Tom Gauthier, Novelist

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IF IT’S SIMPLE, IT MUST BE EASY, RIGHT?

12/28/2014

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As a writer, during social get-togethers I often hear the reflective comment, “I’d really like to write a book someday. I’ve started a few times … got some of what I wrote around here someplace.” Sound familiar? We’ve all been there. I’ve still got some very yellowed sheets of lined paper with the first half of the first chapter of a great idea I had for a book—fifty years ago … around here someplace.

For this week’s blog I swap my writers hat for my my psychology hat blog and take a shot at explaining why we too often avoid what we really want. So please stay with me as I build some thoughts for you. Questions: What is the opposite of SIMPLE? Can you go with COMPLEX? Good, now what is a word you associate with SIMPLE? How about EASY. Take a deep breath and answer me this: If SIMPLE is the opposite of COMPLEX, does that mean then that EASY is also the opposite of COMPLEX? The answer (if you haven’t already shook your head) is NO. So what then is the opposite of EASY? Let’s go with DIFFICULT.

If you’re staying with me this far (thank you!) we’ve established two pairs of words as opposites: SIMPLE and COMPLEX—EASY and DIFFICULT. After I promise you that this is going someplace, I want to ask you to characterize the difference between the sets of words. Here’s a hint: Deciding that a task is SIMPLE/COMPLEX is intellectual and theoretical. It involves our knowing and understanding the task. Further, deciding that the task is EASY/DIFFICULT is first emotional, then practical and leads to doing or performing the task. So we know if a task is going to be Simple or Complex. But we first feel then realize by doing that the task is Easy or Difficult.

Here’s where it begins to come home. How many of us know what to do but just don’t do it? Like every one of us? Do we berate ourselves because we “know better” and yet did not act on our wisdom? Just how complex is it to understand that smoking is bad for our health (and how bad we smell!) and that we should stop? You know the next question: How easy is it to stop?

Wait a minute … if we can understand it, shouldn’t we be able to do it?

Okay, so just understanding something doesn’t necessarily mean we can do it. I got that.

Is writing a book complex? Since most of you have tried it, how easy is it to actually do?

Where am I going with these word games? I just want you to begin to understand why it is that folks who know how to do something can’t do it. You’ve heard it, “Boy am I dumb—it’s so simple! I should be able to do it.” What they forget is that knowing and doing involve two separate sets of skills—one intellectual and the other emotional.

Learning to write involves both of these stages. At first the whole process seems to be more complex than you thought, but then as you study it further it becomes simple—or at least simpler. Then you are at the point where you actually have to do it. Here comes the point--that which is simple to understand is difficult to do. The good news is that when you try it, you practice it, you stick to it awhile and it becomes easier.

Come on, kids … my little lesson here is not going to magically make you fearless, emotional giants with all the skills of writing down pat. But it’s a start. I’m leaving you today with a “thinking assignment.” Think about this. Before you sell a story or a book you have to be sold on yourself. If you’re not sold on yourself, it will show in your writing. Whether you call it motivation or self-confidence, when you’re sold on yourself it shows in your work.

I’m not making this up. Psychologists have long studied successful people to uncover some of their “secrets” that we can all apply. “Sold on themselves” jumped out. There’s more and it’s learnable—and next week we’ll jump into it. In meantime, gear up for an incredible NEW YEAR, and keep on writing.

 

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THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE—A STORY TO BE RETOLD TO A NEW GENERATION

12/21/2014

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As a writer of historical fiction, often focused on military events, a unique story is always welcome. With Christmas coming this week one such story needs to be retold again. So, if I may, please read the classic, Christmas Truce.

During World War I, in the bitter winter of 1914, on the battlefields of Flanders, one of the most unusual events in all of human history took place. The Germans had been in a fierce battle with the British and French. Both sides were dug in, safe in muddy, man-made trenches six to eight feet deep that seemed to stretch forever.

All of a sudden, German troops began to put small Christmas trees, lit with candles, outside of their trenches. Then they began to sing songs. Across the way, in their own fortified trenches, came songs from the British and French troops. Incredibly, many of the Germans who had worked in England before the war were able to speak good enough English to propose a "Christmas" cease fire. A spontaneous truce resulted and soldiers left their trenches, meeting in the middle of "no man's land" to shake hands.

The first order of business was to bury the dead who had been previously unreachable because of the conflict. Then, they exchanged gifts—chocolate cake, cognac, postcards, newspapers, and tobacco. In a few places along the trenches soldiers exchanged rifles for soccer balls and began to play soccer in the snow.

According to Stanley Weintraub’s book, Silent Night: "Signboards arose up and down the trenches in a variety of shapes. They were usually in English, or—from the Germans—in fractured English. Rightly, the Germans assumed that the other side could not read traditional gothic lettering, and that few English understood spoken German. 'YOU NO FIGHT, WE NO FIGHT' was the most frequently employed German message. Some British units improvised 'MERRY CHRISTMAS' banners and waited for a response. More placards on both sides popped up."

Rare photos shows German soldiers of the 134th Saxon Regiment and British soldiers of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment meeting in "no man's land" on December 26, 1914. But the truce didn't last forever. In fact, some of the generals didn't like it at all and commanded their troops to resume shooting at each other. After all, they were in a war. Soldiers eventually did resume shooting at each other. But for a few precious moments there was peace on earth, good will toward men.

There's something about Christmas that changes people. It happened over 2000 years ago in a little town called Bethlehem. It's been happening over and over again down through the years of time. Although the Christmas Truce of 1914 may seem like a distant myth to those now at arms in parts of the world where vast cultural differences between combatants make such an occurrence impossible, it remains a symbol of hope to those who believe that a recognition of our common humanity may someday reverse the maxim that "Peace is harder to make than war."

The Peace of the Season to you all. Take the moment to remember, and to resolve more calmness and outward focus on those around you in the future. Enjoy a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and my sincere wish for a Safe, Peaceful, and Prosperous New Year.

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TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU WILL EVER BE AGAIN, SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS

12/13/2014

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Most of the folks who ask me about writing and publishing, interested in doing it themselves, are adults. So far only one has been as old as I am, but that’s not germane to this post. My advice is always the same—you’re never too old as long as you have the desire. Of course you will have to dust off some old skills and knowledge bases and be ready to pick up a few more. But that is a very good reason to act on your desire to write—stimulation of those rusty brain cells.  

In an earlier posting I talked about your CHARACTERS. Let’s revisit it. Think about your favorite story or book. What is it you remember about it right off? Is it the plot? Or is it the Characters? If you’re like me the Characters pop up first. In Steve Berry’s great novels Cotton Malone is my best friend. Once he wrote a book or two without Cotton—and his fans raised a stink. Cotton is back! My own running character is Amos Mead. I can’t imagine writing a book without him—much to the chagrin of my publisher who is asking me for another kind of book at the moment—which I’m dutifully writing and will be back to Amos in a jiffy when completed.

Why did I ask you about characters who stand out to you? Because too many of you focus on the plot of your story with too much emphasis, pushing your characters into the foggy corners of memory. Look, the fact is about all stories have already been written in one form or another. What’s going to make your story stand out above the rest? Your CHARACTERS—those imaginary friends of yours who actually write the story for you.

So as you write your story, focus keenly on your characters. Your protagonist—that hero—and your antagonist—the villain—even the folks around the edges of your story who don’t get a name but are important to your story are what makes your story unique. The story has been told before—but not with your characters and the twists and turns they bring to how you tell it.

So put the light on your characters, bring them alive, live your story through them and listen as they tell it to you. 

Enjoy your week and all of the preparations you’re making for the coming holidays.

 

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HOW TO WRITE THE “GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL,” OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

12/7/2014

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Vince Lombardi is quoted as telling his players, “Let’s get down to the basics: This is a football!”

With that thought from a great coach, let’s start thinking about learning to write your great book from the first baby-steps.

First, to think about becoming a writer you MUST be a reader. Read, read, read anything you can get your hands on, especially the genre you want to write. If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have time to write! Lots of people say, “I’ve always wanted to write a novel.” We call these folk wannabes—don’t be a wannabe. Any writing project is a daunting prospect, freezing some people up just thinking about it. Some folks wait, and wait, for inspiration. Okay, I’ll admit it—even experienced writers can find it easier to do anything else than actually writing. So turn off the TV, your smart phone, your I-pad, your X-games, and anything that distracts you by buzzing, ringing or flashing.

Okay, now you may assume the position: Sitting and staring at your keyboard. Your first task is to decide on a story. Or at least the germ of an idea for a story. Let your mind go loose, ask yourself, “What if (that thing happened to that person)?” or absolutely anything that crosses your mind. Grab the thought and get it on screen. Complete sentences don’t count—yet. When you write a story, you are telling yourself the story. And you will tell it through the eyes of your characters. You will give your characters some dialog—and then listen to where they take you (more on that in future).

Let’s take a step back. When you get your story idea, think about your characters. Keep the number down to two or three (not more than five with names). Choose your protagonist (hero) and your antagonist (villain), give them names and descriptions. Here’s the tediously, devilish hard part now: write everything you know or imagine about each character. Where did they grow up? What do they like/dislike to eat? Bad habits? Parents? Physical characteristics? Love life? Everything. You will not use ninety percent of what you wrote—but when you give the character action and dialog it will reflect what YOU know about them and thus they will become an individual personality on the page.

Stephen King, the great author of contemporary horror, supernatural fiction, and suspense, says, “The magic is in you. I’m convinced that fear is at the root of most bad writing. Don’t worry about making other people happy. If you intend to write as truthfully as you can, your days as a member of polite society are numbered, anyway.”

 

Let me know what you plan to write about. Maybe you’ve already begun. I’d love to hear what that is. There are a ton of “rules,” “do’s and don’ts,” cautions and guidelines out there. But for now don’t give them a thought or worry—dive in and write, one word at a time. Whether it’s a love note or an epic like War and Peace, it’s written one word at a time.

I’ll follow some sort of sequence of suggestions in future blogs, but if a question is burning you, please ask. Somewhere out there lies an answer waiting for your inquiring mind.

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    Retired Business Exec who made a career in organizational development and personal improvement counseling and teaching around the world. Now, for the past ten years, I write novels. I've had great teachers and role models and I want to share what I've learned with you. 

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