| (Remember: November is National Novel Writing | | | | “significantly different.” There is no such |
| Month) | | | | thing as an original idea. I found this out when in |
| My latest novel has been lounging on my | | | | 1973 I came out with my “original” |
| computer for months. I have a thousand excuses | | | | magazine of memories, Yesterday’s |
| for not finishing it: too busy with other endeavors, | | | | Magazette. Unbeknownst to me, others were |
| writer's block, my lead character won't budge, my | | | | heaving this same “original” idea around |
| cat needs food. Oh, yes, I have a ton of | | | | the same exact time. But I still say I came out |
| legitimate reasons for not finishing my third novel | | | | with it first. :-) |
| in my Amos Grant mystery series. I feel angry | | | | Here's another example: In 1970, I coined the |
| with myself. But then again, I don't want my cat | | | | “original” saying of “always expect the |
| to starve. A dead cat in the house is bad for | | | | unexpected.” But the funny thing is that since |
| one's muse. | | | | that time I must have heard my same "original" |
| So I feed the cat and start to thumb through | | | | expression repeated a million times or more. One |
| The Easy Way To Write A Novel by Rob Parnell. | | | | more original idea I thought I had back in the late |
| It's an e-book that caught my attention. (I like | | | | 70s was to write a column of “Oddball |
| e-books because they are cheap and fast, much | | | | News” items, which I did for a few years. |
| like some of the girls from my old neighborhood.) | | | | Now I see there is a very similar column called |
| But Parnell's book is more satisfying. | | | | News Of The Weird which is now syndicated in |
| “If you are reasonably well educated, or even | | | | hundreds of newspapers. |
| if not, everything you need to write an enduring | | | | So believe me and Rob Parnell when we say |
| novel-length piece of fiction is inside you. You | | | | “don’t waste your time” agonizing and |
| already possess the talent and the necessary | | | | trying to come up with some original idea for your |
| skills. All you have to do is access them.” | | | | book. Don’t even try. Just put a twist on an |
| This is how Rob Parnell, founder of Easy Way To | | | | old idea. |
| Write, begins his 179-page informative e-book. | | | | Parnell recommends writing fast. “If you try |
| Using psychology and motivational advice, Parnell | | | | to use your conscious logical side of your mind to |
| walks you through his unique process. More Zen | | | | write, you’ll take forever,” he states. |
| monk than strict writing teacher, he spends a | | | | “Let your fingers write or type |
| good part of his book teaching you meditation | | | | automatically.” In other words, he advises, use |
| and visualization techniques. | | | | your subconscious to write that great novel. |
| Some may find his holistic approach a bit strange. | | | | As much as I enjoyed the mindset and |
| But treating the whole person, taking into account | | | | motivational techniques in the first half of |
| one’s mental and social factors as well as the | | | | Parnell’s book, I have to admit that Part Two |
| physical act of writing, caught my attention. It | | | | about his “30 Day Formula” for writing a |
| differed from the hundreds of other writing books | | | | novel was equally entertaining and informative. |
| I have sitting on my bookshelves. It sparked my | | | | Right off, he tells you that you need |
| muse into a new way of writing novels. If I had | | | | CHARACTERS before anything else. He says |
| read Parnell’s e-book before I struggled | | | | without interesting characters, there is simply no |
| through my own six novels, I believe the entire | | | | story. |
| process would have been less painful. | | | | He guides you through each day. He even designs |
| What Rob Parnell does is prepare you to write | | | | a ten step plot template and explains how setting |
| before he shows you how to write your novel in | | | | should best be viewed as another character to |
| 30 days. (Maybe he should have named his book | | | | define. He then goes on to list the ten |
| “The FAST Way To Write a Novel.”) In | | | | fundamental mistakes that writers should avoid. |
| any case, I was intrigued by his system. I, | | | | Lastly, like a good coach, he is there to nudge and |
| especially, enjoyed his putting to rest some of the | | | | push you along and to motivate you. |
| myths about writing a novel. | | | | “You’re always closer to success than |
| For instance, he points out that all art (writing | | | | you think!” |
| included) is subjective. “There is absolutely no | | | | I admit Rob Parnell’s e-book, The Easy Way |
| reason to believe that what you create is less a | | | | To Write a Novel, got my motor running. In fact, |
| work of art than anything else,” he writes. | | | | I've decided to spend the rest of the day |
| “If you believe your book to be a work of | | | | working on my novel. After all, it is National |
| art, then that’s exactly what it is. Period.” | | | | Novel Month. What better time to finish a novel. I |
| You must have an “original idea” is | | | | feel really pumped! My mind is racing with ideas. |
| another phrase you hear a lot about. But Parnell | | | | My fingers are a twitter. I'm smokin'! |
| points out that what these know-it-alls really | | | | But first ... I need to feed the cat. |
| mean is that you should write something | | | | |