences we have never shared.
One of the greatest formative experiences of my life preceded Harry Potter, though it informed much of what I subsequently wrote in those books.
Brandon asked me to substitute for him on March 1st and teach the students about indie publishing. For those of you who were there, here are the slides.
2018 Sanderson Class – Indie Publishing Final PDF
To start the presentation, I regaled the students with a surprise: my epic-fantasy-BYU-newbie-author version of the classic Fiddler on the Roof song which I called “If I Were Published.” Dylan Rowe, a student in the class with some serious violin chops, practiced with me in secret, then accompanied me during the performance. He was great. And the performance went well. We all had a great time. There’s a recording. Once I get it, I’ll post it here.
Here’s how it went.
Isaac introduced me. I said how happy I was to be there. I then asked for a show of hands: who was hoping to be published. Not all did, BTW. Some were taking the course for other reasons. I then said that the sight of such a vast assemblage of unpublished writers made me think of someone else. I displayed the slide of Tevye dancing. They all laughed, and I knew this was going to be a good crowd.
And then Dylan, who was hiding off to the side, played the phrase for “If I were a rich man” and I put on my own black Tevye hat. There was more laughter and surprise, and I began.
Dear Lord, you made many, many unpublished writers.
I realize, of course, that it’s no shame to be unpublished
But it’s no great honor, either.
So what would have been so terrible if I had one small best-selling series?
[Dylan began to play and I began to sing]
If I were published,
Yaba dibba dibba dibba digguh deedle daidle dum.
All day long I’d biddy-biddy-bum
If I were a published man
Wouldn’t have to work hard,
Yaba dibba dibba dibba digguh deedle daidle dum.
If I were a biddy biddy pub
digguh deedle daidle published man
I’d write a big long epic–hundreds of characters!
Swords and dragons and a lot of gore
A snot-nosed lad who was prophesied for the fight
There’d be a quest to one far side of the map
And one to find a lovely ancient lore
And one more leading out into the blight
[I paused here, to think, then sang the tune to the last line again with the first four of these]
To meet a sprite,
and a dark knight,
with an old birth right,
read by moon light,
that … cures snake bite.
[Dylan produced a big scratch. I covered my eyes in shame.]
Oy! Bad story development.
I’d see my wife, my Nellie,
Looking like a rich man’s wife,
with a proper golden skin,
rolling out the yoga mats to her heart’s delight.
I’d see her driving the kids
in something other than a minivan
Oy! What a happy mood she’s in!
Posting perfect selfies to day and night.
Hordes of bright-eyed zoobie writers will come to fawn on me.
They will ask me to advise them,
like Sanderson the Wise.
“If you please, Mister Brown?”
“Pardon me, Mister Brown?”
Posing problems that would cross a Shakespeare’s eyes
Ya da dee da dum, ya dah da dum
And it won’t make one bit of difference
if I answer right or wrong.
When you’re published they think you really know.
If I were published, I’d have the time that I lack
to go to the temple and to pray,
seated in a corner of the celestial room.
And I would serve on projects building Enoch’s Zion
from here to Africa and beyond.
And that would be the sweetest thing of all
Oy!
If I were pub-lished.
Yaba dibba dibba dibba digguh deedle daidle dum.
All day long I’d biddy-biddy-bum
if I were a published man.
Wouldn’t have to work hard.
Yaba dibba dibba dibba digguh deedle daidle dum.
Lord who made the lion and the lamb,
You decreed I should be what I am.
Would it spoil some vast, eternal plan,
if I were a pub-lished man?
I took a bunch of copies as my books as gifts to support the good cause of entertaining hard-working students. But there was a twist. To get a book, they had to pay me one limerick. It could be about anything and of any quality. But it needed to be a limerick. They had, like, 5 minutes to write one at the end. Thirty-three souls came up with the payment. Here they are for your enjoyment.
1.
A writer, a publisher, and a poet,
And now, wouldn’t you know it,
They’re debating a comma,
and imagine the drama,
When they’re divided on just how to cull it
2.
There once was a class of fiction
Which had a stranger take up his position
He was quite amusing
He kept them from snoozing
For he had quite a talent for diction.
3.
John Brown’s book could be greatness
I hope it’ll be a hit, not a miss
Your lecture was great,
It did not stagnate
I hope you will great me my wish! (to get your book)
4.
I want to write a book that is fun
where an evil something kills someone
And the people will fail
‘Til the heroes prevail
But I fear I will never be done.
5.
I’m trying to write my own book.
But, if you now went to look
I fear you will find
It’s all in my mind
But, oh – all the effort it took!
6.
There once was a poodle named Paddle
whose fur was cut into a saddle
until in the park
he ate too much bark
And now his tight fur is a battle.
7.
There was a young woman whose head
Had eyes that looked dead
As boys approached her,
Her sharp tongue they started to stir
Filling others with dread
8.
A poet sat twiddling his thumbs
He felt his ideas were dumb.
He was lacking in time
But just couldn’t rhyme
So he loosened his thoughts with some rum.
9.
“In honor of your song”
“You know I’d really love to be published
Oh, the glam and the glory I would relish
The hordes of fans my mind’s eye can see-
Sanderson with John Brown bowing to me –
And don’t (?) tell me my dreams are embellished”
10.
Homework I do not much like, you see
But for your book a lim’rick it be
and so i must do,
with great thanks to you,
this my small bit of lame poetry
11.
There once was a boy named John
Who needed to mow the lawn.
He pulled on the rope
But oh, what a dope!
Alas, the gas was all gone!
12.
Guardian Angel Limerick
I’ve struggled to write since the phone call,
when the maybe’s, the what-if’s turned actual
and the grieving stretched on
till the morn she was gone
and the world lost, but I gained, an angel.
The note with that one: “I was the girl who asked if the limericks had to be funny. Thank you for coming to class and giving us the books. I’ve included my limerick below. My mother passed away a couple weeks ago. This is my tribute to my loudest cheerleader and my harshest critic.” Boy, I’m definitely honored to have this one.
13.
There was a young man from Pocatello
Who thought that he was a brave fellow
But one dark, dark night
He took quite a fright,
And found that he was quite, quite yellow.
14.
There once was a sorcerer bloke
Who traveled outside for a smoke
He yawned, “curse this day”
And that is to say
The incantation now was spoke
15.
There once was a ship fresh-moored
With my favorite couple on board
But despite the large fanon
It was destroyed by the canon
And my ship, sunk quick, sailed no more
16.
There once was a sad unicorn
Who had tragically lost his gold horn
And thus ran away
and still to this day,
He stands but a horse all forlorn
17.
There once was a grandma so old
on her birthday she had a bad cold
as she blew out her candles
her kids yelled, “Mad scandal!”
as her dentures flew into the mould
18.
There once was a cat named caterer
who keeps running into the mirror
we got her some glasses
form the shopping masses
and now she sees everything clearer
19.
There once was a dust speck named Mike
Who lived on the edge of a spike.
He was bumped off that edge,
then snagged on some sedge,
ending up on the wheel of a bike
20.
I am a cat who is hip.
Who likes to shoot from the lip.
My songs are all crude.
My stories are lewd.
I like to make reality flip.
21.
There once was a bunny named Mopey
Who had friends that were silly and dopey.
They hopped on a train
That took them to Maine
Where someone threw them in a bath that was soapy
22.
I want something to teach me to cook
but this sure and that kind of a book
but bore shadiz tes (yeah, couldn’t read it, dang it)
and this sure seems fair
So now I guess I should take a look
23.
There once was a man named John
Who put his books out to pawn
Some students one day,
Wrote limericks to say,
“We love your free books–give us one.”
24.
My mother wanted to get a book,
And she gave me that terrible look.
A limerick the price,
I wrote one down twice,
So please give me that sought after book.
25.
There once was a man named Lam
Who like to eat lots of Spam.
When the aliens came
He cooked them a meal
And so his soul they did not steal
26.
There once was a tiger named Ted
He went to town in a bed.
Jeep in the rustle
He spotted a tussle
And now he has bumps on his head.
27.
Once I tried writing haiku;
it seemed like a fun thing to do.
But I fumbled the timing,
and couldn’t stop rhyming,
and now this haiku is just poo.
28.
Once I was writing a sonnet
But my paper hand not a word on it.
I sat there confused,
My talents unused,
Because nothing else rhymes except “bonnet”.
29.
I love me a good paper book
But the digital have a nice look
Shopped for a kindle all day,
Tried to buy on eBay,
But, somehow I just have a Nook.
30.
There once was a man with pink hair
And all he ever got were rude stares.
He said, “I know that I’m hot.
There’s no need to gawk.
Goodbye.” And left with great flair.
31.
There once was a lobster named Clyde
Who was inexplicably snide.
But he had some bad luck,
from the sea he was plucked
and now he’s been battered and fried.
32.
I was once walking home on the street
When a woman, I happened to meet
I said to her, “Hey.”
She said to me, “Nay.”
So I went out and bought me a treat.
33.
Tetris is the very best game
My playing will put you to shame
See… I am the best
Put it to the test
One day it may lead me to fame.
SFWA has asked M.C.A. Hogarth to head up the new self-publishing committee. Hogarth posted about this and asks:
So here’s my question for those of you who self-publish, either entirely or as a hybrid author: what services would you look for in a professional organization? What would make you say, “Wow, that’s worth $90 a year, sign me up?”
I applaud SFWA’s move. And the many good things SFWA has done in the past. However, as an indie and SFWA member, here’s what would interest me: Business.
That’s with a big B.
That means . . .
Distribution into brick and mortar venues. So indie authors can get on the Ingram’s catalog. Big whoop. The retailer still has to order. If SFWA was able to facilitate the sales function in some way, that alone would be worth it.
One idea is a SFWA catalog of vetted work. I don’t know how you’d vet. Maybe some certain sales and revenue level. And revenue would have to be part of it. Brick and Mortar isn’t going to be interested in stocking the person who “sold” 50,000 units but only made $300 because 99% of them were free downloads.
You might also consider the back lists of authors with work that was once published that has been brought back indie style. So a catalog of that includes new stuff and a section for the back list. Quality and popular indie work.
BTW, this catalog would ALSO go to libraries.
Education in cover design AND art direction. Maybe adding this to an awards category chosen NOT by the general membership but art pros.
The Nebulas recognize author’s who sell. But what about recognizing those who are author-publishers, what about recognizing and celebrating quality and achievement in the key elements of publishing?
Education in Marketing that has actually been tested and shows positive ROI. Not a bunch of articles about bookmarks and conventions. Real ROI.
Interior formatting. Principles. Awards.
News. What’s new on the indie front. New markets etc.
Selling foreign rights as an indie with and without an agent.
What about an award like RWA’s Golden Heart, but for indie books? Or make indies more inclusive in the Nebulas.
A vendor forum where folks who provide services to indie authors (editors, artists, etc) can be listed and rated, GoodReads style, but only by SFWA members.
And two things I have submitted to SFWA before as a trad pub author.
Education and discussion of contracts and contract terms. What’s current. What’s alarming. I get more off of Kris Rusch’s blog than the professional organization I belong to. I should be giving my $90 bucks to Kris. What the heck?
Education and discussion of current contract rates. Same as above. For a professional organization to not have data on current rates for novels is a real head-scratcher.
How is it that Tobias Buckell can run a survey, but it never occurs to SFWA to survey and publish annual numbers?
How is it that Brenda Hiatt, the romance writer who does an annual “Show Me The Money” and “Indie Earnings” report, provides more info on Tor advances than SFWA? Romance writers are better organized than any writing group on the planet, but do they need to spank us in our own house?
These last two are no-brainers.
This is a trade organization. These types of things would be a HUGE help.
After a cancerous death, I appeared on Writing Excuses this week to groan and hold forth with the guys on writing second novels and second books in a series.
During the podcast I talked about my practice of debriefing after every writing project. A reader just asked what that was, and so I thought I’d explain it here.
The debrief is a simple thing. I learned it back when I worked as a business consultant. It always provides great insights. Sometimes it provides massive insights. The principle is to pull back and look at the big picture every once in a while. So here’s what I do. When I finish a project, I sit down and simply list out what I struggled with, what went well, and anything I learned. I list out things I’d do again that worked particularly well and things I’d do differently. This might be about craft or process. Sometimes I might take some time to reflect on the nature of story and read a favorite book about the craft or perform a story analysis on another movie or book. Then I write up my insights in a form that I can read later and know what the heck I’m talking about. This can take a few hours or a few days. This last debrief after draft 3 of CURSE coincided with my preparation for a day-long workshop I had agreed to give on story, and so the insights came thick and fast. I recommend the practice highly.
Here’s Joseph Finder, a NY Times best-selling author, talking about how he studied his craft, why he uses outlines, and what he decided about four-letter words and why.
I had the same reaction when my daughter came to me wanting to read my stuff. I’ve never heard of Joseph Finder–there are soooo many authors these days. But I can tell you I’m going to pick up one of his books to see what he’s all about.
One of the most basic way of coming up with story ideas is to take a familiar story or thing, list out what’s commonly associated with it, then start changing some of those elements.
For example, you list out all the normal things for vampires–the coffins, black, bats, sucking blood, etc.–then you begin to twist. What if the vampire wears, instead of black, some styling plaid? What if it isn’t a person but a rabbit (whoops, that one’s been done)? What if instead of gothic places like catherals you find him in a trailer park? What if instead of being dangerously suave, he’s a drunk?
Do you see? You can do this with anything.
In this interview, Matthew Sturges talks about how he did just that with the movie The Dirty Dozen and ended up with with Midwinter, a novel about prisoners given another chance. According to Sturges, “In the case of Midwinter, the beginning of the story was, ‘What is prison like in Faery?'”
Read the whole interview. I think you’ll find it enlightening.
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I always love your presentations. You put things so clearly. Thank you for sharing this!
Happy to hear it helped.
I may never write a story, but I really enjoyed watching this. I wish I had come across something this good decades ago.
If I can keep someone who isn’t planning on writing a story hooked, that presentation must have been doing something right 🙂