Dory Maust
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| © 2007- 2010 Dory Maust, All Rights Reserved |
Bambi’s mother didn’t die.
Sorry to be the messenger but it's a cartoon. I am blogging this topic (not Bambi) because I was asked to do this by an
aspiring writer interested in non-fiction. I can be very cynical (I know - shocker!) which is what predisposes me to fiction most
of the time. No carnage for the imagination. Opinions-a-plenty. Nonfiction is a different horse, however.
So here it goes.
My 10 rules for writing non-fiction:
Rule #1: Dehumanize and fast. You're no longer a person; you are nothing but a writer. Remember that glamour is a label
attached to authors by people who don't write. Kamikaze is more fitting.
Rule #2: You only have two readers and their names are Heads and Tails. If you do your job right you will not please both of
them 100%. If you do your job right you WILL leave both of them happy with your work.
Rule #3: If you do your job right, Heads and Tails might be generally happy but they will also be ticked off. But YOU hold the
coin.
Rule #4: Objectivity: Undistorted by emotion or personal bias. Heads and Tails will hate it but it maintains the value of the
coin which is YOUR work.
Rule #5: There is no such thing as bad publicity - MYTH! The worst thing in the world you could achieve is a review
PROVING you didn't get your facts straight or you didn't refer to credible sources.
Rule #6: Be partisan all you want in politics, but in nonfiction you're Independent. "He said/She said" is kindling; the fire is
the truth.
Rule #7: (In my opinion) this is the most important one. RESPECT Heads and Tails equally. They've developed their own
opinions which are rightfully theirs. You might not agree a little or a lot, but they are not a cartoon. They are people.
Rule #8: When you have to humanize to relieve all the stress from being nonhuman, make sure you have a solid support
system. This is real life and real carnage; choose dependable people, not someone whose drama is 1,000 on the Richter
Scale. If there are drama queens/kings in your life whom you love, take a respectful leave of absence until your book is
finished. Then you can be all ears. Does that sound selfish? Yes because it is. Nature of the writing beast.
Rule #9: Media. Use them; do not let them use you. Point out misprints and false allegations the moment you spot them. I
once spent four hours combined on the phone with the NWI Times, the Associated Press and the Indy Star because I was
quoted as being a serial killer's "distant" relative. Believe you me it was worth it. That rumor was killed pretty fast and in legal
terms it could have killed my book. In a lot of states relatives can't profit from another relative's crimes.
Rule #10: Last but not least, have fun. If that sounds impossible after the first nine rules then suck up the fact that you're
better off in another field. It really can be fun.
So, Ms. You-know-who-you-are, I hope this helped. And to anyone else deciding to drop-kick their lives into nonfiction I hope
I have been of some assistance.
Good day to all.
Dory
Sorry to be the messenger but it's a cartoon. I am blogging this topic (not Bambi) because I was asked to do this by an
aspiring writer interested in non-fiction. I can be very cynical (I know - shocker!) which is what predisposes me to fiction most
of the time. No carnage for the imagination. Opinions-a-plenty. Nonfiction is a different horse, however.
So here it goes.
My 10 rules for writing non-fiction:
Rule #1: Dehumanize and fast. You're no longer a person; you are nothing but a writer. Remember that glamour is a label
attached to authors by people who don't write. Kamikaze is more fitting.
Rule #2: You only have two readers and their names are Heads and Tails. If you do your job right you will not please both of
them 100%. If you do your job right you WILL leave both of them happy with your work.
Rule #3: If you do your job right, Heads and Tails might be generally happy but they will also be ticked off. But YOU hold the
coin.
Rule #4: Objectivity: Undistorted by emotion or personal bias. Heads and Tails will hate it but it maintains the value of the
coin which is YOUR work.
Rule #5: There is no such thing as bad publicity - MYTH! The worst thing in the world you could achieve is a review
PROVING you didn't get your facts straight or you didn't refer to credible sources.
Rule #6: Be partisan all you want in politics, but in nonfiction you're Independent. "He said/She said" is kindling; the fire is
the truth.
Rule #7: (In my opinion) this is the most important one. RESPECT Heads and Tails equally. They've developed their own
opinions which are rightfully theirs. You might not agree a little or a lot, but they are not a cartoon. They are people.
Rule #8: When you have to humanize to relieve all the stress from being nonhuman, make sure you have a solid support
system. This is real life and real carnage; choose dependable people, not someone whose drama is 1,000 on the Richter
Scale. If there are drama queens/kings in your life whom you love, take a respectful leave of absence until your book is
finished. Then you can be all ears. Does that sound selfish? Yes because it is. Nature of the writing beast.
Rule #9: Media. Use them; do not let them use you. Point out misprints and false allegations the moment you spot them. I
once spent four hours combined on the phone with the NWI Times, the Associated Press and the Indy Star because I was
quoted as being a serial killer's "distant" relative. Believe you me it was worth it. That rumor was killed pretty fast and in legal
terms it could have killed my book. In a lot of states relatives can't profit from another relative's crimes.
Rule #10: Last but not least, have fun. If that sounds impossible after the first nine rules then suck up the fact that you're
better off in another field. It really can be fun.
So, Ms. You-know-who-you-are, I hope this helped. And to anyone else deciding to drop-kick their lives into nonfiction I hope
I have been of some assistance.
Good day to all.
Dory