My mechanic Steve

To keep our cars working right we take them in for tune-ups.

MacLean and others like him keep their MA skills sharp by going in for tune-ups. Eddie Van Halen still grabs a guitar and gives his fingers a one hour tune-up every Monday morning.

Why should writing be any different?

I'm not nearly as good a writer as EVH is a guitar player, so it's no wonder I still drag my writer's ass to the mechanic.

My mechanic is Stephen King. His book On Writing is a Tour De Force for me. Yes, there's a smattering of scribes who feel the book is "beneath them" - that it's too basic for their superior intellect and ability - they can't get anything out of it. Well, not me. My pants ain't that fancy.

There are other great writing books in my opinion. Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott, Morrell's Lessons From a Lifetime..., George's Write Away, and so on.

And there are some that truly suck - again in my opinion. Story by that blow-hard Robert McKee, though I have met a couple of good writers that love it... a couple, as in 2. The self-indulgent Writing Down the Bones by Goldberg (Natalie, not Lee), and the cliche-ridden How-To's by Frey. But I should point out here that, just as every writer's personal process is different, so is what they take or don't take away from writing books.

Anyway, the King book works for me better than anything. While the first third is a recap of how he became a writer, the rest is the most practical, no-nonsense, black-and-white study on how to write better. It's about the language (the subject of which - in his now famous conversation with Amy Tan -  inspired the book), as well as the process. Something so few books dare to tackle. He gives real world examples, spells things out, and does it all without talking down to the reader.

That's the kind of mechanic I need. My tendency is to go off on gaseous tangents (from a process point) and it's my mechanic's gruff grabbing of my collar and thrusting me back into my chair that I need.

With the possible exception of one guy floating around the 'Sphere these days, we all believe we are still learning as writers. One of the reasons I loved my recent excursion to Seattle for Left Coast Crime was to sit and talk with other writers. We all have different processes, all write different stories in very different ways, yet we're all on the same road, trying to get to the same place.

I think my Seattle trip was why I popped my worn out audio tapes of On Writing into my deck this week and just drove and drove. I was seeing my mechanic, getting a tune-up. And it's worked.

See, though I hate how lazy our society has become with language - "impactful" is NOT a word people, despite its use by Corporate America, and "Yea" is NOT spelled Y-A-Y, good God don't get me started - I am still in need every now and then of a review of the basics. The foundations that all good, solid writing is based upon. Not only for the literal pen-to-paper writing, but for my writer's mind and soul.

So, I'm here today to tell you - all of you; from the folks who are still slogging through finishing their first work, to you seasoned and successful pros - that it doesn't hurt to go see your mechanic every now and then. Get a tune-up. Check under the hood, change the oil, replace the spark plugs. That's a big one - replacing the spark plugs.

If you haven't had a tune-up in a while, get one, no matter who your mechanic is. I promise that your motor will run better, cleaner, and faster.

Now, on a personal, somewhat homoerotic note... I mentioned LCC earlier. Well, I have to give a shout out, and throw some props to some new friends I made in Seattle. These folks are not only good writers (they truly are), but they're good people. So, thank you Sean, Brett, and Rob for helping me have one of the best Cons ever by breaking bread and beer, talking shop and life (and pens!), kicking my ass, and for that surreal combination of joy (my first unofficial signing) and terror (no comment) inside the Seattle Mystery Bookshop.

*sniff* I love you guys! *sniff*

Comments

[Mike MacLean]

Damn it, now I have yet another book to buy.

I hate to admit it, but many of the books on writing I’ve read (years ago) have been the cheesy “how-to” varieties. Most are either too vague or too insistent on one way of doing things (as if there was only one way to write a book). But I guess if you take away a single gem of advice, it’s worth it.

I’ll check King’s out. Like you said, we all need a tune up.

Thanks Paul.

[David J. Montgomery]

I had a conversation about how-to writing books with Warren Murphy once. Despite the fact that he'd written hundreds of books, sold millions, and won (I think) 3 Edgar Awards, he still read writing books. Still visited the mechanic.

Warren said you could always find at least one thing in a how-to book that would teach you something -- and even if it were just one thing, that could be a valuable tool to add to your arsenal.

I'll second Paul's recommendations of Stephen King's ON WRITING and David Morrell's LESSONS FROM A LIFETIME OF WRITING. I learned from both of them.

[Alex Sokoloff]

Hah - over on Backspace I just posted a long rant about MY personal mechanic, John Truby, whose Story Structure class (available on CD and DVD on his website, truby.com) is the best I've ever taken, ever. And I've taken a lot.

And at LCC Boyd Morrison reminded me of how useful Joseph Campbell's HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES is, especially for the mythic kinds of stories I love to read and write.

[Guyot]

Alex, have read Vogler's The Writer's Journey?

He's a Campbell disciple.

[Naomi]

Haven't picked up Stephen King's book yet, but I did read half of it in Borders one afternoon. (The story behind the writing and publishing of CARRIE is fascinating.) I'm a BIRD BY BIRD fan and use it in my writing workshops. Also helpful to me personally was John Braine's WRITING A NOVEL (I think that the title has since changed). It's an old book; I'm not sure how I acquired it, but Braine's approach was very constructive during the writing of my first book.

I'll pick up ON WRITING. I'm so excited that King will be participating so actively during Edgar Week. Did y'all notice that he'll be doing a Q & A with Charles Ardai during the Wednesday symposium? That in itself will be worth the $90!

Glad you did some male bonding at LCC--that's very cool. Didn't get a chance to meet Sean, but I love talking to Brett and Rob and teasing them about their husband/wife relationship (now who's the wife again?).

[Swierczynski]

I agree--the King and Morrell books are great. The coolest thing about the King book, for me, was the idea that writing is telepathy, and good writing is essentially how skilled a telepath you are.

When I need a good mechanic, I also scour writer biographies and writer Q&A collections. Some of the best that come to mind: CAIN by Roy Hoopes, ART IN THE BLOOD by Craig McDonald, BACK TO THE BADLANDS by John Williams, SAVAGE ART by Robert Polito, FIRST YOU DREAM, THEN YOU DIE by Francis Nevins, DARK DREAMERS by Stanley Wiater, HARDBOILED AMERICA by Geoffrey O'Brien... oh, I could go on.

But I dip into these fairly often, mostly when I want reassurance that I'm not a Martian, and that other writers have gone through the same shit, too.

[Ray Banks]

Like Duane, I dip into the biographies, mostly because I don't like being told what to do. ON WRITING is terrific, and so is Derek Raymond's HIDDEN FILES (though that's pretty specific to noir). As well as everything he mentioned, apart from the Williams book.

What I've found also gets the blood going is Peter Biskind's EASY RIDERS, RAGING BULLS. Having a good sloppy gossipy dose of 70s Hollywood is enough to get me back believing in fighting for the story. And that goes for anything about personal film-makers. Guess I'm just a frustrated auteur.

[Elaine Flinn]

When I feel my work borders on being insipid - I spend the day with Maugham.

[Bill Peschel]

I'd like to know more about why you don't like McKee. I remember being enthralled by it, although I'll have to go back to my notes now and see why.

King's book is very good. I still use his "closed door / open door" metaphor when I'm writing. "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers" was the first book I came across that gave me a nuts-and-bolts lesson in revision.

[Gar Anthony Haywood]

Years ago, I was a regular reader of Larry Block's monthly column in WRITERS DIGEST, but that's as close as I've ever come to reading an actual book on the subject of writing. Though I did read William Goldman's ADVENTURES IN THE SCREEN TRADE, which I found more entertaining than anything else.

Some of the books mentioned here pique my interest, however, so I think I'll give one or two a try. Anything that can teach Guyot how to write must have something to offer an amateur like me, right?

Up until now, my idea of getting a "tune-up" has been reading a book by an author who could kick my ass with one hand tied behind his or her back. The aforementioned Mr. Block, Martin Cruz Smith, Richard Price, (early) Elmore Leonard. Four pages in, and I'm seeing things great writers do that I still haven't gotten the hang of yet. Writer, heal thyself.

[David J. Montgomery]

Gar reminds me of Block's excellent writing advice. He published a few books over the years (mostly collections of his old WRITERS DIGEST stuff) and they're worth checking out.

[Dave White]

On Writing is one of my favorite books and I really tuned into it about the time I wrote my second short story. It really helped me believe in my own stuff and I loved knowing that even though King didn't know what the end of some of his stories were, he knew they were "in him."

[Al Guthrie]

I learned to write by reading dozens of books on the craft. I'm addicted now. I rarely read one and don't take something from it (it happens, but less often than you'd think).

I'm a big fan of Sol Stein. Any of his books on writing are well worth seeking out.

McKee's STORY. I'm too stupid to understand it.

Robert Olen Butler's FROM WHERE YOU DREAM blew my head off. Insane and brilliant in equal measures. A dangerous book if you're looking to learn how to plot, but a work of breathtaking genius if you want pragmatic examples of how to write 'in the moment'.

[Guyot]

Bill,
My problems with McKee...

First, any writing teacher who tells you that it's their way or the wrong way loses all credibility for me right there. Is there a more important rule in writing than "Whatever works for you" ??? Like, I said, I know a pair of very good writers who love McKee, so there you go. But for him to tell you that if you don't do it his way, you're a bad writer is just stupid.

McKee is the most arrogant prick in the how-to biz, and if you aren't on board what HE preaches, then you don't know shit about writing. He also uses his seminars to take potshots at all the people in Hollywood he's pissed at for never hiring him to write. He LOVES trashing famous, well thought of screenplays by writers he hates.

My other problem, if that weren't enough, is that I'm always skeptical of anyone who is teaching something that they have never succeeded at.

McKee never bothers telling the real story of how STORY was created: He failed for years as a screenwriter in Hollywood, and his ego blamed his failure on the fact that nobody knew as much as he did about writing. So he started his whole snake oil act as a vengeful F-you to Hollywood.

If you ever meet him (which I have) you'd be hardpressed to find a more bitter, more spiteful human being, despite all his success.

I tried reading STORY a couple of different times and found it just like his seminars - McKee just loving his own voice. Trying way too hard to sound like he knows everything - literally everything.

But again, this is just me. If a writer can get something out of McKee, or anyone else for that matter, good on ya.

[Pari Noskin Taichert]

Guyot,
Both King's and LaMott's works shimmer with honesty and that's what I love about them.

I'm curious about Morrell. He was a keynote speaker at a conference I attended. What I got from his talk was that extroverts couldn't be *real* writers. This, and other blanket statements, turned me right off.

Can anyone give me more info on his book? Is is filled with the same kind of attitude?

I love my mechanics -- but would like to broaden the tool kit.

[Jim Born]

I loved King's book. Another I'm fond of is The Lie That Tells the Truth by John Dufrense. It is more of the writer's journey than basics of writing but I liked it.

I would have to confess that I learned a few things from Story by McKee. Not that is was a masterpiece but it has helped me with characters and their actions.

Jim Born

[Guyot]

Pari,
I agree there were some black-or-white statements in Morrell's book that I found quite McKeeish.

But I'd say it was maybe 10% of the entire book. The rest was, for me, very useful.

[Brett Battles]

ON WRITING is one of my all time favorite books, let alone how-to books. Love, love, love it. But haven't picked it up in a while. Think I'm going to have to do that...maybe tonight.

Thanks for the mention. The absolute best part of the conference was hanging out with you, Rob, Sean and a few others. And that moment in the Seattle Mystery Bookstore...PRICELESS!!!!

Oh...Naomi...Rob would be the wife. Not that there's anything wrong with that... HA!

[David J. Montgomery]

I don't recall Morrell making any statements of that sort that turned me off to his advice -- so they must be at a minimum. Either that or I must have agreed with them! :)

It's been a while since I read the book, but I particularly remember a lot of good advice about dialogue.

He also has an interesting technique for dealing with writers block (and similar problems), in which he talks out the work in a dialogue with himself.

[Bryon Quertermous]

Like Ray and Duane, I find biographies inspiring and refreshing, but I also love books about the craft. That's probably why ON WRITING works so well for me. I also love Lawrence Block's TELLING LIES FOR FUN AND PROFIT because it also mixes sage advice with biographical info and whatnot.

By far though, the bets writing book for me was Sol Stein's SCREENPLAY. While I never ended up writing a screenplay, his simple break down of the 4 act structure and use of plot points gave me the structure I needed to be able to finally finish my first novel.

[JT Ellison]

I'm going to go out and get King's book tonight. I've heard too many endorsements, and Lord knows I'm not above a tune-up.

I've read two how to's -- Betsy Lerner's FOREST FOR THE TREES and Elizabeth George's WRITE AWAY. I took away from both of them. George's book gave a really good perspective on building characters at a time I was struggling with secondary and tertiaries.

When I really need inspiration, I turn to my masters. J. Connolly especially gets me on the right track. Reading what I'm trying to accomplish in a literary sense helps fine tune my prose.

Nice topic, G, as always!

[Louise Ure]

I regularly take my ride back the the King garage.

But if you're looking for laugh out loud, Get-Over-Your-Own-Bad-Self advice on writing, try John Warner's "Fondling Your Muse.

[Rob Gregory Browne]

Uh, thanks for that Naomi. Brett, I think we need to talk...

Paul, one of the best moments of LCC was seeing your face go white at Seattle Mystery Bookshop. I wish I'd had a camera.

And, yes, it was great to break bread with you and Sean and Bill and Phil and... who am I missing? Oh, yeah, Brett -- not so much. :)

Anyway, I agree, King's book is one of the best. I especially love the part where he talks about writing being a form of mental telepathy. I'd never thought of it that way before -- and it's true.

Now, finish that book.

[Rob Gregory Browne]

I'd also add that I think the audio version of King's book is even better than the print version. Because you have King talking right to you, coaching you. It's great.

[JLW]

I don't read books or articles about writing, although I've written a little on the subject, usually when asked. My advice is always technical. To me, reading about writing is like reading about playing the piano. It doesn't really help you play.

Some of them are nothing more than that scourge of the bookseller, the self-help pop psychology text. Julie Cameron, I mean you.

Somewhere I have a couple books on the subject of novel writing. I think one of them is by Robert Graves. My wife read them and thought they were very good, and she's the more gifted writer in the family. I'll try to find them and report back to you.

Years ago, before the advent of Windows, I once had Sol Stein's Writer Pro software, which I thought was quite clever and useful for establishing a sense of discipline, but mainly because it was directly interactive. I don't think it would have helped anybody who wasn't already self-motivated, though, and I never went beyond lesson three once I got rolling.