Definite Lies and Maybe Some Truths About Book Writing

I've been on a bit of a tear with writing about writing. I promise I'll stop soon. It's not entirely my bailiwick. I write because if I don't, my head will explode, like this picture above.

Here are some thoughts about writing. Some of these might be lies. A few are probably the truth.

• "Write about what you know" is a lie. Turn what you write a bit more believable by stealing from what you know.
• Start at the end and work backwards. Lie. Start where you are in your head, and then write the book around that part. (Even if you throw that part away later.)
• Write drunk; edit sober. Lie. Stay drunk. It's more fun. Find an editor.
• The book will tell you what it wants to be - Helena Bouchez, my developmental editor on book 10. (Truth.)
• Stick with one genre, one topic. Only if you have one idea. Plus, if you're clever, you can make your larger theme match a variety of genres and topics. Why not?
• Though people *do* love mental clusters and clumps. In fiction, a trilogy beats a standalone. Ten books is maybe even better.
• Write 10 ideas a day. It's the easiest way to see ideas everywhere.
• Never let the truth get in the way of a good story. I've told people for years that that's an old Irish saying. I made it up.
• Cheat and emulate the heck out of someone until you become yourself. But if you forget to become yourself, you'll always just be the "Is Pepsi okay?" of another person.
• You can do anything for 20 minutes. Schedule little 20 minute spans of writing, and collect the bounty over time.

Books Don't Write Themselves, and Procrastinators Don't Write Them, Either

You know how to write a book? Write some words. Write more words. Delete some of those. Send it off. Done.

In the fall of 2003, I thought, "I'll go run a marathon." I started by running from one telephone pole to the second pole. Then, I wheezed for about two (that's a lie - three) poles until I caught my breath, and repeated this. For 20 minutes. I did that until I could run one straight minute, walk for. then 2/4. Then 2/3. Then 3/4. Then 4/1. Then I could run.

I completed a trail marathon in the fall of 2004. (I know. When you look at me, you don't think marathon runner. Who would?) That's how you write books. You wheeze your guts out.

300 words at a time. Then 500. (My high water mark used to be 4000 words in a day. Then, last summer, I got up to between 11-12,000 words a day, sprinting until I finished a book in very very little time. A whole almost-300-page book.

Ignore that.

300 words. A day. Want to see a guy who writes 300 words a day?

Now you. go.

Chris...