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This week, Becca asks:
How about you? Is your writing life healthy these days? How do you keep your writing life alive? What are some of the remedies you use to revive it?
I was just making a list today of all of the things I try to cram into my free hours at home, revolving around writing, and when I finally looked at what I'm expecting of myself, it was a "smack my forehead" moment. No wonder my time feels so cramped! I'm trying to do everything, everyday.
What do I actually get accomplished out of all of that? When it comes to writing, I have my highs and lows in terms of inspiration and wordcount. I am learning how to write when my muse is on vacation. Although I like it when she's around. I have much better wordcounts when I'm so inspired I forget how long I've been writing and it turns out I just pounded out 500 words in a single go of it. And then the next day it takes me two hours to get out five hundred words that I know I'll probably delete tomorrow.
So it goes. Days that I sit at my computer and write absolute crap, though, are still better than days I don't write at all. When I don't write one day, the next day I figure my word count for the week is shot anyhow, so why bother, I can just wait until the next Sunday to get started, and do better then... and then a week's gone past and I haven't written a blessed thing that wasn't for work. Or my blog, if I'm lucky.
So I try to be flexible with myself when I don't meet my writing goals. If I can't write, can I revise something I've already written? Can I do some research for The Great American Novel? Can I read a chapter from one of my awesome writing books that I got for Christmas? Then I give myself a pep talk.
"Self?"
"Yes?"
"You can do it."
"No, I can't."
"Yes you can." (Inspiring music from Rocky playing in the background.)
"Nah, I think its more fun wasting time on the internets right now."
"Getyourrearintogearnow!! Ooh... internets... pretty... Paris Hilton got a nose job?"
When all else fails, I imitate other writers. I mark passages in the books I'm reading and copy them into a big ole Word doc and as I type I have to think through the structure and the words that the author chose for this passage and I feel WAY smarter. I've STUDIED! I've LEARNED!!
And when even that fails, there's always reruns of 30 Rock awaiting me online. Because TV helps me write (*eye twitches uncontrollably). Really!!
Showing posts with label Write on Wednesday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Write on Wednesday. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Write on Wednesday
Becca asks this week: How about you? What’s your writing state of mind these days? How do you access that “mysterious faculty” where insight and imagination are nurtured? How do your instincts about your writing ability help you? What’s your experience of being in “the writing zone”?
My writing state of mind these days is in research mode, which is not really conducive to actual writing just yet. Because to read a book and try and condense into somewhat legible notes and keep oneself from getting so bogged down the whole project is out the window is tough. Just as tedious as back in college, but at least the subject is self-imposed.
I keep in mind that eventually these little scraps of fact will collect into a larger whole that I can see glimpses of already. When the research is too tedious, then I go back to the world-building aspect/plotting aspect, which sometimes feels like a million little pieces that will never come together just right.
I like Becca's phrasing "the mysterious faculty". Writing is mysterious to me. Most times that I write a story, the opening lines just come to me, and I will sit for heaven knows how long until I reach a point at which I need an actual plot. I have never had a plotline just fall into my lap, those always require much more staring at a blank pad of paper or computer screen until finally the pieces come together. I usually must just plug along and write for a while, with more effort, and then suddenly, the words flow right from my brain onto the computer screen.
At the moment, I'm yawning over my computer, and the words are not flowing so easily, so I must bid adieu to you, my faithful Bold. Blue. Adventure. readers.
My writing state of mind these days is in research mode, which is not really conducive to actual writing just yet. Because to read a book and try and condense into somewhat legible notes and keep oneself from getting so bogged down the whole project is out the window is tough. Just as tedious as back in college, but at least the subject is self-imposed.
I keep in mind that eventually these little scraps of fact will collect into a larger whole that I can see glimpses of already. When the research is too tedious, then I go back to the world-building aspect/plotting aspect, which sometimes feels like a million little pieces that will never come together just right.
I like Becca's phrasing "the mysterious faculty". Writing is mysterious to me. Most times that I write a story, the opening lines just come to me, and I will sit for heaven knows how long until I reach a point at which I need an actual plot. I have never had a plotline just fall into my lap, those always require much more staring at a blank pad of paper or computer screen until finally the pieces come together. I usually must just plug along and write for a while, with more effort, and then suddenly, the words flow right from my brain onto the computer screen.
At the moment, I'm yawning over my computer, and the words are not flowing so easily, so I must bid adieu to you, my faithful Bold. Blue. Adventure. readers.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Write on Wednesday
This Week's Question is a Questionnaire in honor of school starting soon.
- Do you write fiction or non-fiction? Or both?
Does this blog count as nonfiction? Then it's yes to both. For my pleasure writing I only write fiction. I have no real desire to be a non-fiction writer. - Do you keep a journal or a writing notebook?
I used to keep pretty detailed journals and I haven't in a long time. No clue why, I really think I should have liked to look back at my journals from the past few years if I had kept any. - If you write fiction, do you know your characters’ goals, motivations, and conflicts before you start writing or is that something else you discover only after you start writing? Do you find books on plotting useful or harmful?
If I'm trying to work out a character, their motivation usually comes to me in fits and starts. I don't know everything to start, but as I write, their attitude develops. And I haven't read any books about plotting, but I plan to as I would like to learn more in that particular area. - Are you a procrastinator or does the itch to write keep at you until you sit down and work?
Definitely procrastinator. When the itch strikes, though, I can sit for a long time until I run out of ideas or get really tired. - Do you write in short bursts of creative energy, or can you sit down and write for hours at a time?
Well, I guess I kind of answered that one already. Short bursts of creative energy. I do not sustain well unless I feel inspired. One reason I am still an aspiring writer. - Are you a morning or afternoon writer?
Night-time. I don't feel creative until later in the day. - Do you write with music/the noise of children/in a cafe or other public setting, or do you need complete silence to concentrate?
Complete silence, although music sometimes works. Definitely no TVs. - Computer or longhand? (or typewriter?)
Computer. I can't write fast enough to keep up with my thoughts and I retype things too frequently. - Do you know the ending before you type Chapter One? Or do you let the story evolve as you write?
I never know how a story is going to end. Which is why I'm going to buy a book about plotting as I don't think that is the best way to write. - Does what’s selling in the market influence how and what you write?
Nope. I just want to write. I don't want to have to support myself financially by it, leaving me free to write whatever the hell I want to. - Editing/Revision - love it or hate it?
Love it... how else would I get from the rough outline down into the actual story?
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Write On Wednesday
Today will be the first time I've actually remembered to check Write on Wednesday on a Wednesday. Becca's question is:
What do the three P’s of writing…practice, pleasure, profit…mean in your writing life?
I once entered a poem into a poetry contest for Minnesota high schoolers and wouldn't you know it, I won. I was published in an anthology and given a $50 savings bond. I did not know that savings bonds took so long to mature, so when I finally cashed it out, it was worth $35. And that is the extent of how I have profited, money-wise, from writing. I support myself at the moment on a regular job and I genuinely hope I never have to support myself financially from writing, because at my regular job I still get paid for the days when I'm bored and spend all day pretending to work while secretly playing solitaire.
I've been committing to write more this year and sometimes succeeding. I don't have the practice of writing on a daily basis, for any number of reasons that would amount to nothing more than excuses. On an irregular basis, I post some short fiction on this blog, but I'm torn about it. If I ever went back and wanted to submit any of those stories for publication somewhere, I'd have problems, as publishers don't want fiction you've already published on a blog. However, giving myself a reason to work on writing makes me actually write, which is a good thing. So I've stuck firmly to the irregular schedule of my fiction. And writing. The thought of taking an actual writing class (oh why did I not take one in college when I was already taking out student loans??) has crossed my mind more than once.
And lastly, writing is a pleasurable activity in general, however I have a tendency to give up on it when it becomes less pleasurable (i.e. I get stuck or can't think of the right words). The greatest pleasure (right up there with finally graduating from college and getting a raise) is reading something I wrote and realizing that I actually like it.
Alright, enough writing about writing. Back to actual writing.
What do the three P’s of writing…practice, pleasure, profit…mean in your writing life?
I once entered a poem into a poetry contest for Minnesota high schoolers and wouldn't you know it, I won. I was published in an anthology and given a $50 savings bond. I did not know that savings bonds took so long to mature, so when I finally cashed it out, it was worth $35. And that is the extent of how I have profited, money-wise, from writing. I support myself at the moment on a regular job and I genuinely hope I never have to support myself financially from writing, because at my regular job I still get paid for the days when I'm bored and spend all day pretending to work while secretly playing solitaire.
I've been committing to write more this year and sometimes succeeding. I don't have the practice of writing on a daily basis, for any number of reasons that would amount to nothing more than excuses. On an irregular basis, I post some short fiction on this blog, but I'm torn about it. If I ever went back and wanted to submit any of those stories for publication somewhere, I'd have problems, as publishers don't want fiction you've already published on a blog. However, giving myself a reason to work on writing makes me actually write, which is a good thing. So I've stuck firmly to the irregular schedule of my fiction. And writing. The thought of taking an actual writing class (oh why did I not take one in college when I was already taking out student loans??) has crossed my mind more than once.
And lastly, writing is a pleasurable activity in general, however I have a tendency to give up on it when it becomes less pleasurable (i.e. I get stuck or can't think of the right words). The greatest pleasure (right up there with finally graduating from college and getting a raise) is reading something I wrote and realizing that I actually like it.
Alright, enough writing about writing. Back to actual writing.
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