Go in green and make your own rules 🌱

Today's guest is New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison.

Every writer has to find their own creative path.

With an overwhelming amount of craft and publishing advice available to emerging authors today, it’s easy to feel pressured to follow a “right” way of doing things. You might find yourself carefully adhering to strict plot formulas in hopes of producing a compelling story or obsessively researching the market to see what stories are trending next.

But the best stories come from a place of authenticity and originality — and often, that means breaking free of restrictive rules and trusting your unique voice as an author.

Being green can be a good thing.

Sometimes, ignorance truly is bliss. With the pressures of today’s publishing industry pulling new writers in many directions, from social media to building a platform, it can be easy to lose sight of what’s most important: the writing itself.

So, if the noise of online advice is starting to distract you, take a step back. Allow yourself to approach the page with a beginner’s mind, and focus on producing great work rather than feeling you must be an expert on every facet of the business from the start.

In today’s interview, New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison shares the “writer math” she uses to draft her books, how going in green to the publishing industry helped her maintain focus, and why, even now, the writing always comes first.

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OUR SPECIAL GUEST TODAY IS…

J.T. Ellison

New York Times Bestselling Author

J.T.’s new release, A Very Bad Thing, is available now!

What is the most memorable writing tip or technique that you have heard, and how did it influence your process?

When I was drafting my first book, I wrote a famous author named Stuart Woods and asked him if it was okay for me to bring in a main series character fifteen chapters into the story instead of having him in the first few pages, as I'd been told. He said this: "There are no rules except those you create, page by page." That was unbelievably profound, especially because I came out of a creative writing world where I was taught the "right" way to write. I've never felt so free, and it shows in my writing. I do what's right for the story and the characters, and I don't pay any attention to the "proper" way of doing things.

What is one thing you wish you had known about the publishing process before going through it yourself?

Honestly, it has changed so dramatically in the 20 years I've been in the business. I went into it totally blind, totally green, and that was actually a good thing. Working those first few years in a relative vacuum was bliss compared to the many distractions that exist now.

Now, there's so much advice and instruction available to new writers that I think it's both easier and harder. You're being told all the ways this industry does and doesn't work (not always correctly) and you're expected to be a publishing expert before you get your first contract, to have a useful platform and huge following. Sometimes it feels like we've lost the mystique of "writer" and I'm not sure that's helpful to the creative spirit. That's a long-winded way of saying don't try to be all things to all people. Work on your craft, pick one social media platform, and own it, and do the work. In the end, a book they can't ignore will trump any social media following.

How do you balance finding time to write and managing other obligations and responsibilities?

It's is a truth known to all writers that there are a million things pulling at your time and attention that are not the actual crafting of a book. That's why the rule is: Writing first, no matter what. You do the work for the gig that pays the most, and then you can do all the ancillary stuff–social media, blogging, PR, and the like. I wear a lot of hats, from writer to publisher to TV host to blogger, and I set aside specific days and times to fulfill those aspects of my career. I like to do administrative work and appointments on Thursdays and Fridays, which leaves me undisturbed creative time Monday - Wednesday. But even on those admin days, the writing always comes first.

What's one writing "rule" or commonly followed piece of advice that you decidedly break?

Don't write about writers... to which I say writers are the lifeblood of publishing, and everyone wants to see the veil pulled back. On the other side of that statement, I'm also not a huge fan of "write what you know." I think exploring different worlds, cultures, and characters outside of your experience and expertise makes for richer, deeper stories.

How did you get your literary agent? What was the querying process like for you?

My first agent approached me after seeing my "website" on Publishers Marketplace. I was getting ready to query him, so it was serendipitous. My current agent, who I've been with for many years now, I got through a word-of-mouth recommendation. I was well-established by then so it was a little easier, but it was also serendipity–she's perfect for me.

I really encourage new writers to talk at length to the agent(s) offering representation. Find out what their style is. Will they be calling you weekly, or will you only hear from them when there's news? Setting up a communication plan is vital so you aren't spending weeks and months wondering where you stand. A good agent/author relationship is like a marriage; communication upfront about what you both expect is key. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need. Would you rather be left alone? Or do you need motivation? Will they edit your work or is that the editor's job? Ask ALL your questions before you choose to accept representation.

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Are you a plotter or a pantser? What's your personal drafting process like?

I'm a plantser. I don't like to outline, but I do like to have an idea of what the story is about. I use a method called 40 Scenes. Anything that might be relevant to the story goes in those scenes–snippets of dialogue, a setting, a plot point. The idea is writer math: For each of those scenes, I can get a 2,000-word chapter. And 40 scenes at 2,000 words each gets me to 80,000 words, which is almost a full draft's worth of story. It's helpful and doesn't have the same sort of constraints I feel from trying to follow a strict outline.

I shoot for 1,000 words a day, five days a week. When I'm starting a new book or story, sometimes I only get 200-300 words, and that feels like a triumph. Toward the end, 3,000 and up is more the norm. The first 25,000 (1/4 of the book) is like pulling fossils from rocks. After that, it feels easier, and I get a lot of momentum. Drafting can take anywhere from 4-7 months, depending on how things are working. I do at least one book a year and this is the perfect pace for me.

How do you personally get over writer's block?

Take a walk, play some golf, and then go back to the beginning and read. I firmly believe block is simply the story telling you that you've gone in the wrong direction. Yes, there's the real block that comes from personal places. That's a different beast and usually needs external intervention. For me, though, if I sit down to work and nothing comes out for a few days, I know I've gone off the rails somewhere.

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