Writing the Paranormal Novel: Techniques and Exercises for Weaving Supernatural Elements Into Your Story. (45 page)

Read everything you can get your hands on, and not just in the paranormal genre. Read mysteries, science fiction, romance, historical fiction, literary fiction, and best-sellers. Read nonfiction in every field and genre. Not only does reading feed your internal idea generator, it teaches you how to write.

At a conference I once met a guy who told me that he avoided reading because he didn't want to be influenced by other writers. He wanted to be sure his writing was “pure.”

Rubbish.

Art students study great paintings and sculptures to see how artists create. Acting students attend movies and plays to see how great actors perform. And can you imagine a culinary student who refused to try a master chef's recipes?

As a new writer, you need to study how other authors put words together so you can learn from their example.

If finances and location allow, go to literary events. Writers conferences abound in this country, and they're easy to find thanks to the Internet. And any given weekend, there's a fantasy/science fiction convention taking place somewhere in the United States. Since you're writing a paranormal novel, you'd be a natural attendee. Such conventions (or
cons
) are easy to find online. Some cons are big, some are small. Some are great for making professional contacts, and some are only good for socializing. However, howing your name and face among the people who have the greatest chance of buying your book is always a good idea.

If you've never attended a con before, don't worry — fantasy and science fiction fans are generally very welcoming toward newcomers, and many cons even hold a little orientation meeting for first-timers. Find one and go!

Public speaking terrifies a number of people, but being an effective speaker is a valuable skill for any writer. Once your book comes out, you'll want to talk about it, and it's much better if you can manage to be interesting and engaging when you go about this. Local libraries, schools, book clubs, and other venues are oft en interested in having local authors come to speak for them, and some of them pay rather nicely. Conventions and conferences want speakers as well. Some only give free admission to the event, and others pay an honorarium. Quite a number of writers make some decent pocket change as speakers, in fact, and good speakers are in high demand. Most speaking events will let you hold a signing afterward, which lets you get your book out there.

A number of professional organizations exist to help writers further their careers. They exchange information about markets, editors, and agents, hold conventions, give awards, help with publicity, or even assist with legal issues. Dues are oft en nominal. Since contact people and addresses change, I don't want to list exact information here, but these organizations are easy to find online. Not all of them require professional sales for membership, either.

The Romance Writers of America accepts writers of all stripes, but mostly exists for writers of romance, including paranormal romance. Those who write paranormal mysteries should look into the Mystery Writers of America. The Horror Writers Association helps writers of horror. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America looks out for writers of any kind of paranormal fiction, and their Writer Beware program has exposed a number of crooked publishers, editors, and agents.

Writers' groups, or critique groups, exist to help members improve their writing. The basic format is that members usually exchange their work (either by handing copies around or by reading them aloud) and then everyone gives
polite
comments of the “I liked this” and the “I think this part needs improvement” variety. Some groups take place online, and others meet face-to-face. A good writers' group gives you both an audience and feedback, and can give you a reader's perspective on your writing — very helpful if you've read your own work so many times, it's become difficult to see mistakes. It'll also get you used to accepting criticism.

You can find face-to-face writers' groups by checking out your local community college or university, local bookstores, or even local newspapers that post notices about such things. You can also try starting your own group by posting notices yourself.

The main thing to remember about being in a writers' group is that it needs to help you improve your writing. If your writing isn't getting any better (that is, it isn't getting any closer to publication), look for another group.

It may seem obvious, but some new writers forget it. When Book One is finished, move on to Book Two, and then Book Three.

Never give up, never quit.

Persist.

And one day your book will be done. Just like magic.

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