Writing space
Drat! I thought I might have off tomorrow but no luck. I'm slowly working my way through all the fic for sg1teamficathon, but it will take a while. I WILL leave feedback for everyone. Promise. Gah, I find myself putting it off because I know it will all be good and once I'm done, well, I'll be done. *cries with Kat*
In any case, today I picked up an issue of Writer's Digest. Now, I used to subscribe to this magazine but not for many years now. While it has the occasional good interview or interesting advice, I usually find it to be sort of "filler". Like when someone writes an article about writer's block and tells you that you need to find your "inner writer" again. Wha? How the hell is that of any use to anyone at all? It's like telling an alcoholic to find their "inner sobriety". It's just crap. I find literary interviews with established authors to be of the most use. Long, intricate interviews. John Sandford has given me wonderful advice that I can use and remember, and if I can ever find his interview again, I'll post a link.
However! This issue of WD did have a sort of cool suggestion that I also saw mentioned in an interview with Sue Monk Kidd, in which they suggest you make a collage of different and inspiring images. Things that just inspire you in general and things that might inspire you specifically for one story. So, I think I'm off to buy a new bulletin board this weekend.
So, I was wondering if any of you writers out there do anything different with your writing space. Obviously most of us just write in our computer rooms, or on our laptops, etc... but do you have to have things situated a certain way? Do you have to have inspiring things around?
My desk is a mess, and it's huge by the way, so it's a huge mess. On my closest shelf, I keep my dictionary and my thesaurus and my Gregg Reference Manual. On the hutch I keep various reference manuals I've collected over the years. Scientific dictionary, US Army Survival Guide, Weapons manuals, etc... The rest of the desk is covered in crap that I hate and feel the need to clean compulsively, but it never stays clean.
My biggest problem is keeping myself from distraction as I tend to be diverted by shiny things and TV and Courser talking about smut.
And now I've sort of run out of steam, so feel free to talk.
Any comments about anything will be entertained.
In any case, today I picked up an issue of Writer's Digest. Now, I used to subscribe to this magazine but not for many years now. While it has the occasional good interview or interesting advice, I usually find it to be sort of "filler". Like when someone writes an article about writer's block and tells you that you need to find your "inner writer" again. Wha? How the hell is that of any use to anyone at all? It's like telling an alcoholic to find their "inner sobriety". It's just crap. I find literary interviews with established authors to be of the most use. Long, intricate interviews. John Sandford has given me wonderful advice that I can use and remember, and if I can ever find his interview again, I'll post a link.
However! This issue of WD did have a sort of cool suggestion that I also saw mentioned in an interview with Sue Monk Kidd, in which they suggest you make a collage of different and inspiring images. Things that just inspire you in general and things that might inspire you specifically for one story. So, I think I'm off to buy a new bulletin board this weekend.
So, I was wondering if any of you writers out there do anything different with your writing space. Obviously most of us just write in our computer rooms, or on our laptops, etc... but do you have to have things situated a certain way? Do you have to have inspiring things around?
My desk is a mess, and it's huge by the way, so it's a huge mess. On my closest shelf, I keep my dictionary and my thesaurus and my Gregg Reference Manual. On the hutch I keep various reference manuals I've collected over the years. Scientific dictionary, US Army Survival Guide, Weapons manuals, etc... The rest of the desk is covered in crap that I hate and feel the need to clean compulsively, but it never stays clean.
My biggest problem is keeping myself from distraction as I tend to be diverted by shiny things and TV and Courser talking about smut.
And now I've sort of run out of steam, so feel free to talk.
Any comments about anything will be entertained.