Pinar Tarhan, Author at Addicted to Writing

Writing What You Know/Live: The Movie Daydream Nation, and its Writer Character

Posted on September 10, 2011 Written by Pinar Tarhan

The Movie

daydream-nation-movie-poster — Daydream Nation starring Kat Dennings, Reece Thompson, Josh Lucas & Andie MacDowell

Daydream Nation is a drama from 2010. It is a little fun, a little depressing and a tad annoying. It is also heart-warming in a weird sorof way. While it is not a must-see movie in any way, it is also not a waste of time for those who like its actors (Kat Dennings, Josh Lucas, Reece Thompson, Andie MacDowell) or writers who, like me, enjoy seeing movies with writer characters. You can read more about the movie on my movie blog. But here, let’s get to our writer character:

The Writer Character

josh-lucas-daydream-nation — Josh Lucas as Barry. Photo from the movie Daydream Nation. Image via daemonstv.com

Barry Anderson (Josh Lucas) is the English teacher of a depressing industrial town’s high school. There isn’t much excitement going on in his life, and it is hardly a surprise when he jumps at the opportunity to fool around with his new student Caroline (Kat Dennings). While any teacher sleeping with his under-aged student is sure to ring loser bells, you can hardly blame Barry. He lives in a town where everyone seems to be going through a drug addiction, some level of depression or both.

Barry is happy in this relationship, and informs Caroline that she has inspired his writing and he is working on his novel. He even has an agent.

The Writer’s Story

Then one day Caroline gets to read his book, and it is just too much like a memoir. Unfortunately, Barry’s past has been even more pathetic than his present, and Caroline doesn’t like how she is represented in his novel. She decides to break things off, but when you are your boyfriend’s only muse & hobby, it can get tricky to get rid of him.

The issue here is that Barry didn’t even attempt to add a slice of fiction to his characters. Along with Caroline, we learn that his return to town as a teacher was an obligatory move when he failed in the city, both professionally and romantically. We learn that this 30-something guy is not really all that wiser or more mature than his druggie students. We finally see how much of a loser he really is, and that he makes no effort to change things.

Writers always debate whether you should write what you know or not. It actually depends on one thing: You! I always believe in writing what you love, because writing something you don’t care about is bound to be a disaster. So it doesn’t matter if you know the subject, because you can always educate yourself along the way. You just need to be passionate about what you are writing.

But usually, what you know (or you come to know through research) works best when combined with the depths of your imagination.

Barry doesn’t have much of one, and “what he knows” isn’t what he loves. It is what he despises. You could argue that a memoir, how depressing it might be, can serve as a therapy for the writer, at the very least. Unfortunately, Barry ends with 0 self-development, minus a girlfriend.

The Writer behind “The Writer”

All in all, as depressing and weird Daydream Nation is as a story, it is more entertaining and interesting than Barry’s “fiction”. I just hope that it wasn’t a memoir of the writer/director Michael Goldbach , as the movie also features a serial killer on the loose…

Me, The Writer

I once read that readers want sexy, engaging characters through journeys that entice them. And I agree. There was nothing enticing or engaging about Barry’s loser story. If he detested living it himself, what are the odds of anyone enjoying it?

I am in the midst of writing a novel that is a mixture of what I know. And I’ll confess that there is a part of me in some characters. But what happens to my characters in the novel didn’t happen to me. And for me, that is the exciting part!

You, The Writer

How about you? What do you think about writing what you know/live? How do you feel about writing stories based (solely) on your experiences? Please let me know in the comments!

7 Must-Have Characteristics to Make it as a Freelance Writer

Posted on August 28, 2011 Written by Pinar Tarhan

being a freelance writer, characteristics of a freelance writer — Freelance Writer image via ghostwriterdad.com

Writing can be a very lucrative and self-fulfilling career, but it hardly ever starts that way for anyone. You might love writing. You might be good at it. But unfortunately you need a couple of more qualities to start your writing career and accomplish your goals as a writer. Below are the 7 essential characteristics freelance writers need to possess:

Patience

I’m one of the most impatient people you can ever meet. I get bored very easily and I can’t wait for anything or anyone without doing something useful and/or fun on the side. And yet, I chose freelance writing as a career.

Now, I love writing. I am addicted even. So the girl who can’t even stand to wait for a couple of minutes chose a line of work where response times range from weeks to months, editors don’t necessarily write back, and you are required to spend countless hours researching, marketing, networking, writing, re-writing, editing and more re-writing.

Yet, I can handle it. After all, it is about knowing what’s at stake and jumping to it accordingly. It is not a walk in the park most of the time, but it is still worth it for me. How about you?

Persistence

The editors may not receive your e-mails, or they may not feel inclined to respond, even with a standardized rejection reply. Yes, they are incredibly busy but so are you. While they have to read millions of queries and make decisions, you are a one-person company. So if the guidelines say follow-up, follow-up. If there is still no response, follow-up for the second and final time. Just remember not to leave your bedside manners, even if you get nothing in return for a carefully crafted, perfectly relevant query. After all, you need a good reputation. And there is the fact that you probably submitted that query because you liked the publication. So you might want to pitch again.

The idea is to keep it polite and professional. If you think this sucks, please read the first must-have freelance writer characteristic on this list again.

Thick Skin

writer rejection cartoon via bo's café life — Courtesy of boscafelife.wordpress.com

You will get rejected. Every writer does, even the ones who turned into international bestsellers. So never take it personally. Make sure you work constantly to improve yourself, and keep submitting your work elsewhere.

P.S. When the going gets tough, just remember John Grisham’s first novel is A Time to Kill. He published The Firm first, because A Time to Kill was rejected everywhere. And after The Firm, everyone was after A Time to Kill, which also became a bestseller.

Passion

And you need to have fun. You need to be capable of fun, even when you want to slap someone or cry. You are writing because you love the craft. There is no reason to keep doing it if you are feeling miserable all the time.

Organization

You don’t need to be obsessive, but you do need to keep track of every idea, bill, manuscript, article and everything else that is related to your writing. You also know what to find and where. There is a great blog for writers that concentrates on the organization side of things. Check out OrganizedWriter.com for tips and resources.

Self-Discipline

You might be the type to start a project at the latest minute possible. I know I am- for the most part. But you need to make sure you keep the deadline and make sure your final draft meets every requirement, and is a good read.

Self-Management

You are your own boss, so you better be an understanding slave driver. Notice the oxymoron there? But it is true. You need to work really hard to make it as a writer. But of course you have the flexibility to choose your hours; as well as where, when and how you work. As long as you put in the necessary work, there is no reason you can’t enjoy the freedom.

Intimidated? Don’t be. You just might realize your personality and mind can work in mysterious ways to help you realize your dreams.

Cure Your Writer’s Block with Tristan Higbee’s 101 Ways to Battle Blogger’s Block

Posted on August 16, 2011 Written by Pinar Tarhan

Where This Freelancer Has Trouble

I guess I am like most writers. My brain never stops thinking about my next article, next blog post, next idea for a fictional story…

But I’m most comfortable finding ideas for and writing my blog posts. For me, freedom enables fun and creativity.

And a creative writer who’s having fun is usually a productive writer. But I do get stuck finding slants when I am pitching the other magazines/websites/blogs.

Most of the time, no two publications are ever identical. So having to come up with multiple (workable) ideas for each publication can be extremely frustrating.

And between all the publications, their topics and guidelines, I sometimes find myself unable to generate ideas productively.

You know you are in trouble when you can’t find any ideas that excite and/or entertain you. How can I convince an editor when I am not all that enthused myself? After all, it feels amazing when other people want to publish your stuff. The bad thing is, you are competing with many other freelancers.

Most Inspirational/Creativity Books Aren’t Helpful

I recently threw away a book on creativity, because its tips felt so abstract. And most books that are supposed to help you unleash your creativity only add to your block. Or they only offer stuff that you have heard before. Or they don’t appeal to your tastes/personality/mindset.

Why Tristan’s 101 Ways to Battle Blogger’s Block Rocks:

– You can use all his suggestions for all sorts of writing.

– They are fun to read and apply.

– Some of the tips are familiar, but you probably didn’t see them presented in a neat, concise package. It is only 28 pages.

– It’s free.

– It comes with 101 tips, so there are bound to be some stuff you haven’t tried before.

– Sometimes it offers contrasting tips, so you can get even more experimental to see what works better for you.

Some of My Favorite Tips: (The details are in the book)

Where were you X time ago?
Look at your photo albums.
Pick a (well-known). story/song/… and roll with it
Title a post after a song.

When I was reading his e-book for the first time, and saw this last tip, I pushed the next button on my mp3 player (which was on Shuffle mode), and I got Kansas’ Carry On My Wayward Son – a classic rock number (that is also a trademark song on the mystery/thriller/horror show Supernatural).

Think what I can do with it:

Carry On My Wayward Blogger/Freelancer/Writer….

Don’t we often feel wayward with how much we are supposed to do to reach our goals?

Who knows what other titles can bring to the table, or how many more ideas can be spun off this song? If nothing else, you can just relax, close your eyes and enjoy the song.

After all taking a break, is incidentally, one of the ways Tristan is suggesting. And this is only one of the 101 ways. ,

Tristan blogs on Blogging Bookshelf, a blog about “blogging,info products and internet business.” You can learn more about him here, and access his free e-books (whose topics range from getting noticed in your niche to getting ideas for books) here. Yes, I downloaded them all. You can’t always find that much fun stuff in the same place.

Review of Wayne E. Pollard’s I’m Not Out of Work! I’m a Writer!!

Posted on August 12, 2011 Written by Pinar Tarhan

crazy writer, from Bo's Café Life — This strip reminds me of someone....Wait...I know! It reminds me of me. That's it! I'm so writing my book tomorrow....(I mean I need a book to try to get a deal....) Courtesy of boscafelife.wordpress.com

I’m a writer. When I tell people that, I get one of these two responses “Wow! It’s so cool!” or “Hmm. Can you make a living out of that?”

And as much as I want to say “Oh, totally!”, I am not there yet. My income comes from a combination of freelance tutoring, teaching, blogging and writing. While I love doing all these things together, I want to be able to say “That book deal changed my life (=aka my finances)!” or “Eat your heart Carrie Bradshaw, I write about relationships for a living, and I have got more than a closet full of expensive shoes to show for it!”

But as I said, I am not there yet. The tasks of a freelance writer never ends (just like a blogger’s never ends, but that’s a different post). I still have to finish that book that I was inspired to write in 2004. I still have tons of publications to study and pitch to. I still have a lot of new markets to discover, study and yes, pitch to. Then I have to keep writing my book, keep up the blogs, follow-up with the queries and deal with rejection, or worse – no answers from editors.

So I need other freelancers to understand me, who have been or are still are where I am. I want to laugh with them, maybe get depressed temporarily and then move on with them. And while networking with others help, I don’t have a freelance writer friend who l can talk to whenever I feel like it.

And since none of my friends are willing to jump the 9 to 5 wagon to join me, I found the perfect substitute. Wayne E. Pollard’s “I’m Not Out of Work!, I’m a Writer” is a collection of Pollard’s Bo’s Café Life strips where he simply and hilariously depicts the life of a freelancer, complete with other freelancer friends and their meetings in coffee shops.

writers, rejection Bo's Café Life — You can find many more painfully and hiariously true writing cartoons on boscafelife.wordpress.com

Bo and all his friends are appropriately represented by drawings of coffee cups. As a freelance writer who does most (and best) of her work in cafés, and who is also (shockingly!) writing this review with a cup of coffee nearby, the collection couldn’t have been more spot on.

I first stumbled upon Bo’s Café Life when I was trying to find funny, writing-related cartoons for this blog. I loved the cartoons so much that I e-mailed him to ask if I could use them on my blog, linking to his blog. He kindly said yes, and even sent me the copy of the book, which I finished in about 20 minutes and went back to read it again. Yes, it is funny and very relevant.

It is so easy to identify with his coffee-cup characters. The multiple rejections, never summoning up the courage to send/finish some of your stuff, consoling yourself with the rejection numbers of currently famous authors, almost living in cafés…

There are so many books on motivation and productivity out there. And while I enjoy reading the good ones, sometimes I need a fast boost in the spirits and I don’t have time to read (or the strength to carry) all the necessary motivational stuff with me. And thankfully, I just have them all in one tiny book now.

It’s recommended for all writers. Except maybe not for the likes of John Grisham. I mean the dude is my favorite crime writer, but he doesn’t need it anymore. I’m sure he did need it when he was trying to get A Time to Kill published and got rejected over and over again….Ah…remember the times when John Grisham was unknown and Hollywood didn’t turn one of his books into a movie every couple of years?

Wayne E. Pollard is a published author, who shares his wisdom on Bo’s Café Life and Wayne E. Pollard’s No B.S. Blog for Writers.

“I’m Not Out of Work!, I’m a Writer!!” will be hitting the shelves at the end of September. If you can’t wait, and are up for a challenge, you can join Bo’s Café Life Fiction Contest. Details are here. But be quick. The deadline is August 31!