Writing Tips
By Candy Halliday
© 2005 Candy Halliday All Rights reserved
When I first joined Romance Writers of America, a published author gave me a valuable writing tip: Protect your writing voice and style as fiercely as a mother Grizzly defending her cubs. An unpublished newbie back then, I nodded politely and promptly forgot everything she said.
After all, I had just stumbled into the “mother lode” of information when it came to writing a romance. Here was this fabulous organization with a list of “do’s” and “don’ts” (and everything in between) when it came to writing romance and getting your manuscript published. I spent the next four months revising my manuscript (the do’s and don’ts list in hand) and happily mailed my newly revised manuscript off to the most likely publisher. A mere eight months later, I finally got my manuscript back in my trusty SASE with a handy-dandy rejection form letter. The editor was kind enough, however, to scribble at the bottom: Your story idea is great - but your writing voice comes off flat.
Huh? But how could that be possible? I’d followed all the rules, dang it! I’d taken out all the adverbs. I’d removed all the tag lines before dialogue. I’d never left the hero and the heroine apart more than ten pages. I’d kept point-of-view pure, no head-hopping whatsoever. I’d gone over goal, motivation and conflict until I had nightmares about it. There had to be some mistake!
I jerked the acceptable “three” rubber bands from the bound manuscript, threw the properly formatted cover page over my head, and began reading my double-spaced size 12 font manuscript with the exact one-inch borders at the top, bottom and both sides. Two chapters into it, I had to admit my manuscript was about as exciting as an instruction manual on how to hook up a VCR (this was back in the 90’s, you see - pre-DVD.) I’d gotten so hung up on the do’s and don’ts, my story had lost it’s punch, my characters had lost their warmth, and I had lost one year of valuable time.
The mother Grizzly in me reared up and roared loud enough to wake the dead.
I wish I could tell you the next manuscript I zipped off to that same editor sold, but I can’t. It took me two more years before I sold my first book to Harlequin Duets. And it might surprise you, but I’ll be the first to say that without RWA, I know I wouldn’t be published today. The wealth of information RWA provides on writing skills, the publishing industry, current writing markets, contests, and conferences, is invaluable. I can’t stress this enough. The key, is in finding the balance - absorb the information, just don’t let it hinder your own special creativity.
So to all you aspiring writers out there, my advise is - learn the rules, hone your writing skills, and study the publishing market. But NEVER be afraid to roar if anything threatens your two precious cubs - voice and style.
Next Article >>