How Can We Avoid Cookie-Cutter Writing?

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

I like Oreos, especially dipped in milk. Whether I eat one Oreo or a dozen, each and every one is exactly the same shape, size, color, and taste. I like the reliability of knowing what I'm getting with each bite.

And that's fine and good for cookies.

But what about with books? Should writers use cookie cutters as they shape their books? Or should they strive to create a unique delicacy?

Of course, most of us will answer with a resounding "Writers need to be unique." Then we must follow up our emphatic declaration with another question: Once a certain type of book becomes popular, why do we flood the market with a plethora copy-cat books (think Vampire, Amish, and recently 50 Shades)?

Shelly Daum asked me several really great questions about the whole cookie-cutter quandary. I broke her questions into two parts:

1. Regarding writing techniques: If writers are all reading the same how-to books, implementing the same "rules," and following the same advice for how to improve our writing skills, won't we end up with writing that "sounds" alike?

2. Regarding story-telling: If writers are encouraged to steer clear of certain story-lines, subject matters, and settings, and instead are all following the same trends, then don't we risk having cookie-cutter books?

Let me give my thoughts on both issues:

1. Does following the same advice on writing techniques lead to books that sound the same?

Yes, there's definitely the possibility. I've read books, contest entries, and even critiques where the writing techniques are nearly flawless, but leave the book feeling like an Oreo. The writer has the "rules" down to a "t"— to technical perfection—but in the process lost something special.

On the other hand, I don't believe the techniques themselves are the culprit to sterile, copy-cat writing. Every novelist should study the craft of fiction. Like any other profession, we must learn the basics before we can operate with skill and confidence. We can't dismiss the methods, guidelines, and techniques that serve as the frameworks for our books. We need to study principles like staying in POV, adding tension, and maximizing the setting.

However, once we learn the foundational elements that go into crafting a story, then we're ready to use those techniques to our unique advantage. We're able to intelligently and deliberately take creative license, and in doing so put our own spin and voice into the techniques.

This is the step so many writers miss. We learn everything we need to know and then stop there. We so often fail to infuse those techniques with the life and breath that is uniquely ours, twisting and shaping them, and adding color and vibrancy that brings out our writer voice.

Sidenote: There's a difference between breaking the "rules" because we know them and want to use them to enhance our voice, versus being sloppy with our writing techniques because we haven't taken the time to learn them. Most editors and skilled writers can spot the difference.

2. Does sticking to the same story-lines, settings, and subjects make our books sound like everything else out there?

Yes, we can fall into the trap of chasing after trends. In today's highly competitive market, publishers (and writers) want to produce what consumers are buying and what's selling the best.

That means writers are often encouraged to stick with the ideas that have the most commercial appeal. For historicals, we're usually encouraged to stay within the "sweet spot" the mid to late 1800's as well as settings like America or England.

And while writers understand the need to produce what sells, many of us would like to be able to create truly unique, special, one-of-a-kind work. We don't want to have to figure out what's popular or worry about what sells best. We want to focus on producing art.

But because no one wants to have dismal sales statistics, we look for ways to combine our art with the current demand. We find ways to mesh our passions and the stories in our hearts with what is commercially viable. This isn't an impossible task. I've had to do it, to adjust to not just thinking about what I personally want to write, but also looking at what is appealing to readers.

And yet as we move toward making readers happy and giving them what they like, how do we keep from becoming just another Oreo? How do we set ourselves apart from all that's already been done?

I'm still struggling through the issue for myself. But I think part of it is being willing to take some risks, perhaps testing the limits a little. Maybe our ideas won't be radically different, but they hover on the border of unique, so that we can offer something different but still appealing.

After all, we're writers with creative minds. Do you think that if we brainstorm hard enough, that it's possible for us to take the same lump of clay that everyone else has and still shape it into something beautiful and unique?

What do you think? How do you think writers can avoid cookie cutter books? Is it possible to be the one setting the trends rather than chasing them?

Know Your Own Writing Journey & Go at Your Own Pace

I was driving my son to guitar lessons and racing to get him there on time. I got behind a car that was going less than 25 mph in a 40 zone (of course).

“Can you go any slower?” I called.

The car seemed to slow down even more (if that were possible), almost as if the driver had heard me.

My son smirked the way only 14-year-olds can.

My lead foot started to go into convulsions from having to let up on the gas pedal. “Come on,” I whined. “Can’t you see we’re in a hurry?”

I’m sure it comes as no surprise to realize that I tackle most things in life with drive, speed, and determination. And apparently, those traits carry over into getting my son to guitar lessons.

Once I finally maneuvered around the snail-paced car, I glanced in my review mirror. And as I quickly put distance between myself and the slow driver, I couldn’t keep from noticing the woman’s serene expression.

She was obviously enjoying her ver-ry slo-ow ride. She didn’t mind crawling along and didn’t appear to be noticing the other cars (like mine) that were zipping past her.

As I thought about the incident, I was reminded that just because I like going fast, doesn’t mean everyone else will. Some people are perfectly content to mosey along.

We’re all moving at different paces and that’s okay—in life and in writing. We don’t all have to go at FAST. In fact, sometimes I wonder if those of us who are zipping along have a more difficult time with having patience, savoring life, and being content.

I admit, I fall into the trap of envying those ahead of me on the road, seeing how fast they’re going, watching all that’s happening to them, and wishing I was driving right alongside them. It’s so easy to look around at what everyone else is doing and think I need to be doing more, need to be moving quicker in order to keep in the race.

And sometimes, perhaps I even make others feel like they’re not doing enough, that they should be keeping up with what I’m doing, that they’re too far behind. While I would never do this intentionally, I’m sure that does happen occasionally. (And if I’ve ever made you feel that way, I sincerely apologize!)

Is the writing journey really a race? Do we all have to be running as hard as we can after publication and success? Or do we need to settle into a pace that is uniquely ours?

Just because some writers can write 1000 words in an hour, doesn’t mean I have to. Just because some writers can pump out multiple books in one year, doesn’t mean I have to. Just because some writers blog every day doesn’t mean I have to.

The point is our lives and our writing journeys are each unique.

I can’t spend my time trying to keep up with other authors with all their marketing efforts, with how many books they’re writing, and all of the other things they’re doing.

And others can’t think that they need to keep up with all that I’m doing.

We each have to take the time to figure out our own writing journeys and what works for us in our unique situations.

One of the things that has helped me keep my writing journey in perspective is that I’ve written out the various steps of my path to publication. Incidentally, when we speak with book groups or organizations, we’ll likely need to write out our journey anyway. Just last week I spoke to a women’s group and gave a 45-minute power point presentation, which included sharing about my writing journey.

I highly recommend taking the time to write down what sparked our interest in writing, who or what influenced us most, along with all the setbacks and accomplishments that have led to where we’re at today. Readers will want to know.

Aside from having a succinct, well-written and entertaining description of our writing journey to share with readers, when we take the time to examine where we’ve been and where we are now, it helps remind us just how unique we are.

Don’t let others determine YOUR pace. You decide whether you need to go at a crawl, baby steps, a pleasant stroll, or a sprint. The pace isn’t as important as much as the fact that we don’t stop moving forward. When we keep up our momentum no matter how fast or slow, we’ll get where we want to go eventually.

“It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character, and judgment.” ~Cicero

So what about you? Are you trying too hard to keep up with those around you instead of going at the pace that works best for you?

Uniqueness of the Writer's Voice

I recently did a series of posts comparing our writing to birds. (Click here to read.) If you haven't figured out yet, I'm a big bird watcher. I have six bird feeders outside my kitchen window, along with a heated-bird bath and secluded bird house that was home to two families of sparrows this spring.

Because I love birds, I've learned quite a bit about them. I'm particularly fascinated with bird songs and calls. Each species has its own specific songs and calls. Cardinals make a different sound than chickadees and if we pay attention we can often learn to recognize birds just by their calls.

Interestingly, even birds within the same species have their own songs. I can't tell the difference between one cardinal's call versus another. They sound alike to me. But birds have excellent hearing and have the ability to distinguish even the slightest differences. A parent can find its chick in a crowd by its call alone, though to us, it would sound the same as every other baby bird.

If God created every bird with a unique song, then I'm positive he's given each writer a unique voice too. We often hear about writer's voice. But it's one of those terms that makes us shiver with dread. We wonder, what is voice and how do we find it?

James Scott Bell, in his book Plot & Structure, takes some of the nebulous fear out of the concept of a writer's voice. He develops what he coins "Bell's Pyramid." The foundation of the pyramid is passion. He says: Passion is the most important for your writer's soul. . .we writers must nourish and nurture our individuality. Only then do we rise above the commonplace."

Bell says that the reason so many novels are rejected is because they're "cookie cutter." Writers follow the crowd, thinking that if they imitate something successful, then they'll get published. Bell says this is a mistake. We shouldn't strive to sound like the crowd. Instead we should have a passionate commitment to the story we're burning to tell. Only then will we unleash our own original and compelling voice.

So, how can writers be like the birds and sing their own unique songs? How do we give expression our God-given voices?

Passion. We have to be deeply passionate about our stories. They have to burn within us until they ache for expression. The words have to stir us first before they can move others. They have to well up so forcefully that we're helpless to do anything but write them down.

Passion. That's how we writers find our voices.

How passionate are you about your stories? Have you unleashed your writer's voice yet? Or are you struggling to squeak out the words that are unique to you?

P.S. Thanks to everyone who read my interview yesterday! If you haven't read it yet, you can see it here.

Uniqueness of the Story

My family likes to stroll along the beach of Lake Huron which is just a short drive from where we live. The first time we went, we spotted thousands of tiny shells in the sand.

As we gathered them, we were amazed by their exquisite complexity. Home to snails, the narrow shells spiral to a pin point tip and are not more than half an inch long. Hues of brown swirl together forming intricate patterns.

What struck me most about these delicate shells is that we never found two that were completely identical. While they were all shaped the same, each was unique in some way.

Writer's stories are like those shells. Whether we're writing fiction or non-fiction, the basic structure remains the same. We need hooks, engaging dialogue, characters who struggle and overcome adversity, and much more. The craft elements of story-telling are the same for all of us. We must study and learn them.

But the stories themselves? Our stories must swirl together in complex patterns that are like none other. The passions that color them, the experiences that make them shine, the life we breathe into them--all come together in a way that makes our story different than any other ever written.

And yet one of the writer's greatest struggles is discovering a story that is completely unique to ourselves. With so many other shells on the shore--stories already written, how can we possibly make ours different?

James Scott Bell, in his book, Plot & Structure, outlines some questions that can help us push beyond the ordinary to find unique ideas:

1. Has this type of story been done before? He says that almost always the answer is yes. But that we should brainstorm a list of possibilities until we find something no one has seen before.

2. Is the setting ordinary? If yes, then search for a place that has not been used as frequently.

3. Are the characters you're thinking of made of old stock? How can we make them more interesting? Can we find a fresh perspective? Again he suggests brainstorming and not throwing out ideas until we have a long list.

4. Is this story "big enough" to grab a substantial number of readers? What can we do to make it bigger? How can we raise the stakes? He says that death (either physical or psychological) must almost always be a threat.

5. Is there some other element that you can add that is fascinating? He encourages us to think about our idea from every angle and to find a twist or two that will enliven the story.

Bell says: You need to come up with hundreds of ideas, then choose the best ones to develop. . . By going deep within your own heart and soul, you will find a wellspring of ideas to write about.

Each of us has a unique story to tell. Have you struggled, really struggled, to push beyond the ordinary? Is your story swirling with the complexity of your ideas? Or are your stories too much like everyone else's? What are some ways you've dug deep inside and found your unique ideas?

Join in Friday when we'll discuss the uniqueness of the writer's voice.

Uniqueness of the Writing Journey

If you picture your town or city, can you think of any two roads that are exactly the same?

Each street is lined with different houses and trees with entirely different families or businesses. Some roads may have potholes, others construction, a few rare ones are perfectly smooth. We'll find detours in some areas and high-speed freeways in others.

If we traveled every road in the United States or the world, would we ever find two that are identical? My guess is that we'd be searching a long time.

We writers are on a journey. A few of us are running at top speed, most of us are plodding steadily upward and onward, and then some are limping along but still persevering.

No matter where we're at on the writing path, we tend to have a common affliction: comparison-itis. This illness is usually one that comes and goes, but we all suffer from it at one point or another. Whether it puffs us up or puts us down, comparison-itis is a disease that can harm us if we don't work at fighting it off.

Is there an antidote for comparison-itis? I'm sure we could all think of plenty of cures, but the one I want to focus on this week is this: we're all on unique writing paths.

None of our roads are ever going to be identical. The journey that stretches out before each of us will be like no one else's.

I've been very open in my blog about my steps through querying, getting an agent, and venturing into the world of publishing houses. I love being able share this journey with like-minded writers.

And yet my experiences, are, well, mine. You may not have to write seven books over an accumulation of about eight years before you get an agent. You might not have to win a contest to move out of the slush pile. Your agent may attempt to sell your books differently than mine.

But that's the beauty of the writing journey. We can take encouragement from one another and maybe even learn a thing or two, but ultimately we have to remember that we each need to forge our own unique paths. There are no set formulas for attracting an agent and no perfect number of years we have to write or books we have to finish before being ready.

There are no two roads exactly alike.

Let's encourage one another with our uniquenesses today! What's your road been like? How many books have you written? How long have you been writing? What's something unique to your journey?