Comments on: Be a pirate when you write

By: Jo

Jo — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:12:45 +0000

Perhaps it’s time for an uninvolved, unbiased third reader. It’s extremely difficult to judge one’s own work. It comes from the head, heart, and gut, and is a part of us. We are too entangled with it to see it clearly. Like editing one’s own work – can’t be done. You see what you meant and not what you said.

Before getting out the lighter fluid and matches, find someone to give it a fresh reading – someone who is not invested in you or your success (or failure.)

By: Lachlan

Lachlan — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:37:08 +0000

Sometimes knowing defies words. It’s a feeling, not a cogent string of words one can write or say or otherwise express. It just is.

By: Uppity

Uppity — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:01:28 +0000

But – but – I – well – [Uppity sputtering]

OK. First: Let me say thank you, you righteous Ribs, for your encouraging words. And second: They’ve made me think a lot about this (dammit. I thought I was done). And third: I don’t yet have a cogent response to them. But when I do I will make a post out of it.

For now, initial thoughts:

Jo: “Skill.” Ah, there’s the rub. Much more on this in my post (she said, quaking in her boots).

Yo: “Salami.” I remember reading that quote from King once and cheering. We can’t all be Tolstoy and that’s actually really and truly OK. It’s about writing the best salami we can write. (“Writing salami” just sounds so…Stephen King…)

Lach: “Self-awareness.” The double-edged sword! But I’d rather have it than not.

U: “Know.” Your word is the most emotional. How do I know… maybe by the agonizing pain in my heart when I read my manuscript? But seriously, I shall ponder this and respond this weekend.

By: Unhinged

Unhinged — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 02:27:51 +0000

How do you KNOW it isn’t working?

You know about Stephanie Meyer, right? The Mormon who wrote TWILIGHT, the writer who’s catching all kinds of flack from those who suspect she deliberately leaked a bad copy of the companion book to TWILIGHT because the 4th (and last) book is (and rightly so) controversial?

She wrote the first book (the smash-hit book) when she was a teenager–and claimed she didn’t know diddly about Buffy, Angel or Anita Blake.

A new idea, a fresh take on a similar spin, is what agents/houses are looking for.

So I ask you: How do you KNOW it’s not working?

By: Lachlan

Lachlan — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:45:48 +0000

I third Jo’s assessment. Hell, how many people never even GET to the place you are? They give up. At least you have the self-awareness to take a step back and realize you can return to this story whenever you feel ready.

Kudos to you, my dear.

By: Yo

Yo — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:22:02 +0000

Yeah, what Jo says. Maybe, too, you are not as bad off as you think. I sorta liked Stephen King when he said..”I write salami. I try to write the very best salami I can, but at the end of the day, it’s JUST a salami, for pete’s sake.” Apologies to Mr. King if I got my paraphrase off, but that’s how I recall it. Anyway, that idea kinda lets you off the hook so you can just have some fun and see what happens. I know I’m a non-writer and have no clue, but just thought I’d share anyway.

By: Jo

Jo — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:21:52 +0000

Novels are like waffles. You throw out the first one. But you can start on the “sequel.” If you like the premise, and think it works, go on from where you left off. Create a new book. You now have the backstory, the history of the characters, which you don’t need to spell out in this next book, but which add depth.

Writing may be an art, but it is primarily a craft, so it improves with practice. Skill is acquired. Nobody hits the ground running.

You’ve done really well for your first voyage.