The Evolving Writer |
If you want to be a good writer, try this:
Choose
an author who has written several books. Read the first book written by that author. Then read the second, then the third and so on. Evaluate the content, the writing style, the organization of the
material, and how each book makes you feel. Granted, each will
have been influenced by editors; nevertheless, you may begin to get a sense of the evolution of that particular writer.
With an occasional exception the author's works should get better in terms of the criteria mentioned above.
In fiction particularly, authors sometimes get lazy. They may create the same character over and over where only the name of the person is different: same personality, same worldview, same way of relating to people. The protagonists of one famous author even have the same looks from story to unrelated story: tall, skinny, pimples, thick glasses, super-intelligent, male with few if any social skills. "My goodness!" you might say. "Didn't I meet this character in another life?"
R. Z. Halleson is beginning an experiment.
Halleson's first book of fiction The Death Called Change, published in 2003, was actually a trial balloon of sorts. Could she do it? Yes, she could, but recognized even then that this was not the best that she could do. More had to come.
Halleson then collaborated on several nonfiction works including Spare Them? No Profit. Remove Them? No Loss which was published in 2010. On various past works she has been either the writer or the editor or sometimes both.
It is in fiction that Halleson wants to achieve her best work, so she is beginning a series of mysteries, and it is here that we shall see how her writing evolves. The first is well underway, so please sign up for the occasional emails so you can follow the progress and give your feedback on how she is doing.
Tips for Writers
As Halleson attempts to perfect her own
writing skills, she will share what she learns in an occasional newsletter sent to people who sign up for the email list. So, sign up today and don't miss out on The Evolving Writer.