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