A Writer's Skills & Attributes

Again, the Complete Idiot's Guide, Chapter 1.

A serious question: (please, I need you to be real serious, like a Senator before voting a bill)
Do I have the necessary skills and attributes to become a writer?

Tom Monteleone mentions 6 items:
1. Basic writing ability.
2. Natural storytelling talent.
3. The right temperament.
4. A natural and abiding curiosity.
5. A sense of humor.
6. A support group.

1. Basic Writing Ability

As you might notice, English is not my native language (it would be completely evident if you listened to my pronunciation). Spanish is my native language, and I studied elementary, junior high, and high school in French. So, English is my third language. Writing in English is indeed a challenge but I think I can communicate most of my ideas. So, no problema with number 1.

2. Natural Storytelling Talent

Tom says he was a storyteller since he was a kid, and he knew at a very young age he wanted to be a writer.

This was different with me. I liked to read since I was a kid, and I used to make up stories in order to get my parents confused (especially when I had done something wrong), and I liked to write letters to my family abroad, but I was not particularly good at storytelling.

I did some acting (theater) between the age of 10 and 12, and I certainly wanted to become a professional actor. When I read adventure novels in elementary and junior high, I used to think of filming those stories. But I always thought directing a movie would be way too difficult. My third option was to become a writer, and I began writing my diary when I was a teenager. That was certainly pleasurable, but I could never "jump" to the next level, to the writing of fiction, until I was 35 years old. Yes, I wrote a small novel, but I didn't like the outcome, so I will never show it to anyone.

3. The Right Temperament

Tom Monteleone says:
"When you distill all the unnecessary elements of a writer's personality and you see what's left in the collecting jar, you find massive quantities of toughness, resilience, and ego."

Well, I have 2 of 3: resilience and ego, but not sure about the thoughness.

Tom was tough because rejection could not deviate him from his goal, which was becoming a writer. And he got rejected many, many times.

Rejection has always daunted me. Good topic to discuss with my shrink. Maybe I can find some toughness inside, some stubbornness. Why not?

"Never take no for your final answer."

4. A Natural and Abiding Curiosity

No problema with this one: I am always trying to learn something new. But I can also go beyond.
Tom says: "Never be satisfied with anything you hear, see, or read."

Tom also recommends to be tuned with your subconscious, especially when you are stuck.

5. A Sense of Humor

I do have that in Spanish, sometimes, when I am relaxed, or drunk. A little tougher in English (have you ever tried to joke in a foreign language?) but who knows, maybe with a little practice...
Not everybody likes my sense of humor, but I know how to joke about myself. I mean, I know how to take myself or my work not seriously. Sometimes, I even find myself ridiculous (I use to walk and talk to myself using my hands, and showing my emotions), and I laugh at my stupid thoughts.

6. A Support Group

I don't have one. Is there a support group on the web? I'll have to do some research.

My wife? Can she become my support group? Well, yes, the only problem is she is usually very, very busy. Otherwise she could be my best proof-reader: her English is better than mine, she is an avid reader, she loves novels, she is usually nice, but she can also be a good critic. A problem with seeing me at home typing on my lap-top? No way, I always work at home on my lap-top. She also works at home on her Mac (I am a PC guy, she is a Mac gal). No problema...

My friends? Yep, maybe.

My blog? Yep!!!! The whole idea of writing here is to get feedback, honest feedback from friends and strangers.

And that was it with Tom's Guide's Chapter 1.

Guide's Introduction

Well, I finally opened the GD Complete idiot's Guide to Writing a Novel (applauses somewhere in the distance). And it is really fun!
The author, Tom Monteleone, has written 25 novels --which I haven't read, many are horror novels, which I don't like, and some are science fiction, thrillers, suspense, which I love, and will read-- and he says he will teach me a lot of things I have to avoid. That's good, especially when you blaze the trail...
Tom says: "There's no magic or secret knowledge in the writing of a novel. There are techniques, guidelines, and even a few tricks..."
Wow!
I don't know if I would like to meet him...
Let me explain: He says people who have just met him always ask 3 stupid questions:
1. Have you ever had anything published?
2. Dou you use your real name?
3. Where do you guys get all your crazy ideas?
I am sure I would ask at least 2 of these most stupid questions...
Anyway, Tom writes a sentence I like. He says his ideas come "from the molten core of my imagination, from the pit of my fears and the heights of my dreams..."
Not bad.
More tips by Tom Monteleone:
"It will be to your benefit if you have the following items:

• The support and belief of those close to you.
• Time.
• Talent.

Ok, on page 1, there is a cartoon of a patient telling his psychoanalist 'I want to be a writer, but I'm afraid I'm not any good'.

That was me today at my shrink... funny!

Goals

Well, a new blog... :(
Another blog about writing a novel... :(((
Another idiot trying to play Dan Brown...

Let me explain what I'd like to achieve here.
First of all, I am one of those millions of people who have dreamt of writing a novel (I already did but nobody noticed).
Second: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing a Novel has been standing on my bookshelf for decades and I must confess I have not even read the first page (even though I have searched the name of the author --Tom Monteleone-- in Wikipedia).
Third: I went to the shrink today, and told him I wanted to write a novel, and he replied 'Why haven't you started doing it?' And I thought, 'Yes, why haven't I started doing it?'
He asked me if I had thought of a plot or something, and I found myself telling a comprehensive story, one I had thought of writing several years ago but got stuck with in the first chapter.
Now, I have this guide for idiots, and I think it could be fun to report here how my novel advances while I read the guide.
First thing to do then: relax, breath in deep and breath out long, and OPEN THE GUIDE!