As if writing itself wasn't easy enough, there is all that pressure to gain fame and fortune. No problem, right? Not quite. We give ourselves high expectations and almost set ourselves up for disappointment. Instead, work backwards. Look at where you want to be, how high you want to climb. See yourself there, the writer you have become after so much hard work, brilliant thinking and skill with words, there you are!
Where exactly are you? What are you writing? What have you written? Which goals have you accomplished? What people helped you along the way? What resources were used to get to the top of the slushpile? What steps did you take along the way? What changes did you make in your life and your thinking?
Write all those down, every detail about the journey. Backtrack, make sure you haven't missed any steps. Now, which of those things could you be doing? Do you already know some of the people you need to know? How many of those resources are in your grasp and which do you need to find? Where are your road blocks?
Work backwards from where you want to be to where you are now. See the steps in reverse and then begin taking them. Start the journey, don't put it off while looking at the big picture in the distance. You still have to get there. Start today by looking backwards rather than forwards. There is so much less pressure in looking back than looking ahead and seeing how far you still need to go.
Character in Victory and Defeat
Do you agree with the idea that a character can be shown better in defeat than in victory? Think about the last character you wrote about. What was happening to him or her? Were they being defeated or conquering? Would it be easier to show their defeat or victory through dialogue or description? Or would you just narrate that and not leave it up to speculation?
I'd like to think people's characters can thrive in either situation. You know, that idea about good winners and poor losers. It should work both ways. Maybe it's more about the writer's own character than the character created for the page.
It's worth thinking about. How would you describe the setting differently if the character was happy, doing well and having a great victory compared to the setting of a character who was having a bad day, etc.? There would be small details like how they carry themselves, body language and tone of voice if they speak. Larger things like their reactions to other people and things that interact with them. Aggression and violence could develop for the defeated character. Whereas someone who has won would be aggressive but not in a violent or threatening way, over exuberant perhaps. Both can be intimidating for different reasons.
How much does the mood of a character influence their surroundings. You know when you are feeling angry you see things differently than when you are sad, happy, or laid back. Do you consider that aspect as you write the scene? Back to that is the glass half full or half empty.
Anyway, it's something I read in a book about fiction writing, an old book but still some interesting ideas. Yet another way to show without telling.
I'd like to think people's characters can thrive in either situation. You know, that idea about good winners and poor losers. It should work both ways. Maybe it's more about the writer's own character than the character created for the page.
It's worth thinking about. How would you describe the setting differently if the character was happy, doing well and having a great victory compared to the setting of a character who was having a bad day, etc.? There would be small details like how they carry themselves, body language and tone of voice if they speak. Larger things like their reactions to other people and things that interact with them. Aggression and violence could develop for the defeated character. Whereas someone who has won would be aggressive but not in a violent or threatening way, over exuberant perhaps. Both can be intimidating for different reasons.
How much does the mood of a character influence their surroundings. You know when you are feeling angry you see things differently than when you are sad, happy, or laid back. Do you consider that aspect as you write the scene? Back to that is the glass half full or half empty.
Anyway, it's something I read in a book about fiction writing, an old book but still some interesting ideas. Yet another way to show without telling.
Cuold Tihs Bcemoe Ppoluar?
Here's something for you to try...
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.
Amzanig!
Found in a blog: http://michaelwood.com/ Original credit to: http://jme.ca/
Try it yourself. It will be hard to type that way, you'd have to think of each word as you spell it. It wouldn't do to miss a letter or add one twice.
Anyway, I had no trouble reading that paragraph. It really is amazing.
Of course, it would make spellcheck obsolete. Your word processor would have fits checking all that. Grammar and punctuation would be the same. I think.
Also, it only works for words which are longer than 3 letters. You can't scramble 3 letter words and leave the two end letters the same as usual. I noticed words like 'keep' can't be scrambled cause the middle letters are the same already. Change them all you want, it stays the same.
Would it work as a secret code? Probably not, too easy to read. But it might keep them guessing awhile. Wondering what you're really up to.
So, I don't see much practical use for this idea. But, it is interesting.
Waht do you tinhk? Cuold tihs bcemoe ppoluar? It's tkanig me aegs to tpye tihs. I dno't hvae euognh ptaeicne to keep it up.
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.
Amzanig!
Found in a blog: http://michaelwood.com/ Original credit to: http://jme.ca/
Try it yourself. It will be hard to type that way, you'd have to think of each word as you spell it. It wouldn't do to miss a letter or add one twice.
Anyway, I had no trouble reading that paragraph. It really is amazing.
Of course, it would make spellcheck obsolete. Your word processor would have fits checking all that. Grammar and punctuation would be the same. I think.
Also, it only works for words which are longer than 3 letters. You can't scramble 3 letter words and leave the two end letters the same as usual. I noticed words like 'keep' can't be scrambled cause the middle letters are the same already. Change them all you want, it stays the same.
Would it work as a secret code? Probably not, too easy to read. But it might keep them guessing awhile. Wondering what you're really up to.
So, I don't see much practical use for this idea. But, it is interesting.
Waht do you tinhk? Cuold tihs bcemoe ppoluar? It's tkanig me aegs to tpye tihs. I dno't hvae euognh ptaeicne to keep it up.
Family Fear Factor
Today, there are 65 subscribers to this newsletter. (Note, this was originally posted to the WordCraft newsletter on BackWash, awhile ago). Are you all crazy? I'm a fraud, I couldn't tell you how to write your way out of a wet paper bag even if I had a map. Just ask my family.
First, they say something that feels like a polite, supportive pat on the head. But they top it with the qualifier. The qualifier is not a good thing, its something about not making money, not having perfect grammar, the typo they found in the odd article they actually did read, etc. Do people give you qualifiers?
Rejection from some editor is one thing. But, its not personal. Family and friends are another thing. How can that not be personal. Likely, they mean well. I know mine do. But each qualifier is like a mountain I have to climb out from under. For a moment I'm suffocating, buried alive under more earth than I could dig my way out from. Not so different from my nephew's quest in the backyard, that hole to China he starts again, every Fall, in the garden.
But, you do have to keep digging. Keep trying and keep your eye on your goals, your passions and your reasons for wanting to write. Maybe you just write for yourself. But secretly you want to take the next step, its just hard to believe you really can. After all your spelling isn't that great, the stuff you write about is boring and your grammar is as good as mine.
Welcome to the club, now get writing.
First, they say something that feels like a polite, supportive pat on the head. But they top it with the qualifier. The qualifier is not a good thing, its something about not making money, not having perfect grammar, the typo they found in the odd article they actually did read, etc. Do people give you qualifiers?
Rejection from some editor is one thing. But, its not personal. Family and friends are another thing. How can that not be personal. Likely, they mean well. I know mine do. But each qualifier is like a mountain I have to climb out from under. For a moment I'm suffocating, buried alive under more earth than I could dig my way out from. Not so different from my nephew's quest in the backyard, that hole to China he starts again, every Fall, in the garden.
But, you do have to keep digging. Keep trying and keep your eye on your goals, your passions and your reasons for wanting to write. Maybe you just write for yourself. But secretly you want to take the next step, its just hard to believe you really can. After all your spelling isn't that great, the stuff you write about is boring and your grammar is as good as mine.
Welcome to the club, now get writing.
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