Saturday, July 7, 2012

Another Nerd Post...Learning How to Write

About 13 years ago, I took an IT job in the development group where I worked.  My initial job was to manage outsourced programmers for Y2K conversions.  (Anyone remember that, Y2K?)

At least three people in high positions told me to my face that they thought I would never be a real programmer, that I could just do project management in this role if I wanted to.  That still pisses me off.  My ex-husband never pissed me off that much.  Honestly, it still makes me really angry.

Through determination and spite, I learned how to write desktop software and web applications and develop databases.  I did it by reading, asking pointed questions of the other 'real' developers when I was stuck, modeling my early applications after theirs, and eventually figuring out how to change that model to do what I needed. 

It was a slow process.  I worked on it every day all day.  I was relentless.  And eventually I was very good at it.

When I got to that point, I looked back at some of my early programs and saw what was wrong with them.  One of them had 1000 ASP pages (*wince*).  I was so proud when I wrote it, but eventually learned that less is more with programming.  Now I could do it with ten pages.  Oh well.  It worked really well and is probably still in production, so whatever, right?  (Anyone else missing classic ASP?)

I'm starting to feel the same way about my writing.  I've been writing fiction for three years.  No one said I couldn't do it except that little voice in my head, but I still have a little bit of the same feeling - like I need or maybe just want to prove myself to anyone that thinks I can't do it - including myself. 

I learned how to write from a lifetime of reading and from just doing it.  My writing has improved immensely from feedback from CP's and my daughter, who was born to be an editor and won't let me get away with even one line of weak dialogue.

Now that I have three novels written, I feel like it's time to focus on what's weak about them - weaknesses I couldn't see until now. 

I wish I could take a college class, the kind I avoided like the plague when I was in college out of fear of criticism, criticism I really need now.  But there are literally no offerings at any of the colleges in the vicinity at times I can go.  The soonest my mommy obligations will allow me to take a class is 2014. 

So I bought some books on craft.  I'm going to figure out how to strengthen my weak spots (one weak spot at a time) all by myself the same way I taught myself how to rise to the next level with software development.  Instead of analyzing the software of my peers, I will read the fiction on my bookshelves and pay attention to the details of how they wrote it.  (Note to self to start with modern fiction, not Milton or Shakespeare or Chaucer.)

It's going to be a lot of work.  I think I still have a lot to learn and am excited to learn it.  And, yes, I'm going to keep writing my next several books in the meantime and hopefully get better at it as I go.  Hopefully by the time 2014 rolls around, I won't need that class anymore.

15 comments:

  1. We all get better the longer we right. Just keep at it Tonja!

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  2. I like that Tonja! Getting stubborn to prove them wrong. I call that tenacity and persistence, good qualities for a writer to have.

    Two of the best books on writing I've used are Don Maass' 'Write the Breakout Novel', and Joseph Bell's Writer Digest series. They have more how-to than the others I've read. Some writing books focus on the interior world of the writer, even in King's 'On Writing', which I also liked. The books by Maass and Bell are similar to taking a class, and I have taken a Maass Class at a conference (he walks the talk).

    Good Luck!

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    1. I just got the Maass book. It does look good.

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  3. You have great perseverance. That in itself is an awesome accomplishment. You will definitely get better as you go along.

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  4. Why did they tell you that you couldn't be a real programmer -- because you didn't have the experience or because you were a woman?

    When you've reached a point in your craft where you can see exactly where you went wrong in earlier projects, you really have reaches a point of great learning potential. One thing that still gets me is pacing, but with several manuscripts under my belt, I have a trick or two up my sleeve to tackle my WIP (when I finally finish the first draft) and hopefully whup it into shape.

    It also has too many words ...

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    1. Good question - I think yes to both. Plus I had an English degree, but the fact was that none of my peers had computer science degrees. Not sure why the English degree gave me less potential in their eyes. I never thought it was because of my gender, but I bet that was part of it.

      I've been reading one chapter a week of a WIP I haven't read since last October. As I read the first chapter, it was really strong, almost perfect (*eek - did I say that?*). And the next two weren't. There were weak spots I didn't see before. I'm glad I can see them now.

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  5. High five for determination! I have a few recommendations since I seem to be writing class addicted. Margie Lawson has classes and packets for purchase that you might want to check out at www.margielawson.com. If you take a class, you get feedback on each exercise and there are plenty of examples from bestselling authors. I've only done one of hers and I will do more. If you can't take a class, the packets are only $20. I also have one book from James Scott Bell on Editing and Revision (purchased on Amazon) that was used in a class. It was very helpful.

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    1. Thanks for the info, sincerely. I'll check them out.

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  6. Tonja, I am a little like you - I prefer to read and teach myself, also avoiding classes. The suggestions Brinda has made above seem reasonable, I might look into them myself.

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    1. I'd love to be able to take a class. My tiny sidekick says no. Just joking. His preschool hours don't coincide with any course times.

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  7. The key is that you're excited to do it! There is only so much you can learn from books/classes, the rest comes from trial and error...which you've already figured out. You have an excellent strategy and I believe you'll do well! :)

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    1. Thanks, DL. I think if I weren't excited about it, it would be clear I'm spending my time doing the wrong thing. I definitely was not excited about doing IT work.

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  8. It's amazing how much you can learn from books, from reading fiction, from feedback, and from not giving up. With your determination I figure you won't need those classes in '14.

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