tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post7862999193870522555..comments2023-10-30T07:08:09.860-07:00Comments on It's a Mystery: Conflicting AdviceElspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-71389551220854272512010-03-17T08:43:54.346-07:002010-03-17T08:43:54.346-07:00What a useful post. I have not read a lot of books...What a useful post. I have not read a lot of books on this, but I read a loooong article with ten different (famous) writers´ best advice recently. I don´t know if they have put me off advice for ever, or just for this year, but it was very clear to me that the trick is to select authors whose style you LIKE - and then see if you agree with them on how to get there.Dorte Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14535044092722418173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-4137974182415663362010-03-16T04:16:23.460-07:002010-03-16T04:16:23.460-07:00I love books on writing - like some of the others ...I love books on writing - like some of the others I like Stephen King. I've had a lot of good help from James Scott Bell's book Plot & Structure. He is the opposite of an absolutist - lays out the process helpful for an outliner and a non-outliner and encourages both parties to move towards the middle! For hear encouragement Annie Lamott's bird by bird cannot be ignored. I just Jan Morrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01771180344305042855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-70962428745953395662010-03-15T18:48:25.353-07:002010-03-15T18:48:25.353-07:00You know what I've found? All those writing b...You know what I've found? All those writing books I read make me want to write and try new things...I try to take that lesson alone from each book and consider it motivation to do what I love. <br /><br />I try to ignore most of the rules that are always so contradictory and go with my gut. Sometimes the fire and determination of the authors of these books is enough to invigorate me as a Kristihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08188460633615049191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-50592544962817378292010-03-15T18:24:26.813-07:002010-03-15T18:24:26.813-07:00I have a few books, but King's On Writing is s...I have a few books, but King's On Writing is still my favorite. I write with a very broad outline, and fill in the scenes as they come to me. Then I go back and fill in the missing pieces towards the end.A.J. Freyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-12880743584500163962010-03-15T18:06:15.223-07:002010-03-15T18:06:15.223-07:00I write exactly like you. A bit of an outline, but...I write exactly like you. A bit of an outline, but knowing the ending and my characters is the main thing. Too much description puts me to sleep. When it comes to books on writing, and all things in life, I take the advice that resonates with me and ignore the rest.Lorel Claytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06749366331989131894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-83242278467520987132010-03-15T17:16:30.155-07:002010-03-15T17:16:30.155-07:00Jemi; I'm glad that works for you - it would ...Jemi; I'm glad that works for you - it would never work for me.<br /><br />Maryann; The story should be the focus - getting it down. All the rest is fine-tuning.<br /><br />Michele; Isn't this blogosphere a wonderful place?Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-65881734641752925202010-03-15T14:57:30.875-07:002010-03-15T14:57:30.875-07:00At first I bought every one I could get my hands o...At first I bought every one I could get my hands on, and scoured the shelves for more. Now, I take my advice from you wonderful writing bloggers. Who needs a book when one can go right to the source?<br /><br />Michele<br /><a href="http://southerncitymysteries.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">SouthernCityMysteries</a>JournoMichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11170364981958685438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-85128108540760196722010-03-15T13:24:25.940-07:002010-03-15T13:24:25.940-07:00I despair of absolutes in writing advice. Even in ...I despair of absolutes in writing advice. Even in my editing blogs I qualify what I say about content editing as just one way to approach the writing. When we are writing we should be focused on the story and letting it flow, not being concerned with whether we are doing it right.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-69225227528176036132010-03-15T12:22:46.441-07:002010-03-15T12:22:46.441-07:00Balance is the only way to go for me. I let my cha...Balance is the only way to go for me. I let my characters wander around in my head for a bit before I start to write. That's the extent of my outlining. I do like to read the advice, then I just pick and choose what works for me. :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-4449142469790306012010-03-15T12:15:04.370-07:002010-03-15T12:15:04.370-07:00Old Silly; Stephen King's book seems to be a ...Old Silly; Stephen King's book seems to be a favourite for many.<br /><br />Jane; If that's what you've discovered works for you, then you're right to stick with it!<br /><br />Carol; It does make your head spin, doesn't it? I have one book I go to if I have a problem - but other than that I do it on my own.<br /><br />Elizabeth; I have the same problem! Overthinking Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-11616887279947065872010-03-15T12:04:03.352-07:002010-03-15T12:04:03.352-07:00Stephen King's "On Writing" and Dona...Stephen King's "On Writing" and Donald Maass's "How to Write a Breakout Novel" workbook are precious to me. That said, I've never been a "how to" girl. That's why I don't cook. Couldn't stand to follow a simple recipe!Debra Lynn Sheltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08238268767406623274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-9960775444118493332010-03-15T11:47:45.742-07:002010-03-15T11:47:45.742-07:00I have a few how-to's, but sometimes they mess...I have a few how-to's, but sometimes they mess me up. I tend to overthink things when I have too many reference books. <br /><br />ElizabethElizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-56474064703076962742010-03-15T11:41:16.329-07:002010-03-15T11:41:16.329-07:00I have a shelf full of these books, too. After rea...I have a shelf full of these books, too. After reading a few cover to cover, my head was ready to spin off like a wayward top. I've learned what generally works for me, and when I have a problem I go to the books to search for answers.Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168273312704732896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-18698889121047919442010-03-15T11:38:50.118-07:002010-03-15T11:38:50.118-07:00You've given perfect examples of much of the c...You've given perfect examples of much of the conflicting writing advice floating around. I do have shelves stacked with how-to books and though I have read useful tidbits, I generally don’t mess with my no outline writing style.Jane Kennedy Suttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12519340747761460017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-10527576311604714622010-03-15T11:13:50.249-07:002010-03-15T11:13:50.249-07:00Yeah, I've got lots of "how to" advi...Yeah, I've got lots of "how to" advice books, but no, I don't really follow them. You have to feel your own muse and how IT works best. So no one advice is good for all writers, hmm? I DO re-read Stephen King's "On Writing" book, his style resonates with me (not his genre, too gory for me, but his writing style)so I've gotten a lot of use out of his advice.<br The Old Sillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09661188622348794193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-50414068724042017612010-03-15T11:07:34.504-07:002010-03-15T11:07:34.504-07:00Margot; Surely one doesn't need to read a how-...Margot; Surely one doesn't need to read a how-to book to know any book needs solid characters and a strong plot? Doesn't every writer get to the point of knowing what does and doesn't work for them? I don't think you'll be able to find that knowledge in a book.<br /><br />Karen; This is why how-to-write books drive me crazed. Everyone must find their own path - there is Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-33302593676012677962010-03-15T10:17:30.476-07:002010-03-15T10:17:30.476-07:00Elspeth - "Conflicting" is such an appro...Elspeth - "Conflicting" is such an appropriate word for the kind of advice one gets about writing. I've read some wonderful advice and been glad I did; at the same time, though, I tend to shy away from too much "how to" stuff. The reason is that writing is a very personal, very individual thing. Of course there are some things that every writer benefits from knowing. SolidAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com