Faith Mortimer-author of crime, suspense, romance & action
  • HOME
  • SIGN UP TO MAILIST
  • Faith's Blog
  • CRIME BOOKS
    • Excerpt from The Assassins' Village
    • Excerpt from Children of the Plantation
    • Excerpt from The Surgeon's Blade
    • Excerpt from Camera...Action...Murder!
    • Excerpt from Childhunt
    • Excerpt from Devil's Brae
    • Excerpt from A Deadly Learning
    • Excerpt from Behind a Twisted Smile
    • Excerpt from A Brutal Trade
    • Excerpt from The Green Room
    • Excerpt from Paradise Prison
  • ADVENTURE/ROMANCE BOOKS
    • My Action & Adventure books & synopsis
    • Excerpt from The Seeds of Time
    • Excerpt from Harvest
    • My Romance books & synopsis
    • Excerpt from A Very Distant Affair
    • Excerpt from A Very French Affair
    • Excerpt from On Christmas Hill ~ A Seasonal Affair
    • Excerpt from A Very English Affair
    • Excerpt from Not Just For Christmas
    • BOOK REVIEWS
  • The Diana Rivers Page
  • Book Reviews
    • Reviews for The Assassins' Village >
      • Cyprus Weekly Feature 27th May 2011
  • Friends & Links.
    • Independent Writers
  • About the Author
  • Writing

Why do I write? What do I believe are the key attributes to being a successful writer?

23/4/2011

1 Comment

 
Good Day! I thought I’d change tack today, as I’ve reached a critical stage in my next book, ‘The Assassins’ Village’. So that’s why my heading for this blog post is;

Why do I write? What do I believe are the key attributes to being a successful writer?

There are many books in the marketplace on how to write a novel, come up with a plot line or develop characters but not much help when it comes to the decision of being a writer and how to make this happen. This leads on to another question; is my work original or copied?

I sometimes find myself in a dilemma when faced with originality and something that is derivative – i.e. based on an idea originally developed by someone else.

I believe the important thing is for the writer, to be completely clear as to whether or not you are being derivative. There is nothing wrong with using other influences in your work – indeed; the best writers often do – so long as you are honest about it and be sure to give credit where credit is due.

Many people feel they might have a book in them - but how do you know whether you have what it takes to be a writer, whether your writing is any good, and what you should write about? Is your work is intended for publication? There are many good reasons to write.

Writing is an inexpensive pastime, requiring just pen and paper and I can do it anywhere. It stimulates my imagination and keeps my brain active. It allows me to articulate my thoughts and to express myself. It helps me understand communication and how to be more critical of the misuse of language in advertising and politics where words are deliberately manipulated to deceive, persuade or cajole their audience or readers.

Writing offers as its tools the entire lexicon of a language, an extraordinary range of old and new words, expressions, phrases, slang, and colloquialisms out of which to construct an article, a short story, a poem, a novel, or a script.

I’ve always enjoyed writing, the act of creating a sequence of words describing a personal experience or a character I've met, to argue a point, or even to create an entire fictional world. When I was young, I wrote short stories or poems for my classmates and sisters. I did well in class compositions on those favourite children’s’ topics — my family holidays at Christmas, a trip to the beach, my favourite person.

Wherever you do it, writing offers a pleasurable, stimulating and inexpensive occupation that can be carried out in your own time, home, and at your own pace.

When I was relieved of my family responsibilities as my children reached adulthood, I took to writing like a duck to water. Many women join Writers' Centres, enter literary competitions and submit poems and short stories to magazines and journals and many have considerable success.

I’m now at a critical step in my writing. With one novel already published, I am busy devoting considerable time to honing my skills in preparation for my next publication.

Some of you readers may say; ‘So what?’

Well I’ll let you into a little secret. I believe this is a courageous decision, because as a writer, surrendering my work to the gaze of others can be an act of exposure of your my intimate thoughts and feelings. It may open me to criticism, it may cause me embarrassment. It is a lonely, challenging occupation spending hours sitting in front of a computer or desk, but only determination will let me complete the task towards publication.

Writing is a craft and takes practice. For most writers it takes time to become proficient in choosing your words and arranging them on the page in a way that best expresses what you have to say. It's not easy, but the effort is immensely rewarding.

I often hear people say, 'I know there's a book in me', or 'I could write a book if only I had the time', or 'My life has been so interesting it would make a great book', or I could write something just as good as the book I’ve just read', or 'I'm going to write about a serial-killer  because they’re hugely popular with publishers at the moment', or ‘I was always top at English at school so I know I could write a good novel’, or ‘Now that I’m retired I think I’ll write a book’.

The only possible response to these often annoying statements is, ‘Do it, don’t tell me about it’. It’s not enough to have a vague idea of wanting to write. Writing comes from a deep-seated need for self-expression and to make sense of life, tell stories, entertain, and capture what we feel when we read fiction that moves and enthrals us. The art of writing fiction successfully requires not only talent but craft.

But once I’ve written a book, is it clear that it's a useful thing to publish it? Wouldn't it be easier to just blog it? The goal isn't always to spread an idea. Sometimes the goal is to make change happen. A book is a physical souvenir, my ideas in a physical object. Out of context, a 140 character tweet cannot change someone's life. A blog post just might. A movie can, but most big movies are entertainments designed to make a lot of money, not change people. But books?

Books change lives every day. A book takes more than a few minutes to read. A book envelops us. You start at the beginning and you either enjoy the ride with the author to the end or you get off and stop. And you get to read the book at your own pace, absorbing it as you go.

The best thing for me about writing fiction is that moment where the story catches fire and comes to life on the page. It suddenly all makes sense and I know what it's about, why I’m doing it and what the characters are saying and doing, and I feel like both the creator and the audience. Everything is both obvious and surprising; and it's magic and wonderful and strange.

I don't always live in the book when I write. It can be a long hard walk, a trudge through fog and I’m scared I’ve lost my way and can't remember why I set out in the first place.

But sometimes I fly! That for me is the honey, the ultimate. It pays for everything.

Sunday's Sample Cookout.
Delicious, delightful Crab salad – something different for an Easter Treat.

Go easy on the citrus because too much can mask the crab's flavour – do taste before you squeeze. Serves six.

3 cooked brown crabs, brown and white meat picked and kept separate

2½ tbsp good-quality mayonnaise

1½ tsp finely chopped chives

Little gem lettuce leaves

2 large hard-boiled eggs, white and yolk chopped separately

A few pinches of cayenne pepper

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Brown bread slices, buttered

A few lemon wedges, optional

Put the brown crab meat in a bowl, combine with the mayo and chives, and season to taste. Pile some white meat on to a little gem leaf, spoon over some brown meat, then some chopped egg, and sprinkle on a bit of cayenne. Repeat with the remaining leaves. Serve with buttered brown bread and lemon wedges.

This is simply delicious - enjoy your Easter!
1 Comment
Al Boudreau
24/4/2011 02:55:34 am

Faith...I really enjoyed this week's post. It got right to the heart of why writers write, and what makes them tick. I must say, if I hadn't already embarked on my own writer's journey, your lovely words would certainly have inspired me to do so. Well done!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Awesome Indies Approved Author
    The Independent Author Network
    Follow this blog

    Archives

    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    July 2010
    March 2010
    January 2010
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009

    Categories

    All
    #1 Dark Minds Novel
    2011
    #2 Dark Minds Thriller Suspense
    5 New Paperbacks
    99c/79p Special
    99c March Mayhem Days!
    99c Sale
    A Child Barefoot In The Far East
    Action
    Adventure
    Affairs
    Afghanistan
    Agatha Christie
    Agent
    A;isha Paige
    A King In A Court Of Fools
    A Mark Of Excellence ~ Phenomenal Books
    Amateur Dramatics
    Amazon Crime And Thriller
    Amellia's Call
    American Friends
    Anthology
    Are You Sitting In A False Comfort Zone?
    A Safari -Sibel Hodge
    As A Reader Or A Writer
    Assassins
    A Terrific May For The Assassins' Village And The Crossing
    Aubergine Chutney
    Author
    A Very English Affair
    A Very French Affair
    A Very French Affair On Kindle Books & Tips
    A Very Happy Christmas To Everyone
    Awesome Indies
    Azure By Chrystalla Thoma
    Bargain Book
    Bbq
    Beautiful Words
    Best Time To Be A Writer~Ever!
    Bible
    Blog
    Blogging -what's It All About?
    Blogging. What's It All About? Part 2
    Bookbub & The Diana Rivers Trilogy Vol 1
    Book Extraganza
    Book Giveaway
    Book Sale
    Book Signing
    Book Signings
    Boreal And John Grey
    Buy
    Camera Action...Murder
    Captain Bligh
    C C Mackenzie
    Character Writing
    Childhunt
    Children Of The Plantation
    Children Ofthe Plantation
    Children Of The Plantation 2 In Movers Shakersd37e39f2c2
    Christmas Romance
    Concentration Camp
    Cookery
    Cosycozy Mystery9b736d59c1
    Cypriot Village
    Cyprus
    Daily Cheap Reads
    #Dark Minds No 2
    David Ebsworth
    Death At Sea
    Devils Brae4fb8b26e5e
    Diabetes
    Diana Rivers
    Dire Straits Economy
    Does Genre Sometimes Confuse You8305e4eafc
    Donna Fasano
    Dont Lose Your Bottle Or Keep Your Pecker Up Take Couragee600336908
    Drama
    Drama And Romance
    Earthlink Series
    Earthquake
    Easter
    Echoes
    Echoes Of Life And Love
    Echoes Of Life Love02517c322e
    Editing
    Editing Penf56bf26058
    Egypt
    English
    Ent
    Eoka
    Ereader News Today
    Erotic
    Erotica
    Faith Mortimer
    Fans
    Fathers
    Fear
    Fig Recipes
    First Novel Pains
    First Person V Third Person
    Flooding
    Footprints In Singapore
    Free
    Free Kindle Books
    Free Today Children Of The Plantation
    Free Today The Surgeonaeab4e7c20
    Friendship
    Frugal Reader
    Gales
    Ghandi
    Giveaway
    Golden Eggs
    Grief
    Happy Valentine! Half-Price Special
    Harvest
    Hate
    Helthy Eating
    Historical Fiction
    Hopping The Boxes
    Hoppin The Boxes
    Hurricaines
    Hurricane Irene
    Indie Writer
    International Best Sellers
    Jacob's Ladder
    Jan Ruth
    Jealousy
    Jenny Twist
    Jeolousy
    John Locke
    Kindle
    Larry Enright
    Libya
    Loss
    Love
    Low Price
    Macbeth
    Magic
    Magic Teapot
    Managing My Expectations When Running Up That Hill
    Mandatory Evacuation On August 27
    Mastermind
    Midnight Skye
    Mountains
    Moving Swiftly To Autumn
    Murder
    Murder Mystery
    Murder She Said!
    Mutiny At Sea
    Mystery
    Mystery Sleuth
    Mystery Suspense
    Mystery Thriller
    Nazi
    New Release
    On Christmas Hill ~ A Seasonal Affair
    On Christmas Hill~ A Seasonal Romance
    On Not Hiring An Editor
    Or Money For Nothing.
    Osama Bin Laden
    Passion
    Questions Of Trust
    Radio
    Readers Beware! Your Favourite Author May Have Another Life!
    Rebecca With 2 C
    Reclaim My Heart
    Regret No More
    Rescue Ship
    Reviews
    Romance
    Romance & Drama
    Sailing
    Sale
    Sam Archer
    Sandstorm In My Heart
    Sarah Barnard
    Savoury And Dessert
    Seasonal Romance
    Seb Kirby
    Second Chance
    Seeds Of Time
    Sexy
    Shakespeare
    Sharks
    Sibel Hodge
    Silver Rain
    Singapore
    Sinking Yacht
    Soups
    Split Decisions
    Storm At Sea
    Storms
    Summer Sale
    Swallows
    Tarek Refaat
    Ten Brides For Ten Heroes
    Tenerife
    That All Important First Line
    Thea Atkinson
    The Assassins
    The Assassins\
    The Assassin S Village
    The Assassins Village
    The Assassins' Village
    The Assassins Village0948caef2c
    The Assassins Village Is Free!
    The Assassins Village Is Freea3cbdf90a5
    The Assassins Vllage
    The Assassin' Village
    The Atlantic
    The Atlantic Ocean
    The Baby Trap
    The Bamboo Mirror
    The Bamboo Mirror
    The Crossing
    The Diana Rivers Mysteries Volume 1
    The Magic Teapot
    The Seeds Of Time
    The Surgeon
    The Surgeons Blade65ffc6983f
    The Surgeon's Blade & Children Of The Plantation
    The Surgeons Blade Free Today4d74ca531d
    The With Love Project
    Thick As Thieves
    Tim Ellis
    Traditional Writer
    Tripoli
    Visitors
    War Of Hearts
    We All Have Choices -except The Glorious Dead
    Wenona Hulsey
    Wg2e Street Team
    What Price EBooks? A Writer Has To Eat!
    Whispers Indie Chicks
    Why Books Make The Very Best Christmas Presents! And Are You A Readaholic?
    Writer
    Writer And Author Libby Fischer Hellmann
    Writers Don’t WANT Everyone To Read Their Books
    Writers - Who Will Make It?
    Writing
    Ww2
    Yacht

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.