Relieving Stress - by reading and by writing

Arianna Huffington is calling it, 'Turning the Page on Stress' and I think she's really on to something here. Just looking at the supporting comments on the original Huff Post piece is an indicator that many agree.

For me, however, there's something that relieves stress better than reading.  I increasingly find that my writing is absolutely the best way of escaping the stress of my daily life and finding a place that gives me joy and peace. I've published 7 books (YA reality-based fiction) and have at least that many more on the go. I love that my books have been welcomed and positively reviewed by readers, but more importantly I love to write. For me, it's the best stress-reliever ever!

Wil

Advice for writers: Being unpublished doesn't mean you suck

"Unpublished? You Don't Actually Suck."  That was the title of a Huff Post Books piece earlier this week, in which the writer detailed her feelings about trying to convince herself that her work really did not suck.  She also introduced Writer's Bloq, one of many new ways in which indie authors support each other.  I commend her and all those who help their fellow authors.  I was inspired to write a comment on Huff Post Books about the piece, and I've repeated it here:

I know I don't suck. Just ask those who now have the tens of thousands of copies of my books. But the realization that maybe there was some merit in my (so far) seven YA novels, and that people might actually want to read what I'd written? Well, let's just say that realization was a long time coming.

The problem is that I don't write what apparently 'sells.' I don't write fantasy, or dystopia, or about vampires. I write solid family and adventure reality-based fiction for Young Adults. I write what I want to write, and I've had to find my niche market.

Three years ago, I had four unpublished works and a brain full of doubts and worries. Now I have some amazingly positive and inspiring reviews with scores of good ratings, and more motivation than ever to keep writing. 

Good luck to all those who find the courage and tenacity to keep at it, and who persevere in this new world of self-publishing. You, too, can find that you don't suck.

the competition continues: Kindle vs. Nook

Yet another view, on HuffPostBooks, about which is better: Kindle or Nook.  The writer of the piece seems to go with the Kindle, essentially because the Amazon online bookstore is better than Barnes & Noble's.  Now, I think the comments about Amazon's online bookstore being better than the B&N version are valid, but that's only part of the story.  

Anyone looking for a reading device ought to look at tablets.  I just picked up my first one a couple of months ago, and I'm really happy.  Now I have one device that can read plus do many other online-related activities. The available android apps allow me to read 'Mobi' (Kindle) files from Amazon, or ePub files from B&N.  Now it doesn't matter where I buy the books, and I do check out a few different online bookstores to see what's new.  

What also impressed me was the very reasonable price of the Tab that I bought.  It was not all that much more than a top of the line Kindle or Nook. It's a great multi-purpose machine, and it does a great job as a reader.  What more is there to want?  Okay, well, maybe some really good books to read on it.  Umm, I do like mine...

Happy Reading, 

Wil

Love the book, hate the title. Find another one.

I responded to a @HuffPostBooks piece, written by Randy Susan Meyers, about finding book titles that work.  The information on Huffington Post was very helpful and interesting, and I thought I’d share my response on this blog.

I had a title change just over a year ago, when my sixth YA fiction title "Aiden's Arrival: Honor Before Gold" gained the three extra words. It was likely a good idea, but at least it kept my original working title of Aiden's Arrival.

Now, I've just been going through this title problem again.  I received unasked-for feedback on a title for a book to be published in March.  The refrain, "Love the book, hate the title. Find another one," sounds just like what I heard.  At first, I resisted.  Strongly.  Very strongly. 

The working title for my new YA fiction book was important to me, as it identified the book better as the first of a series.  With one book completed and the second of four nearly written, I was certain that "Prince David, Book 1: Enter the Heir" was right.  However, after a great deal of discussion and convincing on the part of my editing team, I finally agreed that "Zac and the Reluctant Prince (Book 1 of the Prince David series)" was a better choice.  The outcome of that choice remains to be seen, of course, and I am gradually coming to terms with the new title.  After living with the working title for so long, learning to like the new one will take some time.

I think the lesson here is that it often takes a detached expert view to help us authors see the faults in our books, our titles, and our covers. We need to accept the suggestions, see the light, and accept what will help our books reach the most readers.  In the end, though, we'll never know until we see how it does (or doesn't).

Wilson James' answer to Why I Write

My books have been called inspiring.  I'd like to think they are also empowering.  But, why do I write them?  I first wrote the words below exactly 2 years ago, and I've come back to revisit that blog post because of a piece in HuffPostBooks about why famous authors write.   

In December 2009, I wrote: "I've had in my mind that I wanted and needed to write about my writing, so now I start. It is almost a year since I first published a book, and it's been an amazing ride. It was a big decision to start to publish, but I’m glad I made the choice. I will never forget the emotion that I felt the first time I held a printed copy of a book that I wrote. Since then, I’ve worked to get a number of my other books published.

In the past year, I have felt an even more astounding range of emotions as I consider that hundreds (now over 16,000 - Dec 2011) people have taken the trouble to purchase or download my stories. I suppose that humbled, excited, nervous, scared, thrilled and apprehensive are all emotions that have crossed my mind.

I got started writing simply because I wanted to get the stories from my head to a more permanent method of storage. Ever since I was a kid, I've had a bunch of story ideas rattling around in my head, but there they stayed. I experimented with writing a bit, and slowly did more and more, but it was about three years ago that I finally started writing in earnest. Sometimes, the ideas just pour out onto the computer screen, and at other times I can go weeks without writing anything new.

However it happens, I really enjoy the writing. I like creating characters and bringing them to life on the page. More importantly, I write for myself. I like Jesse Stuart's quote, “Write something to suit yourself and many people will like it; write something to suit everybody and scarcely anyone will care for it.”

There is one other quote about writing that I like, and by Paul Theroux. “Fiction gives us a second chance that life denies us.”

Whether many people will like what I write, I don’t know, but I will continue writing what I want to write, for myself."

In April 2011, I posted these words:  "My books are about empowering youth.  

• “If my stories help young people, by giving examples of kids persevering in difficult situations, then I will be very satisfied. 
• If my stories help young people overcome their own challenges, and perhaps find some inspiration, then I will be happy. 
• If my stories help young people find the tenacity and courage to succeed in their own lives, then I will be very pleased. 
• If my stories help achieve some better understanding among friends and families, then I will consider myself fulfilled.” 

The ultimate reward for writing?  

“If even one young person finds some example in one of my books that he or she can use in their own life, then I will consider that every moment I spent writing those books was the best possible way to spend that time.”

Some of my successes in Young Adult fiction writing are:

• A FAMILY LEGACY: THE WATSON WORKS -  made it into the second round of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.  A reviewer called it "Vivid Storytelling, Well Written," and said "I want to read more."  
• PLAYING THE BASEBALL CARD - reviewed as a "Great Book, Very Inspiring" and "Seriously Good Writing," and well into the top 1% at Barnes and Noble for almost a year.

Prince David, Book 2: High Adventure (the NaNoWriMo novel for 2011)

I've been very actively engaged in writing the second book of the Prince David series, as part of NaNoWriMo for 2011.  The first two-thirds of the month went quite well.  I wrote a lot, I became one of seven writers profiled on The Huffington Post, and I believed I was on track to hit the 50,000 word goal by November 30.  

However, things don't always go according to plan.  For the last ten days of November, I had to travel unexpectedly for work, and although I managed a good 90 minutes of writing on the first plane, it went downhill after that.  The travel and work have been just too intense, and I simply have not been able to get my mind in the right creative mode to write.  

This book, Prince David, Book 2: High Adventure, is an important book for me, as it is the first time I've actually worked at a sequel.  In this case, this is a sequel to Prince David, Book 1: Enter the Heir.  I have even planned a series and have written the final 6,000 words of Book 5.  In any event, I want to make sure I get Book 2 right, and I'm not about to write words just to achieve the NaNoWriMo goal of 50,000 words.  In fact, Book 2 is about 75% written, and I will complete it, but at a slightly slower pace.  With some extra time looking to be available in the next month, I hope to complete the initial draft of the book by the end of December.

By the way, Prince David, Book 1: Enter the Heir, is being edited, and I hope to publish it early in 2012.

Thanks for reading,

Wil

NaNoWriMo + me + 6 authors = HuffPost Books story

I had not intended to write another post during this National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).  However, there have been some comments by the other six authors who share in the spotlight of the HuffPost story about writing for NaNoWriMo, and I wanted to recognize their words and highlight the importance of their opinions.  In particular, I’d like to mention the words of the youngest of us seven writers, 11-year-old Connor, who writes about wanting to actually finish writing a book for once.

I have the utmost respect for anyone who undertakes the challenge of creating a novel and who finds the time to write.  I feel very fortunate that I’ve been able enjoy the process and experience of writing over the last few years.  Sure, I wish I could devote even more time to writing, but I think that wish would apply to most writers. 

I wholeheartedly agree with Connor’s statement that it’s not the 50,000 words that matters; what matters is to actually finish writing a book. 

It’s not enough just to write.  Whatever we write must mean something, at least to ourselves.  This NaNoWriMo should not be just about producing 50,000 words, but instead should be about using this opportunity of writing fellowship to really create something to be proud of.  We should all be grateful to those who complete a work and to those who try.  It is only by encouraging writers and other creative artists that our lives are enriched by the fruits of their labor.  I say ‘well done, to all those taking part in NaNoWriMo,’ and ‘thank you’ to those who appreciate their work.

Finally, I will close this post by thanking those who have taken the time to look at this blog, and express my appreciation to those who have read my books.  Knowing that my books have been found by so many is at once a humbling feeling and an exciting experience.

Happy reading, and happy writing,

Wil