The Seven Deadly Sins of Writing - Gluttony

What do turquoise waters and clear blue skies have to do with gluttony? One word: Vacation. As in, the one I was on last week - in the sunny, warm - wherein loads of solidly mediocre food was omnipresent and wherein I ate WAAAAY too much of it.

Clearly, the writerly sin of gluttony has little to do with food. I don't say 'it has nothing to do with' because food *can* be involved in the writer's sin of gluttony. More to the point, however, food provides a handy metaphor to talk about gluttony.

Writers can be gluttons in a couple of ways:
1. Biting off more than you can chew
2. Binging
3. Refusing to take a break despite your body's signals that you'd better

The first one is easy and seductive. You're going to write a NOVEL. And you're going to do it right now. This weekend. Well. Okay. This week. No. Look! That novel in a month thing! But you're going to write ALL THE WORDS!

Oh. Look. That encompasses both numbers 1 and 2. Does that make me a glutton? Mm. Vacation established that. Back to the point - You have a goal to write a novel. That's brilliant. It's just that goals are slippery, slimy little bastards. We all know we should have them, but they squirm out of that SMART acronym with alarming ease. (Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely) It's really, really hard to break your dreams of grandeur into itty-bitty, baby bites without feeling like you're stabbing yourself in the soul.

Yet you know, either from horrific example or really tough experience, what happens when you stuff half a cow in your maw. You choke.

Samething happens when you try to stuff too big a writing goal into your day to day. Which brings us to the binge.

From a psychological standpoint, a binge is usually an attempt to fill an emotional rather than a physical hunger. The problem, of course, is that while foods are mind altering substances (put down that chocolate, coffee, cola or adult beverage if you don't believe me) our bodies aren't really designed to take emotional sustenance from food. A writing binge is a bit the same - it addresses fear and insecurity, but only on a short term basis. It isn't possible to build a lasting, sustainable, healthy career entirely on binges. And we all know what comes after the binge, anyway. The purge.

Law of nature. For every action there is that equal and opposite reaction. A writing marathon to meet a deadline? Sure. Justify it. But know you're going to pay for it with days of recovery, which so smoothly slips into weeks of not writing. Then you're binging again, stuffing anything and everything on the page in a terrified attempt to fill that gaping hole of blank space so you can make that deadline. And you're haunted by the fear that this isn't your best work. It can't be. It's going too fast. You're putting in too many hours, pouring too many words through your all too human neurons and you can't THINK.

Thus point 3: Ignoring your body's pleas for a break or more ideally, for a pace that makes sustainable sense. You might be a glutton if you're reaching for a substance - legal or not, food, drink, treat, whatever - to stave off sleep and to buy you a few more hours of productivity. This comes regardless of the price tag. In no way am I saying that a cup of coffee to shift your brain from 'sleep' to 'awake' means you're a gluttonous sinner doomed to an eternity in a Bosch painting. It's when you can't function without the substance that you've slipped over an edge that might not be in your best interest.

The only way to guard against gluttony is to break everything up into tiny, bite-sized pieces and then to parse out those pieces across the days per week you spend at the keyboard. Sit down, do your bites, get up, walk away and have a life. It sounds so easy. It's so hard to do.

Binging especially can be such an addictive high. Deadlines produce adrenaline, and boy, fingers and thoughts fly under the influence of that stuff. It's just that it's also really hard on your heart. And a bunch of other organs you're sort of attached to.

No matter how small you cut up your bites, you're sometimes going to feel as if you've bitten off more than you can chew. That's pushing your boundries a bit and it's healthy. It won't paralyze you. Choking will. An occassional writing marathon to squeeze a novella in between your novels on deadline? Absolutely. It'll rejuvenate you and make you feel alive. But constant binge/purge cycles will drain your creativity at the very least.

The Seven Deadly Sins of Writing - Lust

by Allison Pang

Well, being that it's Valentine's Day today, it seemed like lust would be the natural choice of sins, wouldn't it? And sure, Valentine's is about love and all that mushy stuff, but Feb 14th is also the second day of Lupercalia - a fabulous pagan celebration which has to do with fertility and purity, symbolized by wolves and the god Pan. (And Pan was a satyr, remember. Pure lust, all the way.) Plus the main ceremony for Lupercalia involved half naked men running through the streets, flogging naked women with thongs of goat and dog skin.

Sexy, no?

*ahem*

So now that we've got that out of the way, how does lust match up in scheme of writerly sins?

Lust is usually associated with sex, and often in a negative way. (e.g. a lust for power). But really, lust is just the flip side of desire - after all, we also hear about people having a lust for life, or being struck by wanderlust, so the concept of lust by itself isn't exactly sinful. I mean, change up the words a little - a thirst for knowledge sounds a bit tamer than a lust for knowledge - even though it's the same thing.

Without desire, we lose what makes us drive forward to success. Most of us desire to publish our stories, or just share them - but it's the *need* to share those stories that allows us to slog through revisions and rejections, to keep trying and trying and trying.

So where's the negative in that?

Well, if you take lust as a sin literally - as in Thomas Aquinas' version:

...wherever there occurs a special kind of deformity whereby the venereal act is rendered unbecoming, there is a determinate species of lust. This may occur in two ways: First, through being contrary to right reason, and this is common to all lustful vices; secondly, because, in addition, it is contrary to the natural order of the venereal act as becoming to the human race: and this is called "the unnatural vice." This may happen in several ways. First, by procuring pollution, without any copulation, for the sake of venereal pleasure: this pertains to the sin of "uncleanness" which some call "effeminacy." Secondly, by copulation with a thing of undue species, and this is called "bestiality." Thirdly, by copulation with an undue sex, male with male, or female with female, as the Apostle states (Rm. 1:27): and this is called the "vice of sodomy." Fourthly, by not observing the natural manner of copulation, either as to undue means, or as to other monstrous and bestial manners of copulation.

Well, okay, I don't *like* his views per se - since he was pretty much against everything from masturbation to homosexuals, (I'll pass on the bestiality, thanks). But what he's saying is that lust is wrong because when the desire for pleasure becomes so encompassing that you're actually considering sex with a goat, you've got a problem.

For writers, I think this concept translates pretty well. When your desire for success is so large that you become ruthless to achieve it, then....yeah.

For example - social media. Starting a campaign on Facebook or Twitter asking people to buy your book or click like tags is one thing, and part of the typical publishing thing these days (although some people go overboard with it) - but let's say you take it a step further.  We've all seen some pretty ugly stories come to light the last few months, particularly on GoodReads and Amazon, where badly-behaved authors purposefully give shitty reviews or bad tags to try to make the competition look bad. Straw-man reviews. Plagiarizing.

Sometimes it's not even all that obvious. The person may not even realize they're doing it. I'm sure many of us have run into writers who have a tendency to "use" others until those people are no longer considered valuable. Making contacts is always good - publishing can often be a game of who you know - but it stings when you realize someone you thought was a friend or a professional colleague gives you the brush off because they don't think you have anything else to offer them. (Only to have them come simpering back when you do succeed later on.)

It becomes a very slippery slope, very quickly.

 It's hard. We all want to write that best-seller and hop our way into fortune and fame. And people's ideals and values vary - what I find distasteful may be business as usual to someone else. But as excited as we may become on our journey up that success ladder, sometimes it's useful to take a step back and really measure what it is we're about to do.

If you look in the mirror and find yourself bending over for a goat? Time to rethink your priorities, my friends.

Seven Deadly Writer Sins: SLOTH

by Linda Robertson

Sometimes, I don't want to write.

Gasp! Say it ain't so!

But it is so.  Most days I am willing to spend endless hours at the computer being creative and word-geeky in every way.  But there are some days, especially in the aftermath of finishing a novel when the self-editing portion of the work is rockin and rollin at it's uniquely monotonous full-speed ahead phase, I have to bribe myself to keep my butt in the chair for a few hours. (**The upside of this arrangement is I know exactly what enticement to dangle.)

Oh yes. There are days when I'd rather

go to the dentist than write.

To define this Deadly Writer's Sin, I consulted the all-knowing oracle (snerk) the esteemed Lady Wikipedia, who breathed deep of the mystical vapors and in an professional font proclaimed:

"Sloth can entail different vices. While sloth is sometimes defined as physical laziness, spiritual laziness is emphasized. Failing to develop spiritually is key to becoming guilty of sloth. In the Christian faith, sloth rejects grace and God.

"Sloth has also been defined as a failure to do things that one should do. By this definition, evil exists when good men fail to act."

Intervention!!!!

1.) Physical Laziness.      If my butt (or in your case, yours) isn't in the chair, the writing isn't getting done. If it doesn't get done, I don't have a product to sell. I cannot publish an unfinished or nonexistent story, but adjourning for a lunch with my gal pals, postponing the desk-work in favor of lingering over the luxurious task of sock-mating, or any other means of selling myself the American procrastinating Dream can with all Godspeed go nowhere fast.

          Moral: Write. Finish. Repeat.

2.) Failure to Develop. (aka Failure To Do Things That One Should Do) 
     Many people dream of being writers and do manage to keep their backsides in the chair...to simply string sentences together. Much more than that is required, to write well and to sell. Those sentences have to craft a story with heart, populated with characters that are unique, and be told with a style and in a voice that holds the attention of readers. 
     You can write as you want, of whatever you want, until the end of your days. But until you are willing to look hard at your weak spots, to see your flaws, to learn why you err, and relearn new habits, in other words--until you are willing to rise to the challenge you have embraced, and push yourself to grow, you won't develop. If you're lucky, you'll be continually growing. But you have to be open to the experience. You have to be vulnerable to gain feedback. Granted, not everyone can give constructive and professional criticism, but you simply must be able to take criticism when it is constructive and given in a professional manner. Finding someone to work with, such as beta readers, writer's groups...that's a trial and error process that can work, but it takes  time and effort to align the folks that will be most advantageous to your growth. 
     Reading well-written books, reading how-to's and doing the author exercises in popular workbooks are a more solitary approach and can work as well. You know yourself, which path is right for you? Which path will force you to write better, to write more knowingly?
     The bottom line is, most folks in the business don't have the time to hold your hand and walk you through it, sunshine. You better be a self-starter, motivated to write, ready to accept flaws and willing to work on them. Otherwise you will stagnate where you are, leading you to the bitterness and resentment that comes with some of the other sins...like wrath, envy, greed.
     A day off is no sin. But making excuses instead of word count, whining instead of writing, gets you nowhere. Choose where you want to be and then commit and make that journey.

          Moral: It's up to you to level your own self up.

He accepted the responsibility, despite his fears, and faced the foe head on...and leveled up. I dare you to do the same with your writing.

7 Deadly Sins of Writers: ENVY

A little behind the bordello peek, dear readers: when we were parsing the sins, there was snickering about the token unpub getting the sin of envy.

If the green shoes fit...

What? They do. Size 9 if you must know.  I am not so inured to the world that I don't feel envy.

When that form-letter rejection shows up in my box while a friend is hooting in delight about the three-book deal he just signed?

When every other tweet in the stream is someone promoting a book I actually read didn't remotely enjoy?

When a CP is wrapping up their fifth book and I'm still grappling with the same damn story?

When I go to a Con and the authors are swept off to the publisher parties while I sit through another lecture on how to balance world-building against plot progression and character development?

Book cover reveals? Local signings? Lecture circuits? Industry panels? Requests to write a book? Movie adaptation? Action figures? Translations in 20+ languages? Every frippin' story about the .00001% who made it big?

Yes, yes, I do know the exact shade of green my eyes turn. Why? Because I allow myself to feel envy. Because -- as Jeffe and James have both said -- a taste of sin is a great motivator.

Also, repressing emotions is unhealthy. 

However. I don't cling to the emotion. I don't stuff it in my bra and hope it makes me look more appealing. I feel the burn of a hostile emotion. I recognize it as envy. I shake it's hand.  

I let it go. 

I cringe when authors -- aspiring or published -- flaunt their envy. I bet most of them don't realize which sin is at the root of their disproportionate spite. They are too busy tearing down those around them that they can't hear the internal voice saying, "It's us, dummy. The problem is self-contained. Other people didn't do anything to us."

"You are being a fucktard." 

Envy transforms somewhat well-adjusted adults into snarky teenagers picking apart the popular kids. Dirty looks, snide asides, not-so-quiet whispers -- all the classic  passive-aggressive behaviors. Envy isn't as flamboyant as Wrath or as pretentious as Pride. Envy is insidious. It is the sin that starts rumors. Rumors in the era of constant connectivity are very easy to spread and even easier to get back to the targets of the envy. Rumors in the tight community of publishing will come back and bite the creator in the ass.

Whenever I'm bitch-slapped by the green-eyed monster, I remind myself: What are the people who have what I want thinking? They aren't thinking about me. They're thinking how they are going to achieve their next goal. Maybe I should stop eyeballing other people's success and focus on obtaining my own. Maybe I should stop sulking, get off my ass, and exceed my own expectations.

What about you, dear readers? Do you have a trick to snap yourself out of a spiteful mood? How do you turn away from the Sin of Envy?


 image: http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=428515

Seven Deadly Sins of Writing - Pride

Aren't these clouds amazing? They hung over the eastern horizon during sunset, so this is all reflected light.

There's something about reflected light that's softer, more subtle than light directly from the source. The sun burns in exothermic glory, sending life-giving radiation into the universe, while the moon reflects it back, modulating the colors, mirroring the shine from the other side of the world to brighten our nights.

Two faces of the coin, which is how the Seven Deadly Sins also work. What can be a virtue can also be a tragic flaw. Take pride, for example.

Pride can be confusing because it's important to have pride in ourselves and in our work. If we're not proud of the work we do, there's a problem. If we don't take pride in ourselves, other people can treat us as doormats. American culture in particular is built on the precept that we can be proud of ourselves, regardless of our class, wealth or station in life.

We're forever telling our kids and spouses that we're proud of them. There are few compliments more moving than to hear that someone you care about and admire is proud of you. We tell each other, "hey, you finished a novel - you should be proud of that!"

So why is pride a sin?

Now, I'm going to back up and caveat that I come from a Catholic family. The Irish Catholic kind with aunts and uncles who are nuns and priests. My parents attended Catholic schools. Sin is a big deal in that kind of background. However, I'm not a practicing Catholic. I don't believe in original sin and I don't think I need to confess my sins to anyone. But sin is a far older idea than the Catholic church. As was the church's Borg-like method of assimilation, they co-opted older traditions into the canon.

Looked at that way, a sin is not failing grade on the Good Catholic report card that must be absolved before you can pass go, collect $200 and enter heaven. Instead, a sin is that thing which escapes your control that runs you instead of you running it.

You know the old saying "pride goeth before a fall"? (Yes, from Proverbs, but that's Old Testament, so predates the Catholic Church.) What that means is, if pride is running you, you'll lose that right before you suffer a loss. Because when pride runs us, we think we're above the slings and arrows that others suffer.

Not true.

So, what mistakes do writers make as a result of the tragic side of Pride?

• Thinking we've made it. A publication does not mean success. A three-book deal is not the E-Ticket to the Cinderella ride. Getting a book published means getting an entry-level job at the big corporation. Anyone who thinks differently is in for some pain.
• Believing we've succeeded because we're Just That Good. I think of this anytime some published author offers the advice to pre-pubs to "just write a really good book." This is especially noxious if it's their first book. Luck, serendipity and persistence are equally, if not more, important. Anyone who doesn't acknowledge that is fooling themselves.
• Pumping ourselves up at the expense of others. I've published with a better house than such-and-so. I write faster. I write more consistently. My books are in x genre which is far superior to y genre. My books do or don't feature this kind of element, therefore mine are more erudite. I don't have to say more on this, right?
• Being too proud to take advice. This is a hard one, because it dances near to the line of knowing when to stand up for your work, and when to recognize that someone else sees what you don't. But this post is about extremes - so those Big Name writers who decided they're Far Too Wonderful to be edited? I'm looking at you.

In all of these, sustaining pride becomes more important than the thing we were proud of in the first place.

Any other ways you all see writers letting pride get in the way?