John Ramsey Miller
Once, just before THE LAST FAMILY was released, I mentioned to my editor that I was thinking about taking a creative writing class at a local university. I had never taken a writing course in college–never graduated. She told me not to let any teacher tamper with the way I write. She said that they had nothing they can teach me without messing with what came to me naturally. She referred to my ability as a gift. She said nobody should trade what comes naturally by learning what others think you should pay attention to. I didn’t take the course. In fact I’ve never taken a writing course, or an English class after graduating high school. I am not an academic, never have been and never will be. Nothing bores me quite so much as formal learning.
I guess if I were operating in the art world I’d be what they call a primitive. In high school I was terrible in English classes, couldn’t diagram a sentence, and confused adjectives and adverbs. As a writer, I’ve been called a natural, but I’m not impressed with me because I’ve always operated at half speed and in my comfort zone. It comes easy for me, the writing thing. I’ve been told many times that were I more competitive and aggressive and a self-promoter I would be far more successful. I am what I am, what I have become based on my personality and experience, and I’m comfortable with it. I have two million books in print, and I enjoy telling the stories I tell, and it’s never been about the money or the prestige or anything but enjoying myself and making people forget their lives for a few pages at a time.
I cannot teach others how to write, or how to become published authors. I did it the way I did it and I don’t think my way could be repeated by anyone else. Had I known what the odds were, I might have done something else. I was lucky in how the cards hit the table. I met the right people when I was ready and all of the stars lined up in a certain way…
I think this the struggle is different for everybody because everybody has different strengths and weaknesses. There is no right way or wrong way to tell a story that is teachable. Either you can write or you can’t. Either you can tell a story or you can’t. I write the only way I know how to write. I write the way I talk.
I don’t think I have anything to tell anybody that will make a difference in their careers. I wish I did. All I can tell anybody is that if you know you know that you have it, go for it. Show us. Work hard, think harder. I never thought for one minute that I would fail, it just never occurred to me that becoming a published author was not probable. It just fit me. I truly believe I was born to it, that I was meant to do it. I never doubted myself. I just always knew. I never saw myself as a best selling author, but I saw myself as a successful author.
Now I have contracted with an editor, because I am an author who needs a good editor to make me a better writer. I’m going to publish my own books as ebooks. I’m going to be a movie that goes straight to DVD, and I’m going to work even harder than I have before, because I don’t have a major house to give me a feeling of security. I’m going to have to be my own marketing department. I don’t know how things will work out, but I don’t doubt for a minute that I will be successful. I’ve always been successful at doing what I love doing. I know it’s the stories, the characters, and I truly believe my books will be better than ever and I’ll be able to tell the stories I want to tell, and that my audience will appreciate my work more because it will be what I want to say the way I want to say it. I can experiment. I’ll keep you posted. I’m truly becoming excited and that is something I haven’t felt in a long time.
Well, I’ll keep you posted.
I’ve come to believe that people can take writing craft classes to expose themselves to concepts (which can be a good thing), but that basic storytelling comes in the genes. To some degree, we can all tell a story, but in varying degrees. You either have it or you don’t. Storytelling ability is what separates one author from another.
I’m really excited for you, John. With your renewed enthusiasm comes a bit of fear for what lies ahead, but I truly believe this will be a great path for you to take.
One of my favorite authors, Robert Crais, said that he writes in constant fear (the ever present doubt) but that he trusts the talent that got him here.
Trust your talent, John. You’ve got it, baby!
You’re a courageous man, John. With risk comes the biggest chance for success. These are interesting times for writers. Your plan sounds perfect for today’s market. Good luck.
John, you said it right there: I am an author who needs a good editor to make me a better writer. Every writer needs help. A good writing teacher can also make people better writers. Sometimes even unto publication!
The important thing is you’re writing and you have a place to go with it in this brave new world. Good luck!
Jeez, John. If your writing is primitive, mine’s like some slime mold that that hasn’t evolved yet.
“I’m truly becoming excited…”
And many of us John Ramsey Miller fans are as well.
Hallelujah, Brother John!
Oh, that’s the best feeling when the excitement you lost comes back. I’m excited for you!
I’ve only attempted to take a college writing course once but I dropped the class. Instead of giving me freedom to explore my own ideas, they had you write about the dumbest things. That may well be a benefit to another writer, but it’s not for me.
I have also discovered that while classes taken at writing conferences etc have put down a solid foundation, I have reached the saturation point on them. That’s why going to conferences doesn’t even interest me right now. I just need to be about writing my books and learning that way.
After that, maybe something new will “click” with me next time a take a conference class.
BK Jackson
http://www.bkjackson.blogspot.com
What Mark said, John.
As always, I’m looking forward to your next book!
It is great to read about someone who believes in himself, goes with his instincts, and feels success. Write on!
John,
That pearl of wisdom “it never occured to me that I wouldn’t succeed” is the best lesson any of us could hear from each other.
Great post, John. You followed your heart and your instincts, and you found success. Now, you’re following your heart and instincts again. You know the challenges that lie in front of you and you’re ready to take them on.
I have no doubt you will succeed again.
Good luck. I’m sure you’ll be pretty successful because you already have a following but being indie is a different game.
Like I said, I’m sure you’ll do well at selling books by yourself, but still, I have a feeling it’s different, way different than being with a real publisher.
All I’m saying is, it’s HARD to sell books independently. Ha I’m sure it won’t be nearly as hard for you because you have a following, but still it is tough out here.
@Mark Terry, you should have put a spew warning on your comment. I’ll be cleaning my monitor later.
John, I can’t wait to see what you put out there.
Classes? I take short ones from time to time for inspiration and to connect with others.
Glad to see you get it. What so many people don’t seem to get is that the successful authors have taken a different path than the one struggling authors need to take if they want to be successful. A successful author can’t tell an unsuccessful author how to be a success.
As for writing classes, they were a requirement when I went to college. I don’t know that they improved my writing that much, but I’m glad I took them. I may have never written a book if I hadn’t. The professor in one of those classes was a published author and he showed us his book one day. He told us that the royalties from the book were about enough to pay for a nice evening out every month. That became my measure of success. I’m not getting rich by any means, but I’m making enough from book sales that I could use it for a nice evening out every month. I wouldn’t complain if more people bought my books, but I’m happy with the success I’ve had.
“Had I known what the odds were, I might have done something else.”
Unfortunately, I’ve been told the odds quite a bit recently, but posts like this are really encouraging to me. Thanks for sharing.