10 Things I Learned About Writing From Vegas
Well, look: I've had more adventures this year than even I can keep track of. Some of them you don't even know about!
But since I'm stuck at home being responsible this week, let's revisit the Vegas wedding I attended back in March (courtesy of my un-bachelored buddy James and his fabulous bride-wife Katie!). Here are ten things Sin City taught me about the delicate craft of writing!
1. Don't worry about asking for feedback on your work. Your audience will let you know which parts they like.
2. You gotta sell the sizzle - but it helps if there's some steak.
3. Taste is subjective.
4. Lie stupendously.
5. Great writing is about seeing the world from a new perspective.
6. A little shameless pandering never hurt anyone...
7. ...but stick to your principles, whatever they may be.
8. Go for crossover appeal.
9. Your audience is looking for an experience. Give it to them.
10. Subtext is everything.
I know, right? Doesn't it make you want to give your life the finger and go fun yourself to death?
Well, for those of us who have to settle for living vicariously, Jamie Wyman has it covered - her Etudes in C# series is busting out with a third book! Gods and satyrs and mayhem abound in Cat Sharp's not-so-glamorous Las Vegas lifestyle - and that's before we get into the technomage club scene. (NGL, you guys - my inner fishman got a little too excited when I got to the condo-wrecking shark-monsters.)
If that sounds like your kind of fun, start with Wild Card and then sally forth to help us Kickstart the rest of the series - we might be stuck here in real life, but by gum, we can read like shameless hedonists!
“Marius, where are my pants?”
His grin widened. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
But since I'm stuck at home being responsible this week, let's revisit the Vegas wedding I attended back in March (courtesy of my un-bachelored buddy James and his fabulous bride-wife Katie!). Here are ten things Sin City taught me about the delicate craft of writing!
1. Don't worry about asking for feedback on your work. Your audience will let you know which parts they like.
2. You gotta sell the sizzle - but it helps if there's some steak.
3. Taste is subjective.
4. Lie stupendously.
 |
| Taken at The Writers Block - Vegas' best indie bookstore! |
5. Great writing is about seeing the world from a new perspective.
6. A little shameless pandering never hurt anyone...
7. ...but stick to your principles, whatever they may be.
 |
| Did I mention that The Writers Block doubles as an artificial bird sanctuary? |
8. Go for crossover appeal.
9. Your audience is looking for an experience. Give it to them.
10. Subtext is everything.
I know, right? Doesn't it make you want to give your life the finger and go fun yourself to death?
Well, for those of us who have to settle for living vicariously, Jamie Wyman has it covered - her Etudes in C# series is busting out with a third book! Gods and satyrs and mayhem abound in Cat Sharp's not-so-glamorous Las Vegas lifestyle - and that's before we get into the technomage club scene. (NGL, you guys - my inner fishman got a little too excited when I got to the condo-wrecking shark-monsters.)
If that sounds like your kind of fun, start with Wild Card and then sally forth to help us Kickstart the rest of the series - we might be stuck here in real life, but by gum, we can read like shameless hedonists!
“Marius, where are my pants?”
His grin widened. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”