Literary Birthday – 19 February – Marissa Meyer

Marissa Meyer Quotes

1. Writers write. So today, now, determine what your writing goals are and when and how you’re going to make them happen, and if your plan doesn’t include actual words on paper within the near future, then rework your plan until it does. (Marissa Meyer Writing Advice)
2. No one starts out a brilliant writer, or even a decent writer, and I think few writers ever reach a point where we’re like, “By golly, I am amazing.” We are always learning. We are always striving to be better. We can always point out our own weaknesses and flaws, but we’re storytellers, so we keep writing and improving as much as we can. (Marissa Meyer Writing Advice)
3. So take the time you need to write The Best Book You Are Currently Capable of Writing. By which I mean: Research. Read writing guides. Revise. Edit. Use critique partners and listen closely to their feedback. Do not rush through your revisions and edits just because you want to be published nooooooooowwww. Rather, take the time you need to bring your work to a quality that will set it apart from all the other writers in an agent or editor’s inbox. (Marissa Meyer Writing Advice)
4. Even in the Future the Story Begins with Once Upon a Time.
5. If you’re wondering if you should outline your novel, I think it’s a good idea to give it a try and see whether or not it works for you. Every writer is different and there is no right or wrong way to write a novel—as long as you write it!
6. I’m sure I’ll feel much more grateful when I find a guy who thinks complex wiring in a girl is a turn-on.
7. Once I have my heart set on turning an idea into a story, I start to dig a little deeper. I ask a lot of questions: Who is the protagonist and what do they want? What other characters are needed for the story? Who is the love interest and how do they factor into the plot? What is the main conflict? What is the world like that the story takes place in?
8. During the first draft, I generally write anywhere from 3,000-6,000 words per day, which means I can get through it in a month or less.
9. When you get stuck: Ask yourself, what’s the worst thing that could happen to my characters right now? Do that. It’s a pretty handy trick. I use it a lot.

Read more about Marissa Meyer’s writing process, My Writing Process: 9 Steps from Idea to Finished

Marissa Meyer is an American novelist. She writes fantasy, science fiction, and romantasy. She is known for her series, The Lunar Chronicles. She has also written Heartless, The Renegades Trilogy, and Instant Karma, as well as the graphic novel duology Wires and Nerve. Meyer is also the author of The Happy Writer Book, the ultimate guide to writing with less stress and more joy. She hosts The Happy Writer Podcast.

Source for photograph: Marissa Meyer / Credit: Connie Riggio

by Amanda Patterson

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