"You know," she says, "writing's creative and all this, certainly, but you don't just wander around dreaming. That's not what you're getting paid for."
"People go, 'Oh, you work six or eight hours a day, oh my God!' Well, yeah, how many hours do you work?.....this is my job. And I think people who"--she hesitated for a moment--"have more of an artistic bent, they're just not as productive, and their writing is probably not any better than mine at the end of the day."
Collins estimates that it takes Roberts, on average, forty-five work-days to write a book. "Roberts, who, as J. D. Robb, also writes futuristic police procedurals, has written a hundred and eighty-two novels, in addition to short stories and novellas. In a typical year, she publishes five "new Noras": two installments of a paperback original trilogy; two J. D. Robb books; and, each summer, what her editor Leslie Gelbman, refers to as the 'big Nora'--a hardcover stand-alone romance novel."
Nora Roberts is not every one's idea of a great writer, but you can't argue with her productivity. What can you learn from this dynamo?
- AIC--Ass in the chair, each day, every day. It's the way books are made.
- OOC--Get your head Out of the Clouds. It's your business to be a writer and that takes hard work. Go out, look at the sky, think about your characters, and then, start writing!
- Learn how to write dialogue--If you're a fiction writer, it will save your butt.
- Learn how to research--Roberts uses the Internet, you can too.
- Engage your reader--Create characters that readers can relate to.
So Happy Father's Day! Kiss your dad on the forehead or give him the homage of your choice. Then, get busy!
3 comments:
AIC plain and simple is indeed the secret formula. Thanks for the reminder. And, Happy Father's Day to the wonderful dads in your lives as well!
Thank you for sharing this!
Even though, like you said, I don't think Roberts is the best of writers, she is incredibly successful, so there's a lot to learn from her.
It's fascinating to see how she works. I'm not sure I could ever write that quickly, but AIC is definitely something I need to do more of ;).
Thanks for the post!
AIC--Ass in the chair, each day, every day. It's the way books are made.
OOC--Get your head Out of the Clouds. It's your business to be a writer and that takes hard work. Go out, look at the sky, think about your characters, and then, start writing!
Learn how to write dialogue--If you're a fiction writer, it will save your butt.
Learn how to research--Roberts uses the Internet, you can too.
Engage your reader--Create characters that readers can relate to.
SOUND ADVICE FROM A GREAT LADY. I MET NORA YEARS AGO. IF SHE THINKS IT, SHE'LL SAY IT. SOMEONE ONCE SAID SHE SHOOTS FROM THE HIP.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY. YOU'LL LEARN MORE FROM HER FEW WORDS THAN AN HOUR LECTURE FROM SOMEONE ELSE.
BECAUSE OF HER I DO MOST OF MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET.
SHE HAS GIVEN ME THE GUTS TO GO TO A POLICE STATIONS, AND PROUDLY ADMIT I'M WITH THE RWA AND ASK QUESTIONS ON DRUGS FOR ONE OF MY BOOKS.
I CALLED A SECURITY COMPANY TO SEE ABOUT MUSEUM QUALITY SECURITY AND HAD TO GO SEVERAL AROUND WITH A CHAUVINIST UNTIL I GOT THE INFO I NEEDED.
EVERY TIME I NEED HELP, I THINK: WHAT WOULD NORA DO?
THANK YOU NORA ROBERTS, YOU’RE AN INSPIRATION TO WRITERS.
JACLYN
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