 For Authors: January 22, 2014 Issue [#6117] |
  For Authors
This week: Hyphenates Edited by: Jeff  
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1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
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"Some writers enjoy writing, I am told. Not me. I enjoy having written.
-- George R.R. Martin
Trivia of the Week: Screenwriter Derek Haas is a man of many talents. He wrote the feature-length screenplays to (among others), 2 Fast 2 Furious, 3:10 to Yuma (remake), and Wanted with his partner Michael Brandt. Together they also created and supervise the hit television shows Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. In addition, Haas has also written several novels and is the editor of "Popcorn Fiction," a website that publishes short stories by different authors.
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HYPHENATES
In Hollywood, a "hyphenate" is a term used to describe someone who wears multiple hats, or performs multiple jobs, often on the same project. Quentin Tarantino ("Django Unchained," "Inglorious Basterds") and Kevin Smith ("Clerks," "Chasing Amy"), for example, are writer/directors since they usually pen the screenplays to their own movies. Similarly, creators of television shows often start as staff writers and then move up through the ranks. Aaron Sorkin ("The West Wing," "The Newsroom"), J.J. Abrams ("Alias," "Lost"), Vince Gilligan ("Breaking Bad"), and Ryan Murphy ("Glee") are all prominent examples of writer/producers.
There's also an increasing tendency for people in one type of profession (writer, producer, director, etc.) to branch into more than one medium rather than sticking with one specialty. Narrative television or commercial directors might transition into features, while movie producers might try their hand at stage productions or video games. It's not exactly news that building a career in a creative field is often difficult to get off the ground and few people are able to earn their entire living from it right away. Some writers, for example, have day jobs while working on their writing in their spare time. Others might do a particular type of writing (technical writing, copywriting, etc.) to pay the bills while they pursue a career in creative writing independently.
In recent years, screenwriters have seen many of their opportunities dry up. Most screenwriting jobs are works for hire (i.e. companies hire screenwriters to work on a project they already have), and companies have cut back on their development budgets and reduced the number of write-for-hire jobs that they're willing to pay for in recent years. As a result, many screenwriters have turned to other creative endeavors as well, in an attempt to put together a sustainable writing career from a variety of sources. Screenwriters, for example, have recently started writing for video games, web series, and even stage plays.
The new versatility among screenwriters got me thinking about whether other writers could take advantage of the trend of expanding into other mediums in an attempt to sustain (or break into) a career as effectively as possible. So if you're a writer who specializes in a particular type of writing - novels, poems, nonfiction, etc. - consider some of these other areas that you could branch into:
Narrative fiction:
 Novels
Short stories
Screenwriting (film and television)
Stage plays
Video games
Web content
Poetry:
Poems
Songwriting
Greeting cards
Advertising slogans
Nonfiction:
Technical writing
Copywriting
Travelogues
Biographies
Essays
Journalism
Memoirs
Criticism
Speechwriting
Stand-up comedy
If you're "stuck" on your own particular writing specialty, consider branching into another area that might allow you to raise your writing profile or maybe even earn a little extra money. If you write novels, it may not be a bad idea to try a stage play or a screenplay at some point. If you're a poet at heart, songwriting or short pieces for greeting cards or advertising slogans can be a way to apply your craft to a defined business. And if essays or travelogues are your thing, taking a swing at speechwriting or copywriting or journalistic articles could be a good way to diversify your interests and drum up some interest in your nonfiction writing abilities.
It's a complex world out there and with an ever-shifting media landscape and audience interests causing spikes and valleys in sales figures for movies, books, etc. it's becoming increasingly necessary for professional writers to open themselves up to a variety of different writing opportunities, maybe even some that they haven't considered before. Each of these specialities requires a specific skill set, so it might be worth spending a little time developing so that you're able to jump on whatever opportunity presents itself, whether that be having a novel published, selling a screenplay, writing a speech for someone, or coming up with compelling lyrics to match a musician's melody.
Whether you want to be a writer/director, a writer/producer, or just a writer... consider the possibility of becoming a hyphenate and expanding your area of expertise. Become a writer of many things so that you can capitalize on every opportunity that comes your way.
Until next time,
-- Jeff
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I encourage you to check out the following Writing.Com items:
And about writing. Yes, dear, dear me - this letter is about your writing goals - get over that writer's block, already. Get over that whiny 'why-am-I-writing-this-who-is-going-to-read-it-I-hate-it-myself-why-will-anyone-else-like-it' nonsense. Yes, nonsense. You heard me right, I said nonsense.
Have you ever heard of a writer that had an easy life? That had everything they needed without having to work for it? That was able to sit and write, day after day, without any interference? That never had anything negative happen in their life that they had to deal with? What, exactly, do you think would inspire a writer who never did anything but write? That's right. Nothing.
For a writing bull, you are way too superstitious about these first of the year things. It is because of the past. Many times you have resolved to do many things. Many times you forgot or lost track because you were too busy living. That is okay to do that. Forgive yourself for being somewhat human in some respects.
We never were confident about our writing until we came to WDC and posted statics and read reviews of our work. That’s what any writer needs—an awareness of audience. We can be better. But we are good enough now that it’s time to publish. We need to send out our stories this year. Every story that we are willing to put in our thesis should be of publishable quality, therefore, we should send it out to be published. Stop researching. Do it.
I know you don't mean writing in the sense of just putting words onto pages, you mean writing with words that people want to read. I know you want to recapture your love for storytelling with words that move and engage people. For two years, writing felt like a chore that you began to resent, whereas before it was a joy and something you cherished. You need to reclaim that joy and remember that writing is your passion and your most beloved form of self-expression.
And your writing... stop worrying about it. Stop trying to force it, and stop worrying about no one reading it. Writing is not your life; it is your pleasure. Write when you can find the words, and when you can't, do something else - like rebuilding that world you put so much work into.
You've got a lot to do, Me. You might be out of school, but it's still going to be a busy year.
And hey: people honestly believe in you. Quit trying to prove them wrong.
Don't lose that momentum. Though you've already published a book—a dream come true in and of itself—you've wanted to be a novelist for as long as you can remember. So make that your number one goal for 2014. Even if you don't publish your novel—either traditionally or through a self-publishing platform—until 2015 or later, you have until this December to complete the final draft. Try to finish the first draft by the spring, or early summer at the latest. Then it's the usual revision process: reread, edit, rewrite, and repeat, until your novel is as close to perfect as it will ever be. Because the sooner you finish your first novel, the sooner you can start writing the first draft of your second novel. Then your third, your fourth, your fifth...
You dabbled with writing off and on over the years. You know you have the ability. The old adage “do what you love and the money will follow” is not that far off the mark. Trust yourself and don’t over think it. No one has a crystal ball to foretell the future. What does writing do for you? You get to create worlds by your rules. Then do it. Each journey starts with a plan.
In the not-so-distant past you rushed to self-publish a book that really needed some revisions. You thought of it as a way to silence those people who had a lot to say about your lack of determination to do anything … you wasted time where it shouldn’t had been wasted, and you often look back on the old you who once could write with such passion that the emotions bled out of your works. People do change. You are still that passionate writer, but why look back when you need to look in front of you?
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Feedback on my last newsletter about ebook publishing issues:
Patrece ~  writes, "Thank you for this very enlightening newsletter! You can bet I will be checking out this weeks editor picks."
Thanks for taking the time to write in!
jofriday writes, "I remember the issues with Amazon. It was a big deal to say the least and its resurfaced several times since then in one form or another. Fortunatly the book sellers end up backing off. If this was really a concern of censoring unwanted content then half of Stephen King's books, or Clive Barker's books, or the endless collections of Penthouse Letters would be taken off the shelf but these books bring in big money so censorship doesn't apply. Interesting. Writers, especially independent writers, need to be fully involved in their book, from editing, marketing, cover art and even how the bookseller is handling their product. No one else will. And if your not, they most like will take advantage of you because they can."
As an author, you definitely need to be your own biggest fan! 
Joshiahis  writes, "I enjoyed this breath of fresh air amongst all the clutter of the publishing world. It was like a grownup coming into the room and telling their bad kids to calm down. I liked the material you supplied as well. I always enjoy learning something new (especially if I can mooch off the research of someone else.  Well done!" (Submitted item: "Invalid Item" )
Thanks for the kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
DB Cooper writes, "Librians usually don't have to worry about liabel because publishers fact check but self published books EXPOSE librarians to be liability. "
I'm not sure how susceptible librarians are to liability based on the content of the books on their shelves; that seems like an issue for an intellectual property attorney.
BIG BAD WOLF is Merry  writes, "To those who complain about books due to titles containing Non-E words, not to mention any other "objectionable" subjects- Talk to the hand, because because you can't open your mind." (Submitted item: "Monster Cowboys The Book" )
Thanks for writing in!
brom21 writes, "Although it may seem harsh or overbearing, I’ glad that there are sensors out there that closely monitor up front material. A few days ago, WD support changed the rating of a story of mine from E to 13+ because it involved champagne which is an alcohol reference. I totally did not think of that. Thanks for the heads up."
For me, there's a fine line between managing creative content to make sure it's properly rated and censoring content to prevent people from having access to it. One of my favorite things about Writing.Com is that they are open to any type of material, even stuff that the staff and moderators wouldn't read or enjoy themselves... as long as its properly rated. And I wholeheartedly support monitoring items to make sure they're appropriately rated; but not so much for making them tough to find for the people who want to find them. 
Quick-Quill  writes, "This was interesting as I didn't know about it. What a same a group of people can force anannihilation of books based on some obscure criteria. almost like Ferenheit 450. Shame."
It is unfortunate when people feel like they need to impose their values onto others. I understand that erotica, horror, and other genres aren't everyone's cup of tea, but I think the world would be a much better place if those people would allow the people who do enjoy those things to enjoy them rather than trying to quash anything they themselves do not care for.
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