CONQUER YOUR WRITING FEARS

By Richard Mabry

Writers are subject to lots of fears, and I’m no exception. But now, with seven published novels and a non-fiction book under my belt, I have learned to get past some of those fears. Here are my suggestions about handling a couple of them.

Running out of ideas: The question a writer is most frequently asked is, “Where do you get your ideas?” Since ideas are our stock in trade, a common fear of a writer, especially a novice, is that they will run out of ideas. My answer is quite truthful: ideas are all around us. We just have to keep our eyes and our minds open. And once we have an idea, we don’t have to guard it zealously, lest another writer steal it. The way a writer handles a concept is much more important than the idea itself.

Here’s a helpful hint. Learn to ask “What if?” For example, I read Robert Frost’s poem about home being the place where they have to take you in. I asked myself, “What if a doctor fled to her home town, only to find that someone there wanted to kill her?” The result was my first novel, Code Blue. The idea sprang from a classic poem and my asking “What if?”

Reviews: After the publication of my first novel, I checked my Amazon rankings almost every hour. I set Google alerts to notify me every time the book was mentioned on the Internet. I exulted in good reviews, descended into the depths of depression with the bad ones. But eventually I got tired of it all, so I stopped checking. I once heard a talk about success, and one line stuck with me: “I cannot expect to be universally loved and respected.” I still read reviews from time to time, but I’m careful not to get too high or too low as a result.

Some people wonder if they should respond to poor reviews. I encourage you not to do that, with one exception. If you have an email address for the reviewer, send them a private message indicating that you’re sorry your writing disappointed them. Don’t justify, don’t defend, simply acknowledge. Other than that, though, keep silent.

Final thoughts: Whatever fears you may have, remember that others have been there before you. Share your concerns with other writers, and take comfort in their counsel. And above all, don’t let them force you to quit. You may only have a slim chance to succeed, but you have none if you don’t try.

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Richard Mabry is a retired physician and author of seven novels of  “medical suspense with heart.” His books have been a semifinalist for International Thriller Writers’ debut novel, finalists for the Carol Award and Romantic Times’ Reader’s Choice Award, and winner of the Selah Award.  His latest is Critical Condition and released April 15, 2014. He also authored Heart Failure. You can follow Richard on his blog, on Twitter, and his Facebook fan page.

Put Yourself Into Your Writing

Dr. Richard Mabry

Writers are often told to “write what you know.” Initially, most of us may respond to that with, “Well, I’m pretty dull.” But once we begin writing, feelings and emotions often percolate to the surface, infusing our material with authenticity.

Let me give you an example. When I began my first novel, Code Blue, I decided to set it in a fictional town–an amalgam of the small city where I grew up and the somewhat larger one that was home to the college I attended. I had an idea about the plot I wanted to pursue, but as I wrote, the phrase that kept coming back to me was, “Small towns have long memories.” So, based on things I’d heard and observed during my formative years, I wrote about grudges and vendettas that were designed to keep the reader turning pages. I wasn’t aware of it when I started, but I ended up writing what I know.

For my latest novel, Heart Failure, I did not intend to utilize my experience as a high school baseball player and subsequently a volunteer coach when my sons were playing, but midway through the book, inspiration struck. I thought of an emergency on a baseball field that could be used to heighten tension at that point in the story, one that would also come into play in the denouement of the novel. I didn’t set out to do it, but I was writing what I knew.

Many of us, me included, tend to put aside our memories of younger days, especially if they’re unpleasant ones. I encountered many difficult patients in my years as a physician. At the time, I did my best to forget those experiences. Now I find myself letting my mind free wheel as I call

up memories of those people. They’re some of my best character

That’s why I say this to all the authors out there that are struggling to bring life to your novel: Put yourself into your writing. Your readers will appreciate it.

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Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician, past Vice-President of the American Christian Fiction Writers, and the author of six published novels of medical suspense. His books have been finalists in competitions including ACFW’s Carol Award and Romantic Times’ Inspirational Book of the Year. His novel, Lethal Remedy, won a 2012 Selah Award from the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. His medical thriller, Stress Test (Thomas Nelson), garnered rave reviews from Library Journal and Publisher’s Weekly. Richard’s latest novel is Heart Failure. You can learn more about Richard at his website: rmabry.com. He can be found as RichardMabry on GoodReads and Twitter, and his Facebook fan page is “rmabrybooks.”