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| Dana Sitar, Author A WRITER'S BUCKET LIST |
Author and blogger Dana
Sitar joins us today to discuss her new book A WRITER’S BUCKET LIST—just
released. Reviewers tout her book
as “THE guide for people exploring the idea of being a
writer or creator of any kind.”
Dana’s goal is to “movitvate writers.” She offers tips and resources to writers on DIY Writing.
Dana is one of the few
authors who responds “yes” when I ask if she’s ever done standup comedy.
Q:
What made you decide to write A WRITER’S BUCKET LIST?
Dana Sitar: I started
writing the list one day last Spring, just gathering ideas, because my wireless
was down and I was bored. I eventually built the list up to about 107, but just
let it sit on my computer for a few months, unsure whether to publish a list
post at my blog, create a Tumblr of the list items, or just forget about it.
Around early summer, I was antsy to write a new ebook for writers, bouncing a
few ideas around, and I landed back on the list. I wasn’t interested in writing
any of the how-to books that came to mind, but this one -- a bucket list, with
simple, inspirational blurbs and spunky graphics -- was something I could wrap
my mind around.
I wanted
something to give my readers that was broader than the mini e-guides I’d
created previously, which focused on specific tasks for the writer. I wanted to
create something that enveloped the life of a writer, because I’ve dabbled in a
lot of it in my short time writing professionally -- from creative writing, to
journalism, to copywriting, to blogging. Focusing on one area -- say, “how to
write a novel” -- wasn’t the right fit for me.
Q: Why
“bucket list”?
Dana Sitar: My goal is
to motivate writers. I didn’t build my writing career based on advice from
anyone. I was just writing, and I quit my other job one day and had to figure
out how to replace my income with writing. I did that pretty much by checking
items off a bucket list -- I dabbled in various industries and writing styles
and cobbled together the career that fit me best.
A WRITER’S BUCKET LIST is a combination of things I’ve done on that path, as well as the
things I’d still like to try. I love lists myself -- it’s how I organize
everything in my life and career. They're easy to digest, simple to implement,
and innately rewarding as you cross items off. That's exactly what I wanted to
give other writers. For those who don’t know where to start -- as I didn’t --
here are some things you can try to inspire your writing and move your career
in a unique direction.
Q: How
is your book different from “how to” writing books?
Dan Sitar: What a lot
of people do with how-to books is buy them, read them front to back, put them
down, and move on. They never take action. You can read that and feel somehow
accomplished, because you’ve gained the knowledge -- but you haven’t actually
taken any steps forward. You find some excuse for not getting started on Step
1, so you can never move onto the other steps.
A WRITER’S BUCKET LIST is a grab
bag. You can close your eyes and point to any task and get started. Not
completing one is no excuse for not trying another, so there’s no reason not to
get started right now.
Additionally,
in order to be thorough, many how-to books pigeonhole the reader. They offer
only one right way to do something, so everyone who reads them ends up
following the same beaten path.
A WRITER’S BUCKET LIST doesn’t
explain how to complete the tasks included. It offers the tasks as a “Why
not try this?” and explains the benefits. A writer has to find the motivation
within herself to master the skills to complete each task. That’s why I call it
a “launching point”. Take this book, choose a task, and set off on the path to
achieving it, whatever that means for you.
Q: I know that your book offers 99 “things
to do,” but, if you had to choose, what do you believe is the most important
tip for potential or existing writers?
Dana Sitar: Always do something. Writing is such a vast art;
if you’re driven to write, you can find a style to fit your passions. It just
might not reveal itself right away. I hear too many artists say, “If I don’t
find success in 5 years, I’ll know this isn’t the right choice, and I’ll quit.”
But there’s always something new you can try. If you don’t sign a book
deal within 5 years, try blogging or copywriting -- maybe that’s your style!
Don’t ever quit, and don’t ever sit stagnant because success isn’t coming to
you. Keep writing and searching.
Q: Why do you write? What would you do if you weren’t
a writer?
Dana Sitar: I write, in
general, because it’s what I’ve always been compelled to do, regardless of
where my life has been focused. As most writers usually say, I’d be writing
whether I was doing it professionally or not, even if that just meant keeping a
journal. I write professionally because I hate working for other people’s
goals and around other people’s schedules. I have a skill that’s in demand, and
I can use it to shape a career wholly focused on what I want to achieve.
I write what I write -- tips and inspiration for writers and dreamers --
because I’ve met so many people who don’t think they can do what I’ve done. A
lot of creatives think they’re stuck in their day jobs until a miracle comes
along, and I’m determined to tell every one of them they can follow
their dreams.
I was studying
Community and Non-profit Leadership at the University of Wisconsin before I
moved to the West Coast to write full-time. I’m still passionate about service
and enjoy organizational management, so I imagine I’d be in Wisconsin leading
volunteers in a non-profit somewhere. Probably still questioning the authority
of the org’s leaders and scheming up my own organization on the side ;)
Q: What’s your favorite genre? Why?
Dana Sitar: I’m trying
not to be picky, because I have so much to learn in fiction! For a good chunk
of my adult life, I read memoirs and non-fiction almost exclusively. I love
reading memoirs (or autobiographical fiction) by writers who’ve gone before me,
because their lives, experiences, and successes are inspirational.
Over the
past year, I’ve fallen back in love with fiction (thanks to winning a Kindle
and all the free fiction authors so generously share on Amazon!) I prefer
(non-SFF) YA or NA, because 1) They’re short and simple. My blogger/journalist
mind prefers a story that gets right to the point, and 2) Because authors are
especially creative and experimental in these genres. KidLit, romance, sci-fi,
fantasy, horror -- these all have formulas that make them work (and sell).
Authors are smart to stick to the formula in those genres. But you can get a
little weirder with YA/NA -- I don’t know why. A more knowledgeable mind can
probably explain that. You can flip the traditional novel format on its head
and take the reader on a unique ride. My favorite example is Amy Reed, an Oakland, CA author who writes YA with Simon & Schuster. Check
out her novel CLEAN, which is like a collage of writing styles that
carries you through a continuous story; or CRAZY, which is written
entirely as emails and chats between two characters. I can’t see that sort of
thing working the same way with traditional genres.
Q: What’s next? Another “Bucket List?” Or is there
a novel in your future?
Dana Sitar: I’m
overwhelmed with possibilities after connecting with bloggers, other writers,
and readers in the build up to launching this book. There’s more I’d like to do
with the Bucket List theme, and I’m going to let readers help drive the
direction of the series. Maybe a College edition? A self-publishing edition? I’m
in contact with a lot of readers now, and I’m going to work with them to see
what they want/need.
I am
committed to completing and publishing a novel or novella this year—it’s on my
bucket list! Two projects are in the works, with clear outlines, timelines, and
goals, so I will cross that one off before 2013 comes to an end!
Q: Tell us something about yourself, e.g., do you do stand up
comedy? What are some of your favorites – books, movies, plays etc.? What
do you do when you’re not writing? Do you have a muse? What's your favorite
charity?
Dana Sitar: I don’t do stand-up, but I have done it a
few times. I’ve been covering comedy news and reviews for various publications
for about two years, my boyfriend is a comedian, and I live and travel with him
and a group of three other comics. I had to try it. I’m alright—okay,
no, I’m not. But the experience was invaluable to my understanding of the
subjects I write about.
I
write (or market or pitch my writing) constantly. I stop to go to comedy
shows at night or travel to a comedy show somewhere in the country. I’m poor
and insist on living in big cities, so those free shows are my only
entertainment and nightlife.
I
tend to prefer service- and action-oriented organizations over charitable ones,
and connect better with local than national or international organizations.
Among my favorites is Harmony Cafe in Green Bay and Appleton,
Wisconsin. While their scope is small—focused on those local communities—I think the model is brilliant for
non-profits. The service they provide is more accessible and their effect on
the community more tangible than a lot of broader volunteer and charity
organizations I’ve seen.
About A WRITER’S BUCKET LIST
'A WRITER’S BUCKET LIST: 99 things to do for inspiration, education,
and experience before your writing kicks the bucket ' is an inspirational and
educational ebook for budding writers. The book is a launching point for all of
the possibilities of being a writer, a kick-in-the-butt for those who don’t
know what to do next, and a simple guide to help writers forge their own unique
career/life paths.
Add A WRITER’S BUCKET LIST to your bookshelves on Goodreads, watch the trailer at my YouTube channel, buy the book from my e-junkie store, and learn more at writersbucketlist.com.
About Dana Sitar
Dana Sitar is a freelance blogger and indie author
of A WRITER’S BUCKET LIST: 99 things to do for inspiration, education, and
experience before your writing kicks the bucket.” She shares resources, tips,
and tools for writers in search of a path at DIY Writing. Connect and say hello on
Twitter @danasitar, and join the community of DIY Writers on Facebook.
LINKS
Twitter:
@danasitar
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