What not to Write

Just as important as how to write, is what to write.

In a panel at Anticipation 09 in Montreal, editor David G. Hartwell said:

“The sincere desire on the part of the writer to write the book will communicate to the reader. This is not something that is often said in public, but it is nevertheless the truth. And it is my experience that if you write what you truly wish to write, it will communicate more and better to the reader than anything else you could possibly write. Sincerity trumps everything. Even execution.”

Write the story that you want to tell.

Writing the story that you want to tell, you will always end up with a better, more passionate manuscript than if you’re writing what you think you should write, or if you’re writing what you think will sell. If your heart’s not in it, it will show.

However, the unfortunate truth is that while writing the story that you want to tell is always the place to start, it is not always enough to get you published.

Someone who attended one of my panels at Worldcon noted that there are some publishers who don’t even want to see a story written in the present tense, or the first person, no matter what it’s about.

I responded, first, that this isn’t true of all publishers. And that it’s not generally due to a dislike of first person, or present tense, it’s because these things are very hard to do well, and after you see them done badly enough, often enough, it’s almost a public service to try to dissuade others from trying. Sometimes it works for a story. When it does, it’s extremely powerful. Often times, though, it doesn’t.

When publishers say “I don’t want to see this,” what they often mean is “I don’t want to see this done badly,” or “I have seen eight hundred of this in the last month and I’m going to rip my eyes out if I see it one more time this year.” Even if you’re confident in your treatment of a particular this, do that publisher a favor and submit it elsewhere. Maybe they’ll be missing out on something great. If so, accept that it’s their choice, and just resolve to wow them next time with your that.

There are many plot ideas, story mechanics and twists that editors and publishers see so often that they feel “done to death”; and it’s not just jaded professionals — readers often feel the same way. Strange Horizons magazine has gone as far as to supply a list of Stories We’ve Seen Too Often. They’re careful to point out, “This is not a canonical list of bad stories or story cliches. This is a list of types of stories that we at SH have seen too often; it’s not intended to be a complete list of all types of bad stories, nor are all the items on the list necessarily bad.”

If the story that’s within you is on that list, or some other similar list, what do you do?

You write it anyway.

Really. I mean it.

They’re not telling you what not to write. They’re telling you what they don’t want to see.

There’s a huge difference, and it’s so important that I’ll say it again: They’re not telling you what not to write.

Don’t let current trends or the taste and preference of any one publisher, agent, or editor influence what you write. If all publishers, agents and editors had the same taste and preference, there wouldn’t be a market for so many of them.

Write what matters to you.

Write the story and the characters and the setting that are churning around in your head waiting to be set down. Write it with passion and enthusiasm, and enjoy every moment of it.

Even if you never get it published, write it anyway. It will still have been an opportunity to practice your writing and hone your craft. It will free up all the other ideas inside you that have been jostling for position behind it.

Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine’s Douglas A. Van Belle offers a Totally Comprehensive and Universal List of Every Problem a Story Has Ever Had. There’s some great advice in there, a lot of stumbling points to watch out for, and I strongly recommend the list to readers. Again, Doug is quick to point out that there is at least one great story guilty of each problem on the list. Having one of these problems doesn’t guarantee a bad story; on the whole, though, they’re things you probably don’t want to do.

Evaluate your story on that level. Look at lists like the one I started last Thursday, that discuss how to add polish to your writing, and evaluate your word choices on that level.

Rewrite the story that matters to you. Give it impeccable grammar, spelling and punctuation. Make it as free of commonly-seen predictability and problems as you can, while retaining its core with integrity. It’s already something you can be proud of. Now you’re making it shine.

Now, start submitting that manuscript and move on to the next story that’s bubbling up inside you, just waiting to be told.