Storytellersunplugged

I know my writing has changed since my first book, but the jury’s still out on whether or not that means I’m growing as a writer. From book to book, I’ve certainly learned to work faster due to deadlines, and I also find myself more willing to take chances with different plot ideas and characters. According to my ‘first readers,’ my ‘voice’ is getting stronger with each book and has become easily recognizable. I suppose that’s a good thing. Still, does that mean I’m growing as a writer? I can’t help but think of the old adage, practice makes perfect. This really isn’t true, you know. You can practice until the cows come home, but if you’re practicing the wrong way, you’ll still be doing it the wrong way even after those Holsteins are bedded down for the night.

So how does a writer measure his or her growth? By the number of novels sold? Maybe, but then how do you account for the writers who sell millions of books, yet each new novel reads much like the one before it . . . if not worse? Even someone like Stephen King seems to have growth issues. Yes, his voice remains very distinguishable, but many claim his stories and characters are getting flat. Those who read him regularly often categorize his books as either pre or post accident. If all that’s true, then wouldn’t it give us pause when trying to equate volume with growth? To me, it just creates another question…can volume, in fact, stunt one’s growth? Can we have so much to do in such a short period of time that we’re pushed and rushed to the point of echo, where everything we write starts sounding the same? Our voices may be distinct, but unless we learn how to keep things fresh, exciting, and new under this kind of pressure, we’ll wind up like the Beach Boys. Recognizable voice, but every book the same tired, old tune. Eventually, that tune will get irritating to listeners/readers, and, like the Beach Boys, we’ll fall to the wayside and a more diverse, exciting artist will march in to take our place.

In truth, I don’t know if there really is a concrete way to measure a writer’s growth. As for me, all I know to do is continue to read authors with more talent than I have so I can learn from them, be aware of my mistakes and try not to make the same ones twice, and write, write, write. Oh, yeah, and one more thing…make sure to always keep my fingers crossed.