PolyProse

I finished the first draft of my debut novel this year and learned a great deal throughout that process. While writing, I read and watched the advice of others. Initially, I appreciated their insights, but as my writing improved, I found their advice insufficient. Their tips were typically superficial and lacked actionable steps. “Make your character flawed.” “Make your dialogue sound natural.” “Don’t write cliques.” “Avoid these ten tropes.” The majority of the advice I encountered also seemed to discourage writers and limit their creativity.
As time went on, I began to disagree with the approach of these creators. Writing is a complex subject to teach others. There is no “one story” that everyone is trying to write. It’s not mathematics with order of operations, or history with concrete moments in time. Writing lives in the gray area between exception and ubiquity. I have wanted to share my advice with a different approach for many years. However, I was worried that I would fail or not be good enough. I’m no Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, or Margaret Atwood. But that’s okay! I may not be a writer’s final destination, but I’m proud to be a steppingstone on their path towards success.