Guest Post: Jennifer R. Hubbard on Keeping Focused
Jennifer R. Hubbard is the author of the young-adult novel, The Secret Year, a lovely book with one of the best portrayals I’ve read of a teenage boy who chooses not to share his feelings. If you want to read a great story and see really strong use of point of view, pick up a copy. Jennifer is also one of the most intelligent bloggers I’ve found to read; her discussions of the writing craft and writing process always get me thinking. She blogs at http://jenniferrhubbard.blogspot.com/ and http://writerjenn.livejournal.com/.
When Jennifer said that she was looking for bloggers to swap posts with, I jumped at the chance. Here’s Jennifer’s post–enjoy!
Keeping Focused
There are millions of writing tips floating around: in books, at conferences, on the internet. Reviewers offer lists of what they want to see more and less of. The market offers its own pressures (Vampires are it! No, werewolves! No, angels! etc. …) A writer can sit down with a head stuffed full of write-every-day/kill-the-adverbs/raise-the-stakes/begin-at-the-beginning/ditch-the-prologue/don’t-go-straight-to-flashback/switch-present-to-past-tense, and so on and so on.
For me, the best use of tips and advice is as a toolbox from which I may, at any time, need to select a tool. Of all the tips floating around, one will be the one I need to hear at that moment; it will help me fix the particular problem in front of me. A week from now, I’ll have a different problem and need a different tool. I concentrate on one thing at a time.
As for the lists of what we should and shouldn’t write about–well, they call to mind the anecdotes writers tell about well-meaning friends who say, “You know what you should write about?” or “I’ve got a great idea for a story!” We all know we can’t write those stories. We write the stories that set off a blaze inside us, stories whose energy will drive us through the long rigorous process of drafting, multiple revisions, critique and review. When too many external voices compete for our attention and we’re no longer sure what to write, we can turn our eyes to the inner flame, and ask ourselves: What lit that spark? What keeps it glowing?
beckylevine.com 
21 Comments
Great advice! As much as I’ve learned from blogging and reading advice on the internet, sometimes it gets to be a bit much. That’s when I like to pull out a notebook and a pencil and just write. If a story sparks me enough to write by hand, it’s a good one 🙂
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It does get overwhelming. The answer–what works for you–is vague, but true, I think. And then remembering that, like Jenn says, what works for you once may or may not do it the next time! Keeping that toolbox open. 🙂
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That’s so often what writing is like anyway–pulling a thread out of life’s quilt and saying, “This one is my story. This is what I want to write about.”
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Thanks for hosting me, Becky, and for your lovely words!
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Thanks for the post, Jenn.
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Tis true, there is a lot of writing advice floating about; but for the most part, I am hugely thankful for it. I have no complaints. It has encouraged me, taught me, made me laugh, and helped me at each stage of the game to push to the next level.
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Good for you, Laura. 🙂
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I’m thankful too; it’s a resource that is there whenever we need it.
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We all know we can’t write those stories. We write the stories that set off a blaze inside us, stories whose energy will drive us through the long rigorous process of drafting, multiple revisions, critique and review.
You got that right, Jennifer!
Thanks Becky for doing the post swap. I’ll have to drop by and check yours out, now.
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Well, I haven’t written it yet, but there’s always good stuff at Jenn’s blog, so you should swing by, anyway. 🙂
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Thanks, Joyce! And I’ll be hosting Becky before too long. 🙂
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Well said. Advice can get overwhelming and we all see instances of the exception to the rule…or at least I do every time I read a book. Sure know the rules, but also know your gut. Write. Have fun.
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Exactly. 🙂
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Yes, the exceptions are another whole matter. Writing guidelines just aren’t one-size-fits-all-every-time.
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Marvelous post, Becky. Thanks for sharing Jenn’s wise words with us!
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It’s a pleasure. 🙂
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Thank you!
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Thanks for sharing Jean’s wise words with us, Becky. If we don’t write what we’re passionate about, we’ll have nothing to offer.
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That’s for sure!
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To some extent we absorb the rules, but we still let the pulse of the story be heard!
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[…] “You know what you should write about?” or “I’ve got a great idea for a story!”: Keeping Focused by Jennifer R. Hubbard (Becky […]
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