Totally agreetealterror0August 14 2011, 19:55:24 UTC
A while ago, I decided I was going to write a lot in order to get better at writing. To do that, I decided to write at least 1,000 words a day. How hard could it really be? I thought.
For the first week or so, it was pretty easy. Then it started getting harder, and harder, and then almost impossible. Now I'm totally failing at that goal, and even when I manage the words I have to really push myself for a lot of it.
It's the grind that's difficult. Any idiot can write a 10,000 word short story off a burst of inspiration. It takes a professional to write a little bit every day and make it good.
I'm not sure if I have what it takes to be a professional. We'll see if I can keep to my goal now that I've finished moving to my new place.
P.S.: About how important would you say the execution of a concept is, vis-a-vis that concept? I tend to think that in a great product, the concept and execution are equally important; however, a crappy concept with good execution can still make a good product, while the reverse isn't true. And I feel I just typed a word salad to rival Sarah Palin.
Re: Totally agreeinverarityAugust 14 2011, 20:39:43 UTC
I think execution is much more important than concept. While there is only so much you can do with a stupid idea, a good writer can turn any idea into a decent story, while a poor writer can't write a good story no matter how great an idea s/he starts with.
Re: Totally agreetealterror0August 14 2011, 23:58:19 UTC
As a general rule, perhaps, but I think there are exceptions. Lord of the Rings, for example, has a fantastic concept (especially for its time), but I think its execution leaves a lot to be desired. Others might disagree with me on that front, of course.
Tolkien: Concept vs. ExecutioninverarityAugust 15 2011, 00:19:26 UTC
Not everyone likes Tolkien's prose, but he was at least competent as a writer and storyteller. If he'd been a hack with no style at all, then the imagination in his Middle Earth saga might have attracted a few fans, but LotR would probably have remained just another obscure work of early fantasy.
Re: Tolkien: Concept vs. Executiontealterror0August 15 2011, 01:09:49 UTC
I'm not denying he was competent (although "competent" is quite a low bar). But it does have a lot of issues, IMO, although it has its strong points too. At the least, though, it's not his execution that made LOTR so popular and influential.
Re: Tolkien: Concept vs. Executionxero339August 15 2011, 05:41:22 UTC
I will boldly attempt to not rant here, because I'm a major Tolkien fan.
I don't think anyone can deny that the sheer scope and depth of the concept is quite impressive but I know you aren't talking about concept, so I'll leave it alone. It's my opinion that while his execution was not perfect, it was more than competent. What makes the execution seem sub-par is largely a societal and cultural gap. Even more importantly, Tolkien was a language professor. He formed his story around the language. He formed the look and culture of his races out of the languages already created for the races. While this execution is almost completely unique, I don't think this is the best route to take. I think this style of execution gives the Hobbits, Elves, and Dwarfs less flexibility. They are defined by their language, not individual personalities. Despite that, I believe the execution was effective and positively different.
Re: Tolkien: Concept vs. Executiontealterror0August 15 2011, 16:51:42 UTC
Of course I don't deny the impressiveness of Tolkein's concept.
As for the language issue, well, that's kind of my point exactly. Tolkein wasn't writing in order to make a good book, he was writing to give his languages a home. It's a fair enough goal, and I would agree he succeeded at it admirably. But as a story, I think his execution falls flat.
If that makes sense.
And feel free to fan rant; that's half of what the internet is for (the other half, of course, is porn).
For the first week or so, it was pretty easy. Then it started getting harder, and harder, and then almost impossible. Now I'm totally failing at that goal, and even when I manage the words I have to really push myself for a lot of it.
It's the grind that's difficult. Any idiot can write a 10,000 word short story off a burst of inspiration. It takes a professional to write a little bit every day and make it good.
I'm not sure if I have what it takes to be a professional. We'll see if I can keep to my goal now that I've finished moving to my new place.
P.S.: About how important would you say the execution of a concept is, vis-a-vis that concept? I tend to think that in a great product, the concept and execution are equally important; however, a crappy concept with good execution can still make a good product, while the reverse isn't true. And I feel I just typed a word salad to rival Sarah Palin.
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I don't think anyone can deny that the sheer scope and depth of the concept is quite impressive but I know you aren't talking about concept, so I'll leave it alone. It's my opinion that while his execution was not perfect, it was more than competent. What makes the execution seem sub-par is largely a societal and cultural gap. Even more importantly, Tolkien was a language professor. He formed his story around the language. He formed the look and culture of his races out of the languages already created for the races. While this execution is almost completely unique, I don't think this is the best route to take. I think this style of execution gives the Hobbits, Elves, and Dwarfs less flexibility. They are defined by their language, not individual personalities. Despite that, I believe the execution was effective and positively different.
So, did I avoid a fan rant?
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As for the language issue, well, that's kind of my point exactly. Tolkein wasn't writing in order to make a good book, he was writing to give his languages a home. It's a fair enough goal, and I would agree he succeeded at it admirably. But as a story, I think his execution falls flat.
If that makes sense.
And feel free to fan rant; that's half of what the internet is for (the other half, of course, is porn).
Reply
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