Ohmygoodness yes - those people who can eat big and stay small - grrrr!
I'm just so jealous :D of effortlessness, I think its not overstating the case to say that I would love to find something I am good at that is effortless but so far no luck!
On the other hand, Dylan Thomas complained that every word of Under Milkwood was painfully, thoroughly worked on, replaced, re-written and re-considered over a long period of time. I take comfort in Dylan fairly frequently.
I do think with practice one's own "process" (get me)is streamlined and part of it is recognising that other writers don't necessarily dream of perfect characters and stories but build them up from this and that, layer by layer, somehow. Once I understood that it was ok to do that and that that was the only way I could do it, life became a little easier, even if the writing didn't.
Man, one of these days I'm actually going to publish something over 10k words! As I say, takes me forever.
Restraint is masterful, deeply satisfying and thoroughly enjoyable, two years in the making or not. Not many people are capable of such a feat, so relish your achievement - you've earned it!
I read somewhere that Flaubert was the same way with Madame Bovary, and while I can't say I take much comfort from Flaubert, it's good to know that some of the greats wrote the same painstaking way I write. Heck, Dickens basically killed himself with it, right?
Your icon looks incredibly like John and Tristan--I mean, Jared and Jensen. *guh*
I'd heard that about Flaubert but Mme Bovary (like Anna Karenina) just doesn't light my fire and as much as I've tried to love it, its just not there for me. I know that was not the point you were making but it is great to get a chance to talk about writing and books and I can get carried away!
Lol - I'll leave you in peace now and continue to mutter to myself quietly! x
I'm just so jealous :D of effortlessness, I think its not overstating the case to say that I would love to find something I am good at that is effortless but so far no luck!
On the other hand, Dylan Thomas complained that every word of Under Milkwood was painfully, thoroughly worked on, replaced, re-written and re-considered over a long period of time. I take comfort in Dylan fairly frequently.
I do think with practice one's own "process" (get me)is streamlined and part of it is recognising that other writers don't necessarily dream of perfect characters and stories but build them up from this and that, layer by layer, somehow. Once I understood that it was ok to do that and that that was the only way I could do it, life became a little easier, even if the writing didn't.
Man, one of these days I'm actually going to publish something over 10k words! As I say, takes me forever.
Restraint is masterful, deeply satisfying and thoroughly enjoyable, two years in the making or not. Not many people are capable of such a feat, so relish your achievement - you've earned it!
Reply
I read somewhere that Flaubert was the same way with Madame Bovary, and while I can't say I take much comfort from Flaubert, it's good to know that some of the greats wrote the same painstaking way I write. Heck, Dickens basically killed himself with it, right?
Your icon looks incredibly like John and Tristan--I mean, Jared and Jensen. *guh*
Reply
I'd heard that about Flaubert but Mme Bovary (like Anna Karenina) just doesn't light my fire and as much as I've tried to love it, its just not there for me. I know that was not the point you were making but it is great to get a chance to talk about writing and books and I can get carried away!
Lol - I'll leave you in peace now and continue to mutter to myself quietly! x
Reply
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