Today, I welcome a very talented writer who is also my blog buddy, Author Alex . J. Cavanaugh. Alex is one of the most generous of bloggers, and a selfless writer I have met online. He is the author of two very successful novels: Cassa Star and Cassa Fire. He is always ready to help other writers. Alex will help make our writing journey easy with many useful tips.Rachna graciously asked me to do a guest post. She was specific with her request – must be writing related. Now, anyone who knows me is aware that my blog is the last place to go for writing tips. If I started posting writing tips it might take some of you years to recover from the damage. So instead I will offer a few things that just might make the journey easier.
Don’t follow trends
Write what you enjoy.
Write the story you want to read, even if it’s not a popular genre right now.
(When I was writing CassaStar, everyone said science fiction was dead. I wrote
it anyway.) The timing may still not be right when you finish, but you can hang
on to it until the trend cycles around again. Besides, if you’re not writing
what you really enjoy, your lack of passion will be evident in the words. If it
doesn’t excite you, it won’t excite anyone else.
Use critique partners
The idea of sharing
our work with others can be scary. But what a difference it makes! Critique
partners are a fresh set of eyes. They can direct you by making suggestions and
finding mistakes. You might not realize you used the word “that” five hundred
times in your manuscript, but your critique partners will notice. And you don’t
just learn from the critique of your work – you learn by critiquing your
partner’s work. Double bonus!
Listen to fans
We’re not just writing
for us – we’re writing for our fans. They become just as invested in the
characters. Plus they are the ones who will fork over the bucks for our next
book. Individual reviews and responses aren’t as important as the overall
picture, though. When the same issue or request is repeated often, take note.
Maybe you’re too detailed or world-build too much. (Maybe you’re like me and
don’t do enough!) Maybe the fans are all hoping you’ll go a certain direction
in the next book. (“There WILL be a female character in the next book, right?”)
Write the story you want but be sure to make the fans happy.
Let your blog be true
to you
Your blog is a
representation of you – your personality, tastes, style and attitude. You need
to be true to yourself on your blog. (Unless those things are all bad. Then you
might have a problem.) Yes, we want people to like us and read our blogs. But
if we’re not posting with passion, no one will care anyway. There’s no standard
formula for a writer or author’s blog, either. (Mine’s about as unconventional
as they come!) Whatever your angle, have fun with it.
Support others
The greatest part of
blogging is the support we get and the support we give. Generosity and encouragement
go a long way. Writing isn’t a competition. There’s room in this world for all
of us. If we’re willing to share in the joys of others without expectation of
reciprocation, it always comes back to us. Supporting others is as simple as
leaving positive comments on other blogs or shouting out someone’s
accomplishment on your own blog. It’s all about friendship and what we’re
willing to give.
Those are the best
writing tips this Ninja can offer! Now, where’s my Hot Tamales?
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and
works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and
worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things
science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games.
Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support
Group. The author of Amazon Best Sellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, he lives in
the Carolinas with his wife.
Thankyou Alex, for sharing your views with us. Here is wishing you loads of success in life.
P.S .If any of you have not yet met Captain Ninja (Alex) you really are missing a wonderful friend. Change that, by following him ASAP.
Rachna, now you know the reason why I love your blog- for presenting new ideas for writing:) A huge thanks for getting such writers as for me writing is just a passion and these ideas are a huge help!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent advice from the captain.
ReplyDeletemood
Thank you, Rachna!
ReplyDeleteAs always, Alex has a great way of getting the truth across. (and he thinks he can't offer writing tips! Pfft!)
ReplyDeleteLove this post!
*Handing over the hot tamales*...
ReplyDeleteThese are all great tips. I especially like the one about not following trends. To add to that thought, by the time you decide to write a book to follow a treand the trend will be passe. Yes, I think you should write the type of book you like to read.
Great advice, especially on the critiques...and if you can't directly reciprocate on a crit (we're not all at the same stage of our novels at the same time) then pay it forward. There are plenty of writers out there!
ReplyDeleteOh critiques are invaluable. Not just for catching the fact I've used that eleventy million times (you read my first story didn't you Alex, lol!) But they're great for finding the holes in the story or letting you know the story hasn't started in the right place or that while the writing is lovely in chapter X it's all backstory. I have a couple of wonderful straight shooters as crit partners. I cringe at the red ink but they're spot on.
ReplyDeleteI think your best tip (although all of them are very good) is don't follow trends and write what you want to read.
Sia McKye OVER COFFEE
Top tips on being true to yourself both in writing and blogging. It would be pretty hard to maintain something you didn't believe in.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice, Alex, thanks! Thanks, Rachna, for hosting him!
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend! :)
Hi friends, Alex's advice is great. Not following trends is something we all should stick to, as by the time our book is done, the trend may have changed. Supporting others and being true to ourselves, both in writing and blogging, is all wonderful advice that will take a writer far in his career.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely weekend.
Lynda, thanks. And I still don't!
ReplyDeleteBrinda, thanks for Hot Tamales.
Sia, my critique partners are awesome.
Nick, exactly.
Thanks for hosting this interview Rachna! These are great tips Alex. Trends change so fast I imagine it's hard to keep up.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely on not writing for trends. They come and go so fast.
ReplyDeleteThose are great tips. I'm glad you posted the tip about blogging.
ReplyDeleteYou make me smile, Alex. :-) Spot on about writing what you love, even though "x genre is dead." Also, I've learned from waiting for the trends to come back around that really, it only gives you more time to enhance your story. It's impossible to not have better ideas for subplots, etc., when it's running about in your head for 3+ years.
ReplyDeleteI so enjoyed your genuine voice : )
ReplyDeleteI agree we have to be invested in our story, otherwise it
Won t work.
Thanks for hosting our favorite ninja
Nice to meet you Rachna
Alex - you're awesome encouragement rocks! Love, love this post. I think it's one of your best guest posts yet.
ReplyDeleteRachna - thanks for hosting Alex!
Love, love, LOVE Alex! He's the best! Great advice, too. I've been writing blog tour guest posts all week & have some of the same exact advice. Nice to know I'm on track.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I don't think there should actually be any such things as "writing tips" beyond
ReplyDelete1. READ
2. WRITE
so... yeah, good stuff with what you did go with.
But don't -always- listen to your fans.
The advice to not follow trends is huge! I think it's tempting but the essence of style comes from knowing what works for you.
ReplyDeleteLC, that's right - gives us time to improve.
ReplyDeleteElla, thank you, and that made me chuckle.
Tyrean, really? Thanks!
Nancy, you are definitely on track.
Andrew, well they didn't help me with the third book, so I'm on my own right now.
No one is more supportive than Alex.
ReplyDeleteof course alex has great advice! all from the heart, too!
ReplyDeletethanks!
Lovely advice Alex; room for us all indeed!
ReplyDeleteAlex, thank you for this guest post, and Rachna, thank you for inviting him.
ReplyDeleteI agree that you have to be true to yourself, whether writing books or blogging. If you don't care about the book you are writing, readers won't either. And yes, feedback from fellow writers is priceless. But all these reminders are great.
Great tips. Alex's generosity and honesty are awesome, as are his blogging and writing skills.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips. Genuine and generous lead the way. Can't go wrong with those.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, if we're not true then it just sounds shallow.
ReplyDeleteThank you, guys!
Great advice...especially the reminder that we've got to listen to our readers! Thanks, Alex. :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent advice!
ReplyDeleteOh goody! Found another great blog. Excellent post by a far too humble Ninja.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. :) Great advice, Alex!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! I think you are so right about not following trends and writing what you enjoy! Great advice.
ReplyDeleteExcellent writing tips Alex. Writing with heart, and passion, and just following your own vision. The rest will come in its own time.
ReplyDelete.......dhole
Thanks so much, everyone. I was worried my tips would be lacking.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Alex & Rachna. I can relate to all those pointers you mention. Having a CP you respect and trust is gold. I really enjoy my blog and that makes me happy and I try to suport and follow others as muc as possible too, subject to time and internet connection. I find feedback invaluable and have found it has helped me mature as a writer and am begining to see that following trends makes everyone simply weary of the whole thing. Wriitng from the heart is what makes things work. Good luck to you both with your writing endeavours as always.
ReplyDeleteI lurve hot tamales. When I go to the movies (once a year, lol) I always buy them. Hot and sweet is the best. Excellent "writing" tips, Alex. I'm hearing "be true to yourself" a lot. I like it.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice regarding supporting others. I've made it a goal to help other writers through my blog, Facebook, Twitter Retweets, and Goodread book recommendations.
ReplyDeleteHelp others and eventually they will reciprocate and give you some face time amongst their followers.
All good tips, Rachna has a good buddy in you!
ReplyDeleteGreat advice. I've recently found a new beta-reader for my books. I had lost one. They're so important.
ReplyDeleteYou are missing your calling, Alex. I think you need to give advice more often! What an excellent post. Now I'm going to follow this blog!
ReplyDeleteHi, Rachna, nice to meet you :)
KarenG
Nice to meet you Rachna!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips from Alex. Simple and to the point.
This is all great advice, Alex, especially about critique partners. I doubt I'd ever have published if not for my wonderful critique group.
ReplyDeleteMadeleine, it only works when it comes from a place of passion.
ReplyDeleteGwen, it's one of those great blogging truths.
Stephen, as long as you help them without ever expecting that.
Susan, I've lost one as well.
Karen, thank you very much. I think this was a fluke though.
Heather, I'm a simple dude.
Patricia, they make a difference.
All very true!
ReplyDeleteThe comment about a female character in the next book makes me laugh. I think I was one of the people asking that. For the record, the way Alex responded in his second book is STELLAR.
All excellent points, Alex! Especially to follow your heart, not trends. And great critique partners are like gold. I treasure mine.
ReplyDeleteCallie, glad I did it right for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cate!
And thanks again, Rachna.
Excellent tips! I don't know where I would be if not for crit partners and the support of others.
ReplyDeleteKeep on being you, Alex--supportive and genuine. :)
Warmly written, as always. And good advice :).
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! I wholeheartedly agree with your words.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Angela!
ReplyDeleteShe Writes and Melissa, appreciate that.
Two of my fave blog peeps together :) Thanks, Alex and Rachna! Good stuff.
ReplyDelete"Alex is one of the most generous of bloggers, and a selfless writer I have met online." Agree!
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with the advice Alex gives - very good stuff. :)
Those are some great tips! I completely agree with all of them.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that I decided to write epic fantasy 5 years ago when it was out of fashion, because now the editors are dying to have the genre and I have the series. ^_^
Thank you, Alexia.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Melissa!
Misha, now you are ready!
"It's all about what we're willing to give!" It's that simple and I agree, because when you give, it returns to you a hundredfold...
ReplyDeleteThanks Rachna and Alex.
Amen to not following trends and listening to your CPs and fans:)
ReplyDeleteMichelle, it is that simple.
ReplyDeleteMark, glad I didn't!
Wonderful advice from the Master! (Captain)
ReplyDeleteBless you!