I just read On Writing again. I also just read half the books in the Howdunnit series, because it's always good to refresh your understanding of poisons and blunt-force trauma. Oh, and a couple books on pandemics and how to make sure everybody has a good time—what if we threw a pandemic and everybody came?!—but that was for fun. Also, I just revised three novels at a speed that, were the publishing world a reality show, would probably qualify me for a spot on the finale and a shot at the hundred thousand dollar grand prize (So You Think You Can Write, with your host, Warren Ellis, will be back after a short break...). The end result of all this wallowing in the technical sides of the written word, as well as all this revising? A whole lot of thinking about writing. I mean, seriously, I never spend this much time just thinking about writing, and I spend the bulk of my time actually writing. When I'm not writing, I'm whining about the fact that I'm not writing. And now? Now I'm thinking about writing.
Because I believe firmly in the art of over-sharing, I've decided to write down some of my conclusions about writing. Technique, reality, functionality, revision, critique, the whole ball of wax. Because maybe that will get them out of my head, and allow me to get some goddamn work done. Your mileage will absolutely vary. You may look at my list and go 'wow, she's totally out of her tiny little blonde mind.' You may look at this list and go 'wow, I never thought of it that way.' And either way is totally fine. My method of writing is not yours. Your method of writing is not mine. And we should all be very grateful for that, because if we cloned my muse, the world would rapidly run out of absinthe and cherry pie.
Loved this! Very good & very funny in places, too. I'm 2/3 of the way through King's On Writing and I found the section on 'Write what you know = Write the truth/ with honesty' one of the most helpful. You know it, but sometimes it helps for someone (anyone) else to remind you.
I'm actually planning to come to your side of the planet -- you have all those wonderful poisonous things for me to peer at! -- so we can negotiate it!
I've got three snakes, but none of them are poisonous.
If you're coming for a holiday, I highly recommend Melbourne over Sydney. Melbourne is so pretty! And much more multicultural. I'm not a big shopper myself, but the shopping is awesome and the architecture... wow.
However for things that bite and sting you might want to plan to spend time in Brisvegas (Brisbane) and Cairns.
Seanan, thanks for sharing this - I keep reminding myself of these things, so it's good to have them reinforced by others. (I tend to have issues with #24 and #37, which is funny since my mother doesn't actually read my work at all...) Anyway, thank you!
You're very welcome -- thanks for dropping by! And I know what you mean; my mother reads my work, but normally not until it's done, yet there's always somebody who falls into the 'my mother' categories.
43. Your ass is for sitting on, not for talking out of.
How very true. I hate having to turn down a short story because the science wasn't right, regardless what it is. If you're writing about something, do your research and do good research. Don't fall into the "well my husband's best friend told me [x]" trap (yes I've had people tell me that!).
49. Try not to argue with reviewers in public places.
It's also not smart to argue with editors and publishers in public or private for that matter. We have writers now and again who like to argue our reasons for rejecting their stories. Not a good way to get us to come around to their way of thinking at all, and we've had several end up blacklisted for this very reason.
Absolutely agreed on the foolishness of arguing in private; however, a little fair discussion can sometimes -- I stress the sometimes -- happen in a private forum, whereas 'what did you mean by that?' is essentially never okay in public.
Sort of the 'sometimes you can belch at home without covering your mouth, but you'd never do it in the restaurant' thing.
My good gawd, this was awesome. I can't saw how much I agree with it. The parts I liked the best/found most true?
Writing is an addiction. Yep. My crack of choice and I tend to get the shakes when I don't get my fix.
Your characters aren't golden. I'm a real mean bitch to mine at times but they need that stuff to happen for my twisted amusement personal growth.
Writing is hard work. I'm constantly amazed at the people who look at me blankly when I say it's hard and can feel exhausted after plugging away at something for hours.
So much of this resonates with me, which I didn't expect. Usually when I read these sorts of articles, I can only sort of agree with half of what's being said, but a number of these are variations on things that I've said to people for most of my life.
I can't not write. It's very hard work, and I've struggled recently to learn to let myself stop once I've accomplish my goals for the day and the muse has quieted, instead of trying to force more because it's still only 10am. >_> I'm also quite guilty of #48, haha! It's difficult to shut that part of your brain off when you've been editing for friends and colleagues for more than half your life. Still, I do try, so I can enjoy old favourites and get through new ones without missing the entire plot because my eyes are trained on the technical details.
I'm going to share this with my writing group as part of this week's discussion - in fact it was one of the members who initially pointed me at this. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. :)
I find that I have about the same degree of success with other people's thoughts on writing -- sometimes fifty percent, sometimes less. I've encountered lists that made my teeth hurt.
Writing is definitely hard work, which a lot of people just don't understand. If there's one thing I appreciate about Nanowrimo, it's the fact that it makes a lot more people realize that when I'm writing, I really am working, not just goofing off.
Yay for sharing with writer's groups! That's awesome. Thanks for stopping by, and feel free to hang out any time. I'm about to start going crazy with prep-to-publish, and that should be...funny.
The first essay I encountered in this series was #25, so I decided after you posted #26 that it might be a good idea to read the previous ones.
Thank you for posting these. It makes the process less fearful for me and my partner, sordak, especially since we are both starting this 'new career' after age 50.
I was going to devour the essays in one long computer reading session, but after reading this list, I think I may read one, mull it over, try to bully sordak into reading them or, failing that, talking to him about them so that he will need to read the list to defend himself. And work on improving my writing.
I know this is an older post, but it's going straight in my Memories.
43 - yes, yes, yes! Researching from people who know more about things like Las Vegas clubs, New York bistros, and flight schedules than I do has been invaluable in getting my details right.
48 - lol, I may need to jot that on a Post-It and stick it to my bathroom mirror.
thoughtful
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July 12 2008, 18:57:33 UTC 9 years ago
Great post. =^..^=
July 13 2008, 14:31:20 UTC 8 years ago
July 13 2008, 00:07:12 UTC 9 years ago
We may both be women and probably on opposite sides of the planet, but I'll do all the cooking. I promise.
July 13 2008, 14:32:50 UTC 8 years ago
In other news, hee.
July 14 2008, 02:23:13 UTC 8 years ago
If you're coming for a holiday, I highly recommend Melbourne over Sydney. Melbourne is so pretty! And much more multicultural. I'm not a big shopper myself, but the shopping is awesome and the architecture... wow.
However for things that bite and sting you might want to plan to spend time in Brisvegas (Brisbane) and Cairns.
8 years ago
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July 14 2008, 10:50:17 UTC 8 years ago Edited: July 14 2008, 10:50:41 UTC
Anyway, thank you!
July 14 2008, 12:41:58 UTC 8 years ago
August 15 2008, 16:17:19 UTC 8 years ago
How very true. I hate having to turn down a short story because the science wasn't right, regardless what it is. If you're writing about something, do your research and do good research. Don't fall into the "well my husband's best friend told me [x]" trap (yes I've had people tell me that!).
49. Try not to argue with reviewers in public places.
It's also not smart to argue with editors and publishers in public or private for that matter. We have writers now and again who like to argue our reasons for rejecting their stories. Not a good way to get us to come around to their way of thinking at all, and we've had several end up blacklisted for this very reason.
August 15 2008, 16:18:12 UTC 8 years ago
8 years ago
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August 15 2008, 19:11:54 UTC 8 years ago
Sort of the 'sometimes you can belch at home without covering your mouth, but you'd never do it in the restaurant' thing.
8 years ago
August 26 2008, 12:00:51 UTC 8 years ago
Writing is an addiction. Yep. My crack of choice and I tend to get the shakes when I don't get my fix.
Your characters aren't golden. I'm a real mean bitch to mine at times but they need that stuff to happen for
my twisted amusementpersonal growth.Writing is hard work. I'm constantly amazed at the people who look at me blankly when I say it's hard and can feel exhausted after plugging away at something for hours.
Thank you for posting this.
August 26 2008, 14:25:21 UTC 8 years ago
It's been fascinating watching people's reactions. Even if it has somehow resulted in my agreeing to write a series of fifty essays. Ow-my-head.
August 26 2008, 13:01:16 UTC 8 years ago
I can't not write. It's very hard work, and I've struggled recently to learn to let myself stop once I've accomplish my goals for the day and the muse has quieted, instead of trying to force more because it's still only 10am. >_> I'm also quite guilty of #48, haha! It's difficult to shut that part of your brain off when you've been editing for friends and colleagues for more than half your life. Still, I do try, so I can enjoy old favourites and get through new ones without missing the entire plot because my eyes are trained on the technical details.
I'm going to share this with my writing group as part of this week's discussion - in fact it was one of the members who initially pointed me at this. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. :)
August 26 2008, 14:27:19 UTC 8 years ago
Writing is definitely hard work, which a lot of people just don't understand. If there's one thing I appreciate about Nanowrimo, it's the fact that it makes a lot more people realize that when I'm writing, I really am working, not just goofing off.
Yay for sharing with writer's groups! That's awesome. Thanks for stopping by, and feel free to hang out any time. I'm about to start going crazy with prep-to-publish, and that should be...funny.
September 4 2008, 13:56:57 UTC 8 years ago
You do not know me, but I hang around various blogs that know you.
September 9 2008, 00:24:34 UTC 8 years ago
March 31 2009, 02:57:09 UTC 8 years ago
Thank you for posting these. It makes the process less fearful for me and my partner,
I was going to devour the essays in one long computer reading session, but after reading this list, I think I may read one, mull it over, try to bully
March 31 2009, 15:54:37 UTC 8 years ago
September 17 2009, 18:00:41 UTC 7 years ago
43 - yes, yes, yes! Researching from people who know more about things like Las Vegas clubs, New York bistros, and flight schedules than I do has been invaluable in getting my details right.
48 - lol, I may need to jot that on a Post-It and stick it to my bathroom mirror.
Thank you so much for these!
September 21 2009, 13:55:50 UTC 7 years ago
You're welcome!
September 18 2009, 01:16:27 UTC 7 years ago
September 21 2009, 13:56:01 UTC 7 years ago
August 14 2012, 22:02:37 UTC 4 years ago
August 22 2012, 17:35:04 UTC 4 years ago
Website redesign, epic snowmen, and the pretensions of my youth
November 26 2012, 14:27:42 UTC 4 years ago
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