Writing, Writing and Writing

I always thought that writing came naturally and it was easy to spill out the words in some meaningful fashion. It’s getting harder and I can’t tell if it is just because I’m getting older or if I can’t make up my mind on what to write.  In the space of a week, I’ve written 6 contracts,  2 trusts, 4 wills, 4 powers of attorneys, and a couple of blogs. At the same time, I have been editing and rewriting my how-to-do-it manual, “Sell Your Home Yourself and Save Thousands.”  Every once in a while I try to sneak a page in here and there on my new novel.  It is getting harder and harder to shift between the different writing styles.  The legal writing is dull, dull and dull.  The how-to-do-it manual is pedantic and really, really difficult to put in easy to understand language.  The novel gets the short shifted and is hard to bring it to life.  My brain can’t keep up with the transition from the dull lawyer stuff to the supposedly easy to understand “how to do it” manual to the more creative pages pulled from my imagination.

I never realized that the writing styles are so different or that it is so difficult to change styles. I guess I’ve been a lawyer so long I’ve forgotten that most people don’t think in terms of the legalese that lawyers so frequently sprinkle in their writings.   All the “wherefores” and the “hereafters” don’t really advance the ease of reading and the use of the stylistic words like “shall” are archaic and cumbersome.  Yet, lawyers pride themselves in writing 50 page contracts of perfectly nonsensical gobbledygook, understandable only by other lawyers.  Why?   The usual answer is that if there is a problem, that language will be the words a court relies on to interpret the contract.   Even when big companies try to write “plain English” or “easy to understand” contracts the words come out sounding lawyerly.   So now, all of a sudden writing contracts is difficult because I am obsessed with making them understandable and easy to read.  What had been easy is now only accomplished with numerous re-writes and much anguish.  I am finding out that leaving the legalese behind is difficult as I am much more conscious of my writing and I am always trying for a higher level of communication.

And, if I am finding it difficult to write the lawyer things in easy to understand language, it is harder still to bring complex legal issues to a level where they can be used by anyone. All I can think of is what one of my students said to me one time when I was teaching graduate level business law.  “You don’t understand– I don’t want to know anything about the law,” the student said earnestly.  I was shocked.  Not love the law.  Unheard of!  Impossible!  I couldn’t believe that there was anyone on the face of the earth that didn’t just love learning, but evidently it is so.  Certainly, writing easy to understand is not nearly as difficult as writing for people who don’t want to understand.  The effort expended in this area is painful, because I want people to understand, to be able to stand independently and think for themselves.  Clear and concise is hard for me.  Simple and easy to understand is even harder.

Well, both of these approaches fail miserably in the world of fiction. In fiction, I don’t have to use legalese, teach or be particularly legalistic, just entertain.  But, I’m finding it’s hard to switch from one type of writing to another.  Clear and concise writing does not necessarily translate to exciting.  Simple and easy to understand words do not breathe life into the pages.

The only thing I have figured out is that sometimes, the only way to go forward is to stop completely, take a break and have a glass of wine. It’s nice to use those breaks to contemplate a world where all knowledge is imparted while we sleep so we don’t have to work to learn.  As long as I am contemplating a more perfect world, it would be nice if there were no legalese—and maybe, if wine and chocolate really didn’t have any calories.

A Rainy Day

A rainy day — how wonderful! Actually, three consecutive days of rain—something I am not used to at all.  I used to dread the rain, but after living in Arizona for so many years, rain is a real treat. I love the clouds, the cool breezes, and the wetness on my face and especially the smell.  I am on my vacation, and this year I seek quiet, serene surroundings as opposed to noisy night life. With spotty WI-FI, and lots of thunder and lightning, I am withdrawing from my stressful existence.  The idea was to unwind and start to write again.  I don’t know if the plan will work.

Clearly, I have lots of things to write about.  I must have dozens of books in my head filled with wild and lively characters just waiting for their day in the sun. The problem is there are not enough years to get them all out and give them life. So where do I start?  Being a procrastinator at heart, it is easy to make no decision and immerse myself in someone else’s work.  So I read, and read some more.  What a luxury to just sit and read.

I have always read books of every kind, but today I read them much more critically. I’m reading for plot development, characters, story line, credibility and all of the other things that make for a great story. I try to figure out the end to see how obvious it is.  Is the work credible?  Just what makes a great book? I am consumed with questions. I really am impressed with the creativity all around me as I study to learn how other authors do it.

Day by day, I am more impressed with the writings of other people.  I really appreciate the hard work that goes into creating a novel.  I can understand the dedication required for all stages of writing. And, now I know about the effort behind the promotion.  I have learned that writing is no fun is there are no readers.

I consider myself blessed to live in a time when I have millions of books at my fingertips.  No day has to be dreary.  Just think of all the authors that have given me thousands of spellbinding stories on hundreds of topics. I am having so much fun reading that I am having a hard time starting to write….maybe, tomorrow for sure.

Reviews

I keep trying to learn this author thing. It is so different from the world I have lived successfully for forty years as a lawyer. Years ago, when was a young lawyer and was doing litigation I learned that winning a case was far better than losing. I liked winning and I worked really hard so that the winning part came predictably. I found it was much easier to win if I carefully chose my clients and the cases for which I would mount a war. There really are cases and causes that are worthy and clients that are sympathetic and deserving. But at the end of the day, I would be the first to admit that I like to win. Like lawyers everywhere my ego needs feeding. I admit it.

Now as I walk down this path as an author, I really have mixed emotions about reviews. Of course, I would be lying if I said that I did not welcome a good review. I do. I love it when someone says that they like my books. I really do. I had hoped from day one that people would like them. However, what I did not expect was the effects of bad reviews or no reviews at all. Bad reviews are the other side of the coin of good reviews. For some reason, unkind words are more easily written to a stranger in the virtual world that is the internet. In one respect they are devastating. Yet, the sting of criticism keeps me grounded in the here and now. Even the harsh words of criticism are part of the learning experience. Bad reviews are something to help me grow and learn and they represent more feedback than I ever got from a jury or a judge. I have lived my life for many long years and I know that not everyone will like me or like what I do or how I express myself. I wouldn’t be grounded in the real world if I didn’t know and understand that ultimate truth. I can live with the bad reviews, and yes, in today’s vernacular, “I get over it!” The criticism builds a resistance–a type of insulation. There haven’t been many bad reviews but the few that I have had are appreciated. I hope that they help me to learn how to be an author and write with my full heart into the story.

Even harder to take than the bad reviews are the “no reviews”, although this too is understandable in today’s world. Who has time, or who wants to take the time to write a review to help someone else learn. That is the sad reality. Unfortunately, there are few mentors who care enough for a total stranger to pen encouraging words.

I’ve been reading the author blogs about reviews. It seems I am not the only one out there with mixed emotions about reviews. The blogs are helpful because they have shown me the uncomfortable reality–if you are going to play on the stage with the writers, the professional ones don’t get too hung up on what other people say about their works. Thanks guys. That’s what I needed to hear.

 

Encouraging Words

I keep hearing nice things about my books. It is what keeps me going. Many days it is just easier to slip into my normal role as an attorney and ignore the angst, uncertainty and hard work that goes with this author bit. Surprisingly, some days, I find that it hard to write even the most routine things—something I always loved to do. I look for and find excuses—any excuse—not to write. I don’t know why, it just is. I know the lawyer part—it is second nature to me now. It is easy. But, this author gig, it really is hard work.

Just when it all seems to be for naught, something unexpectedly happens. Someone will send a kind word, or say something to me or leave a glowing review at Amazon. My day brightens and I can get back to writing. Here are a few of the really nice reviews people have written about Tender Offers:

“You have now joined the ranks of those few authors whose books you can’t put down and whose stories you never want to end. (I do hope there’s going to be a sequel.)
With each page I read, I was more and more impressed with the authenticity of dialogue, descriptive background (amazing detail!), and situational analysis. Your character development is excellent and very believable.” CB

“Having worked for the senior partner at the world’s largest law firm (Baker & McKenzie), I know legal-speak, and how attorneys act and work to get the best accomplished for their clients. It doesn’t matter where this story is located ~ the theme is pertinent to anyone who may deal with attorneys, especially when it comes to their career. Author Russell has put together a story of personalities that the reader can relate to at several levels ~ the most important for any book being the emotional and professional levels. As the reader goes on this journey of understanding the machinations of behind-the-scenes, they may find themselves with a new-found knowledge of the legal world, which will only benefit them in the future. Along with learning about how attorneys think, act, and work ~ the reader is taken along a journey that is interesting, fun, and impossible to put down. Two thumbs up!” PW

“Crystal Russell you are a spellbinding author. I am half way through your book and would stay up all night to finish it if I didn’t have to go to the office tomorrow. I sure hope you are working on book #3!!!” JM

It isn’t so much that the reviews are so glowing—of course, I love that. Yes, I want people to like my books. The real significance is that kind words were written and I felt enveloped in generous thoughts. These kind words keep me going, and make this whole writing thing worthwhile. It made me realize how lucky I am to have someone actually read my books and then take the time to write their thoughts. What an act of kindness.

I am an avid reader—always have been—averaging two to three books a month. I can’t remember all the books that I’ve read through the years, but there have been many. I read books of every genre, fiction, history, biography, politics—literally books of every kind and description. Some have been good and some have been great, but I never rated any. I am ashamed to admit that I never sent a note to the author to let him or her know how much I appreciated the book. Now, I think about the whole thing differently. I no longer just read for my own enjoyment. I really try to at least acknowledge the effort and leave a review.

I guess this is another of life’s lessons (just when I thought that I had gained all the wisdom that age can bestow). The reality is that we all are interconnected. A happy thought is like a baby’s laughter—contagious–and it spreads loving thoughts and happiness. A rude or mean thought generates unhappiness, and it too is spread.

Our computer age gives us anonymity to hide behind the screen of an unseeing eye and be just as mean as we want to be. Wouldn’t it be lovely if everyone just spread kind and loving thoughts? What would things be like if everyone just skipped the rude remarks? I can dream, can’t I?