I would suppose that a good writer would be able to shut out the outside world and tap away on her keyboard much like an actor must concentrate on his performance. I never found it difficult to accomplish the latter, but the former seems to occasionally exceed my grasp.
I am constantly put in new stages of awe as I learn more about other authors' discipline and diligence concerning their craft. It makes me feel very small. I do not seem to have a key to the floodgates at my disposal. I can either write or I can't. If I do write during a 'can't' time I guarantee that I'll be deleting it later (and have a little voice telling me this fact the entire time I'm writing).
On the plus side, "The Watcher" continues apace. It's turning out to be an interesting exercise in word choice and plot/character balance.
Here's my wish for good moods for all of you!
The good part about sitting down and writing anyway (even if it's a "can't write" time), is that we develop the writing habit and the discipline to work according to our schedule, whatever it is. There is a sense that all writing is good, because it's practice. If you delete it later, it's because you learned something about your craft, your story, or yourself, becoming a better writer as a result. Now if I could regularly follow my own advice...
ReplyDeletePatricia;
ReplyDeleteI understand the philosophy behind your thoughts, but I seem to be unable to put it into practice. I shall try harder...
Many thanks for your all your comments - they are much appreciated!
I have a variation on Patricia’s theme. I think deleting things, otherwise known as revision, is at the heart of writing. A mentor told me that the best writing skill I could learn was revision, revision, revision. And, it’s true; there seems to be no point of diminishing returns. You WIP gets better every time, even, if incrementally better.
ReplyDeleteSo, deleting time is writing time, and the time spent getting those future deletions on paper was for sure writing time. It’s all good.
Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
Galen;
ReplyDeleteI understand the revision, revision school and I'm certainly a pupil. I guess I am a very harsh judge on my own writing. I can tell as it appears on the screen whether it's okay, whether it's so-so or whether I'm writing something that's just about to get highlighted and deleted.
I just want to not have to delete as much. Not revision as in this is a good point I'm just not expressing it as clearly as I should but plain old "wow, this is garbage. What was I thinking?"
Thanks for your input - greatly appreciated.