The Writer's Connection, SM
a publication of The Virtual Writing Coach SM
In This Issue:
1. Preview
2. Publisher's Note
3. Coaching Writers
4. Getting into Action
1. Preview
The Writer's Connection explores the creative process of writing and the interplay between thoughts, feelings, and actions. We are an interactive community of authors and readers who share ideas to enhance our knowledge, skills, and experiences in writing fiction in any genre, but our emphasis remains mystery and suspense thrillers.
Published monthly, the Newsletter offers writing tips for authors, coaching suggestions, editing, and marketing information.
Topics are presented from the perspective of Keith Barton and represent only his ideas on producing your first manuscript, and are provided to the general public. Because we are an interactive community of writers, other viewpoints are welcomed and may be printed in future monthly newsletters with permission from Keith Barton.
2. Publisher's Note
May, 2005
Dear Writer's Connection Subscriber,
This month features information about writing myths and how to overcome them.
3. Coaching Writers
Coaching writers is both a creative and methodical endeavor. Writers by their very nature are a unique group in which individualism is valued above teamwork, creativity above method, abstract thought above concrete thought, and evolution above order. It’s a wonder that writers would even seek out a writing coach because writers intuitively believe that talent cannot be categorized, harnessed, or taught. Nothing could be further from the truth. Let’s look at some of the myths of writing:
Myth #1: Only the author can determine the audience for their book. Try this one on your agent the next time you want to write a cross-genre book on vampire sleuths who solve the latest Scotland Yard murder.
Myth #2: Writer’s block is real. The truth of the matter is that the lack of discipline and commitment to your writing is real.
Myth #3: Editing is for someone else. Afraid not, my friend. All good writers eventually become good editors. It’s not the original idea but the capacity to maintain the integrity of your story despite numerous rewrites.
Myth #4: All the good agents have their stable of authors. Go to a writer’s conference in your area and you will meet agents just starting in the business and eager to sign on fresh talent. If the writing is fresh, then an agent will seek to place your book with a publishing house.
Myth #5: I have to have a literary degree to write a book. A review of the NY Times Bestseller List dispels this myth quickly. Writers come from all walks of life, but the common thread is their ability to keep the reader attuned to a captivating story that they can relate to.
Myth #6: I have to take writing courses to become a better writer. This is a common misconception brought about by the Internet and pedagogical industry that insists that writing can be taught. While there are basic rules for good grammar and presentation, a desire to write from the heart is the central tenet of all good works.
Myth #7: I have to follow what the public is buying. This myth is promulgated by the large NY Publishing Houses who have high overhead and lots of editorial assistants on the payroll. Go to smaller Midwestern and regional publishing houses for a piece that is unique to that region.
Myth #8: Rejection letters tell me I’m no good. This is perhaps the biggest myth of all because an agent passing on your work is due to: timing, interest, genre, number of writers already represented, poor presentation of yourself, inadequate query letter, not following the agent’s format for preparing and presenting your work.
Myth #9: No one would be interested in my story. This is the biggest hurdle to get over when writing your short story or novel. Writing is more than a craft—it’s a piece of your heart and soul. No one knows your story better than you and no one can tell it better than you. Your unique insight and knowledge of time, place, and story comes from a lifetime of images and feelings.
Myth #10: Write for your audience. This may be true if you’re under contract to write five books in five years, but for most of us, we write for ourselves. Think back to your first short story: forget the teacher’s name, number of grammatical errors, and misspellings. The fact that you produced a story that tugged at your heart strings took courage “to put yourself out there” for others to learn a little more about you.
I hope these ten myths dispel any notion or excuse for you not to write. The interchange of ideas is as old as time itself when our first stories were in the oral tradition and passed down through generations. Our society then evolved to writing on scrolls through scribes and interpreters. The written word remains a powerful tool to teach or entertain and many of our youth today are missing out on this lost art.
4. Getting into Action
"Getting in to Action" is a monthly feature of The Writer's Connection. In this section of our Newsletter, we will discuss action steps the writer can take to improved his/her knowledge base in writing novels.
This month's recommendations:
1. Look for an earlier piece of writing from school. Reread the story as if you’re reading it for the first time and look for passion and enthusiasm in the writer.
2. Write a 500-word piece on your favorite vacation (the old what I did on my summer vacation). Try to entice the reader to join you next time.
3. Write a short story of 3,000 words about a person who was a major influence in your life and why. Try to capture the relationship between the author and mentor.
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Contact Information
Keith Barton, Ph.D.
Voice: 281-893-1735
Fax: 281.893.1145
Web: http://www.virtualwritingcoach.com
E-Mail: keith_barton@att.net
(c) Copyright 2010 A. Keith Barton, Ph.D.
All rights reserved.
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The Writer's Connection SM Mission:
The Writer's Connection SM is dedicated to helping first-time authors create their first manuscript for publication and to offer an exchange of ideas and opinions from our readers who might be interested in becoming authors.
The Writer's Connection™ is a publication of The Virtual Writing Coach and Keith Barton, Ph.D. and a registered trademark.
We would like The Writer's Connection SM to be as interactive as possible. If you have feedback, comments, topics you would like addressed, or can suggest additional resources to benefit us all, please email us at any time. Send your e-mail to keith_barton@att.net.
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Archives
You can read previous issues of The Writer's Connection SM in our archive section.
About Keith Barton, Ph.D.
Dr. Barton received his Ph.D. in 1972 from the University of Texas at Austin and has been a practicing therapist for over thirty years. He is currently enrolled in MentorCoach and is accepting new clients. He has been an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina, consultant to Fortune 500 companies in executive development, founded and managed Texas Community Living Ventures, Inc., in 1986 for providing group home services to persons with mental retardation, and has been running a clinical practice in Northwest Houston since 1990. He writes part-time with the goal of completing one novel a year. His desire to coach others derives from his passionate interest in helping others become attuned to their creative powers of storytelling.
Dr. Barton has training in coaching, cognitive and family therapy and health psychology. He has published articles, made presentations and conducted workshops about:
Anxiety and achievement
Stress management
Self-esteem
Communication skills
Marital/relationship enrichment
Wellness issues
The relationship between psychology and spirituality
Copyright by Virtual Writing Coach and Keith Barton, 2001-2010
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