The Writing Thing
Dec. 16th, 2011 01:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rusty_armourI'm sure people are sick of hearing about my original fiction project as I talk about it more than work on it, but I've got the day off and some extra time before going out (as I've put off doing my laundry until tonight). Anywaaaaaay, I think I'm truly back in the saddle with my original fiction project this time. I'll freely admit that I allowed myself to become distracted by fic writing during the summer as a pathetic and totally transparent ploy to avoid working on my original fiction project. Then, when I decided to knuckle down and return to what I was supposed to be working on, my confidence shattered into a million pieces after reading the opening of the first scene. It's horrible. We're talking absolute shit. Naturally, I started to think that everything I'd ever written was shit and became paralyzed by fear. I couldn't face writing at all. I couldn't even open my notebook. Instead, I threw myself into things like Christmas shopping, writing cards and letters, catching up on DVDs: pretty much anything that would get me out of writing. Ironically, on Tuesday night, my original fiction muse decided to pay me a visit.
I hadn't slept well the night before and joked to myself that it would be the perfect time to open the old notebook and pretend to do some plotting for the total rewrite of the first scene. Of course, that's when a couple of ideas popped into my head and I actually found myself plotting for real. Okay, it was in front of the TV, but it was a hell of a lot better than what I had been doing, namely nothing. I even did a bit of work on the dialogue that follows the shit opening, as I'll transfer it to what will probably be the second scene. In fact, I'm happy to say that I've been fiddling with that dialogue for the last three nights. I, uh, keep changing my mind and rewriting it, but that's because it hasn't been working and not because I was second-guessing myself. And I'm sure that doesn't seem like much, but I'd rather be doing several rewrites and engaged in the writing process than not writing at all. Of course, my notebook is a mess, but I think I've come up with an idea to organize the chaos: one that
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jackycomelately will heartily approve of, I'm sure. I'm going to use the second generation Touch she was generous enough to give me and type the bits that seem to be working on there using DocsToGo. It's the kind of thing I can work on when I'm staying with my parents over Christmas. Writing is often a challenge with my whole family around, but I think I can handle typing...when I'm not reading all the fic I've been storing on Stanza. *g* Yikes! I'd better think about getting lunch soon. I'm meeting my mom in about an hour to see Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. :-)
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Date: 2011-12-16 06:39 pm (UTC)so glad your original fic muse has returned.
also: to quote Ernest Hemingway as quoted by Chris Baty (he of NaNoWriMo), "the first draft of anything is shit". the point is to HAVE a first draft, because then the second draft can be better.
*cheers you on*
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Date: 2011-12-16 07:41 pm (UTC)Also, hope you enjoyed Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. I did, even though the genre isn't really my sort of thing.
(Sherlock's back soon - re-watching series 1 in anticipation .... )
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Date: 2011-12-16 08:04 pm (UTC)And of course, it takes time. Read Henry VI Part One and then Hamlet or King Lear if you want to see how talent develops.
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Date: 2011-12-16 09:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-17 04:22 am (UTC)so glad your original fic muse has returned.
Oooooh! Thank you so much for the MASSIVE PURPLE SPARKLY CLOUD OF YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!,
also: to quote Ernest Hemingway as quoted by Chris Baty (he of NaNoWriMo), "the first draft of anything is shit". the point is to HAVE a first draft, because then the second draft can be better.
Well, there's shit and then there's what I have for my opening... *g* Seriously, though, Ernest and Chris are right -- and I don't know why I can't seem to get that drilled into my head. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who will spend twenty minutes on one sentence trying to get it right, which probably explains why I'm such a slow writer. I think I'm getting better at accepting rough where this project is concerned, though. I've reached the conclusion that it has to be rough by necessity at this stage in the game.
*cheers you on*
Thanks again! I really appreciate it! :-D
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Date: 2011-12-17 04:28 am (UTC)Thanks,
Also, hope you enjoyed Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. I did, even though the genre isn't really my sort of thing.
I loved it! There were some changes from the novel, but a lot of the changes were ones I approved of. I'm glad you liked the film even if you aren't a fan of the genre. While it's obviously a spy thriller, it focuses very much on character and what drives and motivates people. Maybe that's one reason it appealed to you.
(Sherlock's back soon - re-watching series 1 in anticipation .... )
I KNOW! I'm very excited! :-D I'm rewatching the first series as well. Okay, I've only had a chance to rewatch "A Study in Pink," but I'll get to the other two before the new Sherlock episodes air.
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Date: 2011-12-17 04:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-17 04:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-17 02:14 pm (UTC)I'm sure that anything you've written that is "absolute shit" would be pretty good in my book! I haven't written at all for months now.
I hope you get some writing done over Christmas, but also enjoy the time with your family.
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Date: 2011-12-17 11:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-18 03:56 am (UTC)Thank you so much,
I'm sure that anything you've written that is "absolute shit" would be pretty good in my book!
You wouldn't think so if you read my opening. It really is awful. *g* All the same, it's very kind of you to say that. Thanks again. :-D
I haven't written at all for months now.
Don't despair. If a lazy, slow writer like me can climb back into the saddle then anyone can. And this certainly wasn't the first time I'd fallen off the horse or even the longest period of time I'd gone without writing. Besides, sometimes you just need a break from it. You'll get back to it when you're ready, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what you'll write. :-D
I hope you get some writing done over Christmas, but also enjoy the time with your family.
I'm sure I'll manage both. Here's hoping your own Christmas is wonderful. :-D
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Date: 2011-12-18 03:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-18 01:15 pm (UTC)And how was "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"? I must admit that I've only recently watched the Beeb's "Sherlock" and have become quite a fan. So, I was planning on watching this when it finally comes out in Oz.
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Date: 2011-12-18 02:45 pm (UTC)There's nothing like delving into a project to get the old noggin thinking. I think you just discovered that the muse comes when you start working on a project even though you have no ideas.
You're doing a whole lot better than I am. When I can't sleep I play stupid computer games. My scores are getting good, but I'm accomplishing nothing.
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Date: 2011-12-18 04:42 pm (UTC)Oh, thank you,
And how was "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"?
I loved it! While there were some differences from the novel (which I read just before seeing the film), I approved of a lot of the changes that were made and think they stuck quite closely to the original story. Oh, and the cast was wonderful! :-) Here's my favourite Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy trailer if you haven't seen it already:
I must admit that I've only recently watched the Beeb's "Sherlock" and have become quite a fan. So, I was planning on watching this when it finally comes out in Oz.
YES! Oh, it's awesome that you've become a Sherlock fan! :-D I have to admit that Benedict Cumberbatch was one of the main reasons I wanted to see Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and he doesn't disappoint! I think he makes a great Peter Guillam! :-)
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Date: 2011-12-18 04:58 pm (UTC)Thank you! I'm happy you think so! :-)
There's nothing like delving into a project to get the old noggin thinking. I think you just discovered that the muse comes when you start working on a project even though you have no ideas.
Yeah, I think there may be some truth in that. Sometimes, you just need to open your notebook (or whatever) to have some ideas come to you, even if you just find yourself doing a bit of plotting. However, I also find that it's often when I'm not thinking about a story, or have set my notebook aside, that an idea comes to me or I finally get a line to work in my head.
You're doing a whole lot better than I am. When I can't sleep I play stupid computer games. My scores are getting good, but I'm accomplishing nothing.
Well, I didn't actually get any writing done during that recent bout of insomnia, though I have occasionally had a writing session when I couldn't sleep. Most of the time, the closest I get to writing in the wee hours of the morning is if I jot down ideas or sentences in my notebook. Usually, when I can't sleep, I either turn on the TV or read some fic. At least with computer games, you're upping your scores. *g*
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Date: 2011-12-18 06:01 pm (UTC)I find writing fiction takes so much mental energy, I’m not surprise when I have periods where it doesn’t come. However, I know you are a much more consistent writer than I am generally. Loss of confidence is the worst! You are a terrific writer! You can do it! Sometimes shit is necessary to fertilize the growing literary roses! Or, ummm, something more delicate and profound. Best cut line ever by the way! Hilarious! I love my Touch most when I’m visiting family. Stockpile that fic! I hope you find the keyboard workable for intensive typing. Sideways works best for me. I'm thrilled you are using it.
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Date: 2011-12-18 06:33 pm (UTC)Thank you very much! It's about frickin' time, eh? *g*
I find writing fiction takes so much mental energy, I’m not surprise when I have periods where it doesn’t come.
I think that's why so many writers go through periods of writer's block. And even after you've come up with an idea, the execution itself takes a lot of mental energy - the attempt to translate what's in your head (with all of its gaps, holes and inconsistencies) to paper.
However, I know you are a much more consistent writer than I am generally.
Well, I suppose I'm consistent a lot of the time, but I'm really slow. *g*
Loss of confidence is the worst! You are a terrific writer! You can do it! Sometimes shit is necessary to fertilize the growing literary roses! Or, ummm, something more delicate and profound.
Loss of confidence definitely is the worst. I can deal with writer's block (as frustrating as it is), but everything shuts down when my confidence takes a blow. Speaking of confidence, thanks for the vote of confidence! :-D It's been a struggle, but all you can do in situations like this is tell yourself that you can do it. And you couldn't be more right about the necessity of shit in the writing process. Roses often do need fertilizer to grow. Another analogy is that you sometimes have to take a number of wrong turns before you can head off in the right direction. Considering how long I've been writing, I should remember this and stop despairing every time it happens. *g*
Best cut line ever by the way! Hilarious!
Oh, thank you! I'm glad you found it funny! :-)
I love my Touch most when I’m visiting family. Stockpile that fic!
Oh, it's fabulous to have it when visiting family. I even use it to keep my brother entertained. He was actually reading some poetry by Edgar Allan Poe when I was at my parents' place last weekend. Then he read one of my RoS parodies. Okay, I may have nudged him a bit to read "Silent Knight". *g* Anywaaaaay, I've been downloading stories on my hard drive as I think of them and will probably transfer them all to Touch in one go.
I hope you find the keyboard workable for intensive typing. Sideways works best for me. I'm thrilled you are using it.
I'll admit that I'm not great at using the keyboard (though I haven't had a lot of practice). That's why I think it will work best if I'm using it to type out things I've already written - for now, anyway. Thanks for the tip about using it sideways. I don't think I was doing that before, so maybe sideways would make things a lot easier. :-)
BTW, how's the writing going? I'm sure you must be suffering some major mental exhaustion yourself trying to meet your deadline. Just remember that we're good as long as you can get the story to me by Thursday. I actually have that day off, so I can do some work on it during the day if it's ready by then.
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Date: 2011-12-18 07:54 pm (UTC)You gotta love Poe! If you don't, he'll return from the dead as a raven and peck out your eyes! Silent Knight is funny as hell. After you mentioned it I had to go read it.
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Date: 2011-12-18 08:11 pm (UTC)Well, I had a feeling you might need more time because that's so often the case with anyone who has a fic deadline - and you're facing a fic deadline with Christmas a week away. I think an extension is entirely justified. :-)
You gotta love Poe! If you don't, he'll return from the dead as a raven and peck out your eyes!
I do love Poe and have been encouraging my brother to read him because I think Poe would be right up his street. In fact, that reminds me... *Walks over to the book shelf* I was going to lend my collection of Poe poetry and short stories to my brother. I keep meaning to put the book with the other stuff I'll be taking with me for the family visit.
Silent Knight is funny as hell. After you mentioned it I had to go read it.
Oooooh! Thank you so much! :-D I honestly wasn't fishing for a read, but I'm very happy you enjoyed it. I was telling my brother to read it because it's a Christmas story...of sorts. *g*
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Date: 2011-12-19 08:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 04:19 pm (UTC)