Writing Meme

[nos4a2no9]

There's a new writing meme floating around, and it's basically a quick-and-dirty rundown of the way you (as a writer) approach a handful of issues. I had another marathon morning of productivity (another 6,000 words! w00t!) and I thought it might be a good time to take a look at my own approaches, quirks, and squicks.

The meme was gakked from arrow00,

Comments

[kill_claudio]

Nos, I'd never realised it until you articulated it, but your comment about writers block? That's exactly what happens to me. I mean, writing is sometimes more difficult than at other times, but the really awful bit is the occasional crippling boredom, and the sense of 'this is so dull I'm not sure why I'm even bothering'.

I think it was Roald Dahl who said that a writer has to be his (sic) own worst critic, nit-picking at all the little faults, but also has to have the confidence in his abilities to be able to say 'yes, staring at this blank piece of paper for two hours is a good use of my time

[nos4a2no9]

Wow, is it ever good to hear other people experience that same crippling-boredom problem! *clings to you in solidarity* It's awful, isn't it? And I find it impossible to combat except waiting it out, which is bad news if I'm on deadline or I want to make progress on a big fic. Have you found any successful coping strategies?

And dude, I am with you on the "magically disappearing story" problem. I think it's a sign that you're creating good art: it's supposed to be elusive, right? *kicks story too, just for good measure* If you'd like to bounce around some ideas and nail the sucker down, I'd love to hear from you!

And heh, easy it's not. I just wrote a 7,000 word story today, but the editing and beta work is going to take weeks. *weeps* I either write slowly and well, or fast and shitty. There's no happy medium.

My life is so complex, KC! *clings again*

[kill_claudio]

*clings right back* I find sometimes it helps to read things I've written in the past and try and remind myself that actually, sometimes I am a good writer. Just read all the well-deserved comments you got for the wonderful Wings of Desire, that should be inspirational!

Besides, if you can write 7000 words in a day, you have NOTHING to worry about. (I wrote 70. And then I deleted some of them. Which means the sum total of everything I wrote today is; "You think too highly, Darcy, and you always have, of the all-redeeming power of love." *weeps*) If you need another beta, I always love getting a sneak preview of your stories, although you probably have enough already.

[nos4a2no9]

Heh, I think your sentence demonstrates a lot of progress. 70 words ain't nothin'!

And thank you very kindly for your beta offer! I'd love to work with you very much, and if you'd like to send me something anytime, please feel free. Yay for beta exchange!

[qe2]

Y'all know I teach writing for a living, right?

I did not know this. Greatness.

it wanted to be first-person Kowalski, which is the scariest. Voice. Ever.

Okay, see, I think this is fascinating, because if I have a default voice in dS, it's RayK1P. Fraser1P comes less naturally for me, and 3P is plain old difficult, but RayK...well. Hm. Perhaps he's built a closet in my brain?

[nos4a2no9]

Heh, I don't teach any kind of advanced or creative writing, but yep! Freshman composition, babyee!

if I have a default voice in dS, it's RayK1P.

That is so strange! I suspect he has, indeed, built a closet in your brain. Perhaps one with dance steps on the floor, and chilipepper lights around the door, and a Mountie in the bed.

Why do you think 1PRayK comes so easily to you?

[qe2]

I don't teach any kind of advanced or creative writing, but yep! Freshman composition, babyee!

Appropriate endearment :-). Oh, man, I feel old. This whole forty-is-fucking-well-nigh thing is really doing a number on my head.

Perhaps one with dance steps on the floor, and chilipepper lights around the door, and a Mountie in the bed.

I can think of no better cranial closet to have. (Which probably loses me major girl points, what with that whole genetically encoded walk-in-closet thing we're supposed to have, but fuck it, I never did claim to be a standard-issue female.)

Why do you think 1PRayK comes so easily to you?

*blinks*

*thinks*

Off the top of my head, three theories: (1) because I imprinted on RayK very early in my dS lurkering readerdom; (2) because my mental narrator shares linguistic and attitudinal characteristics with RayK; (3) because I've spent much of my life having people tell me they find my communication style (written and spoken) too formal/polysyllabic/careful, and Fraservoice pushes that button.

?

[nos4a2no9]

That is a very coherent explanation! A lot of the folks I've talked to who like writing first-person RayK (or, hell, third-person limited from his POV) say they identify with him strongly, or they share similar speech patterns/personality traits, and I think you're the first person I've talked to who says they share more in common, in terms of communication, with Fraser, and write RayK as a result. Interesting stuff, Qbert!

[malnpudl]

I love this meme. It's a privilege -- and enlightening -- getting glimpses inside other writers' creative brains. Very cool.

[nos4a2no9]

It IS a very good meme! I think we should give arrow00 a solid gold statue of herself for coming up with it!

[j_s_cavalcante]

I had another marathon morning of productivity (another 6,000 words! w00t!)

What, have we swapped mojo? I wrote 600. And I am on deadline! *cries* But I was tired today, and in the winter doldrums, and have Big Plans for the use of my Happy Light tomorrow. Also, I took a nap and am at my desk, ready to pound the keyboard for a while, so maybe all is not lost. *hopes*

Seriously, though, you rock! Glad to hear about the 6,000 words! I found your answers very interesting and have no time to respond properly! You sell yourself short as usual. (Did you like "Mirror Image" title? I don't remember if that's the only one I've given you. I LOVE writing titles.) I plan to do the meme myself, but it may be a couple of weeks before I post.

*crawls back to salt mines*

[nos4a2no9]

I think there may have been some kind of a mojo-swap, yes. Soon I'll go back to weeks of unproductively and you'll be writing 12,000 words in a day. I hope the dry spell has given way to more fruitful keyboard time.

But I was tired today, and in the winter doldrums, and have Big Plans for the use of my Happy Light tomorrow.

Oooh, I was very tempted yesterday to pick up a SAD light at the pharmacy. It was just a small desktop Happy Light but the pharmacist recommended it, and I've been feeling the winter blues setting in. Do you find yours is very effective? My mom used one but I can't remember if it helped her or not, and I'm curious about the results.

And yes! I liked the "Mirror Image" title very much! It had a built-in pun! I hope I thanked you for that at the time (I wasn't exactly at my best) because I think it's one of the better elements of the story.

I hope you do post your answers soon! Good luck in those salt mines! *whistles "Hi HO!"*

[qe2]

I was very tempted yesterday to pick up a SAD light at the pharmacy.

I have one - in storage at the moment, unfortunately, but when it and I are geographically proximate and the SAD is sitting on my shoulders, I've found it quite useful.

[ignazwisdom]

My Arizona Kidfic Story (tm) was meant to be 3rd person omniscient. And yet when I started writing I found that it wanted to be first-person Kowalski, which is the scariest. Voice. Ever. I don't even write 3rd person Kowalski very well! But I guess the story picks the POV.

The story made a good choice, there. Maybe not the easiest, but you've been executing it beautifully.

I am also on a No More Challenges plan. The only ones I've signed on for are low-stress, no-penalty challenges for things I was already planning to write anyway!

[nos4a2no9]

Awww, thanks! You made me feel all warm and squishy!

And your No More Challenges plan sounds good. I think we should do it together, just like AA. You call me when you're feeling tempted by Foreman Fest, and I'll send you an IM when the ds_harlequin prompts go up. We'll say things like, "I'm feeling weak" and then play poker or something to distract ourselves.

Yes, this plan is very elaborate. But I feel like I need the support, y'know? Challenges are shiny.

[ignazwisdom]

And your No More Challenges plan sounds good. I think we should do it together, just like AA.

I've got it -- let's start a No More Challenges challenge comm!

(Actually, I think the mods of every other challenge out there would have my head on a stick.)