The writing's on the wall. It's seven hundred stories tall.

[lithiumlaughter]

GIFT

You tell me that silence
is nearer peace than poems
but if for my gift
I brought you silence
  (for I know silence)
you would say
     This is not silence
this is another poem
and you would hand it back to me.

-Leonard Cohen

I get the feeling that today is a writing day. Specifically of the original variety, which will prove interesting in and of

Comments

[kelly1_watxm]

This not only makes sense but is also incredibly astute. <3

[scribble_myname]

:seconds that:

[lithiumlaughter]

I try, darling. I truly do.

I also find that writing things out helps me discover stuff that I didn't even realize I was thinking. Scribbling out this entry alone revealed a good deal, and created some food for thought in terms of writing and the like. I'm still working through it and wondering as I type this.

Oh, brain. Why you so easily fixated?

[scribble_myname]

As a gal that does pretentious well, let me just say that every. single. writer I know has these kinds of feelings going around in our head, sabotaging us. You're just honest enough to admit. Airing them gets them out of our head and lets some of the poison out. I didn't feel you were whining, but I felt like you were reading right from my brain

[lithiumlaughter]

t's funny. You always figure you're the only one facing these issues (we're all -- or at least I am -- a little self-centered that way), and then something/someone comes along to remind you that there are certain things that are rather universal. It's comforting to know that. Sabotaging is a very good word for the whole thing. We sabotage ourselves into a fear-based stasis. That's currently where I'm at, and that is what I need to force myself to work through

[scribble_myname]

It kind of depends on how good your beta is. It's a very similar process. The only real difference between good fanfic and good original fic is the amount of worldbuilding and set up that's required. So a real tough beta would be equivalent to an original fic beta reader

[lithiumlaughter]

Mmm. Interesting. You're bang on with the worldbuilding, and have put it far better than I could. Of course, this leaves the trick of finding myself a good beta/editor. And first I actually have to fix up and finish some of my original stuff...THEN I can look in to that sort of thing.

I find I have a thick skin when it comes to having the technical aspects of my writing dissected: punctuation, sentence structure, dialogue, and the like. That I can stand to see ripped to shreds and be totally okay. THAT is the area I appreciate being advised on. It's the characters themselves that I'm always worried about, fic or original. That's where I tend to take it personally, and clearly where I need to work on ripping my bandaids.

Thanks so much for this, my dear. I really appreciate your thoughts and advice.

[vikingprincess]

I don't think it's the least bit pretentious. It's exactly why my fanfic page count over the last four years is so high, and the novel I tried to write several summers in a row is still just an outline. :(

[lithiumlaughter]

That's exactly where I'm at. I can punch out fic easily enough (though to be fair, I haven't written something as huge and all encompassing as Reeducation), but all the short stories, and even the novel I'm playing with, are sitting on my hard drive as bits and pieces of things.

On another note, glad my pretension is forgivable. ;)

[vikingprincess]

Yeah, that kinda got out of hand... and continues to do so! LOL

Completely, totally forgivable. :)