by Shari Held
I recently had the good fortune to hear Nina Sadowsky, author of thrillers Just Fall and Burial Society speak at the Indiana Chapter of Romance Writers Association. This author knows her business. She's been a film and television producer and writer most of her career as well as an entertainment lawyer and now an adjunct professor, teaching producing and writing, at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Art.
Sadowsky is also an engaging speaker, drawing humor from even serious subjects such as sexism and ageism in Hollywood. She recalls attending a business meeting as a producer and realizing she no longer fit the standards for being taken seriously in Hollywood - she didn't have a penis and she wasn't getting any younger. Since she didn't plan on having a sex change and didn't possess a magical formula for turning back the clock, she said "adieu" to producing and began writing thrillers. Her first book is being turned into an original series for STARZ - and of course, she's writing the screenplays!
Sadowsky packed a lot of information into her two-hour presentation. Here are a few tips fellow authors should find helpful.
Tip # 1 - Write what you know about emotionally, and then build upon that with research and extrapolation. It's what you've experienced emotionally that counts.
Tip # 2 - Begin with a theme. Find the universal truth of your story (e.g. man against nature) and create a one-sentence statement that tells what your story is about. Tape this to your computer to help you stay on theme.
Tip # 3 - Prepare yourself to write. Open your channels of creativity prior to each writing session. Try a few things and see what works best for you - yoga, meditation, music, etc. It's different for everyone.
Tip # 4 - Once you're prepared, show up and do your work. Treat writing like a 9 to 5 job. That's the most important thing and one of the most challenging things you can do as a writer.
Tip # 5 - Protect your time. Once you've set a writing schedule, don't let anything or anyone interfere with it.
Tip # 6 - Make character sheets for all the main characters and even minor ones that appear in only one chapter if their interaction with the main character is meaningful. A fully fleshed-out character sheet can reach up to 100 pages. This is especially essential for a series. Doing the work upfront will save you time and frustration during the writing process.
Tip # 7 - The two things your protagonist must be are: relatable and active. An active protagonist makes things happen! A relatable protagonist draws your reader into the story.
Tip # 8 - Make the audience work for information. Tease them with just enough to get their attention. Knowing when to withhold and when to reveal information is an essential skill for a writer. This is one place where character sheets are essential.
Tip # 9 - Clarity and brevity is the best way to communicate.
Tip # 10 - Choose critique partners who don't feel obligated to love everything you write. Your best friend, partner and mother will find it difficult to be impartial. And honesty is what you most need from a critique. Learn how to take criticism you receive from your critique partners. Don't shut down. You must be open to criticism if you want to improve your work.
Shari Held is the co-author of Indianapolis, IN: A Photographic Portrait. She is a contributor to The Fine Art of Murder
No comments:
Post a Comment