Jeff VanderMeer's Tips for Cultivating Creativity from the World Around You

Plus, learn how to get your book into libraries. [Web Version »]( &p1=%40E5oCGDf5%2BUubm7HqxcHPXb4t3TmV%2ByJ%2Bb0nBYjqRwHo%3D) [header]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) [Name]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) [State of Wonder: Annihilation and Wonderbook Author Jeff VanderMeer Imparts His Best Tips for Cultivating Creativity from the World Around You]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) [Story 1]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) From a writer as industrious as New York Times bestseller Jeff VanderMeer, such a candid admission surprises me. VanderMeer is the author of the Southern Reach trilogy (including the award-winning Annihilation, made into a movie starring Natalie Portman earlier this year), writing guides like The Steampunk Bible and Wonderbook, and dozens of essays and short stories. His pronouncement is distinct from most novelists, who are often keen to cite obsessive work ethic as a key factor in their success. [Don't miss Jeff Vandermeer's keynote at the Writer's Digest Annual Conference, August 10-12, 2018!]( ) For VanderMeer, the act of writing is only a component of the process -- to him, experiences are as vital to storytelling as time spent staring at a screen. The Florida local is hyperaware that any element in the world around him can feed his tales, from the Gulf Oil Spill to dental surgery to fungus growing in the trunk of his car. In this article, VanderMeer talks the new edition, the symbiosis of setting and story, and persevering through the ups and downs of a writing career. Read a portion of the interview here: WD: You've said that you made every mistake you could make in a writing career. What do you think is the key to persisting through those valleys? JV: I think in terms of keeping going, taking the long view is really important. I think a lot of times writers make bad decisions because early on, the power differential is so, so off -- in terms of your position in the publishing world. And so, when an opportunity comes along, you kind of know in the pit of your stomach it's not really the right opportunity, but you take it anyway because you feel like it's the only chance you're going to have. The other is just finding ways to have endurance and be bloody-minded about believing in your work. And that takes time, but it also means doing things like putting your work out there and getting the scar tissue of getting a bunch of rejections, and not just folding your tent if a couple places reject your work. Continuing to get it out there because that gives you the valuable mental experience of living in that world and getting used to that. Because that is the default you'll be existing in. You'll be getting stuff rejected more than you'll be getting it accepted. I realized early on I just wanted to be a writer and I would be writing whether I was published or not. And that's true today. I would still be writing even if I had never gotten published. And I think that's really important. It is very liberating to realize -- I want to be published, I want an audience, but this is also personal to me and I'm going to do it no matter what happens. [Read More...]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) Advertisement [AWAI]( ) This is the Easiest Way to Get Paid to Write - Even if You've Never Written Before Whether you want to earn a little money on the side or get paid handsome fees on a regular basis, making a living as a well-paid writer couldn’t get any easier ... even if you don’t have any prior experience. Not available on Amazon or anywhere else, The Little Black Book of In-Demand Writing Careers reveals the 9 most in-demand ways to write your way to success. Perfect for writers of all levels of experience. Take Pat McCord, a once struggling novelist who now has 15 titles published… all because she was able to "write away" her financial worries and focus on her passion of writing. You can find out how she did it and turn your dream of writing into a reality. [Download your FREE copy of The Little Black Book of In-Demand Writing Careers here.]( ) [Publishing Tips for Indie Authors: How to Get Your Book Into Libraries]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) [Story 2]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) Libraries spent more than you might expect on expanding their collection each year. But how can indie authors rise to the top and grab the attention of librarians? Find out here. [Read More...]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) [Writing and Publishing Graphic Novels from Start to Finish]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) [Story 3]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) Comics and graphic novels have seen impressive growth over the past three years, which means this category is ripe for experimentation by new authors. Here, Steve Kissing guides you through the process of scripting, working with an illustrator, and publishing your graphic novel. [Read More...]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) Join our special preconference workshop, [Writing Comics and Graphic Novels]( ), at the Writer's Digest Annual Conference! [Sunny Author Jason Reynolds on Writing, Publishing and Advice for New Writers]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) [Story 2]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) Award-winning YA novelist Jason Reynolds has cemented his place in literary history with titles like When I Was the Greatest, The Boy in the Black Suit and Long Way Down. Here we talk to Jason about writing, publishing and his advice for new authors. [Read More...]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) [Story 5]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) [How I Stopped Sabotaging My Writing Goals: Confessions of a Late Bloomer]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) [Story 5]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) Despite long-standing aspirations of writing a book, initial successes with short stories and essays, and a healthy career in publishing, Andrea Jarrell published her first book at age 55. But of course, she got through it. Here, she shares her experiences and offers principles for achieving your writing goals. [Read More...]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) [Does Your Book Have a Billboard on Amazon?]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) [Story 2]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) Authors can leverage ads and Book Detail pages on Amazon to make them work like a "billboard" of sorts. But in order for your Amazon billboards to help sell more books, they must display certain characteristics. [Read More...]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) [Name]( ) [Your Weekly Writing Prompt]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) [wd-logo]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) Somnia: At the stroke of midnight, you (or a character) awaken suddenly from a strange, vivid dream. You remember that the dream involved an unusual object in a distinctive place, but you don't know what it means. Decide on the object and the setting, then use a dream dictionary to look at common meanings behind those symbols. Alternatively, give the symbols your own significance. Use the meanings you find to craft a scene. [Post your response (500 words or fewer) in the comments here ...]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) [Jess Zafarris]( &cid=DM58594&bid=600693714) Jess Zafarris Follow [@jesszafarris]( ) Jess Zafarris is an energetic multimedia journalist with more than 7 years of experience writing and editing, and the content director of Writer's Digest. 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