Writing Quirks

[xcheck24]

You just have to understand that "focus" is in different forms for different people. You can certainly spend 75 percent of your "writing time" on your novel and devote another 25 percent to giving yourself a breath from it. You can even go 50-50 on it. It totally matters what your GOAL is with your writing.

[CZ75]

You just have to understand that "focus" is in different forms for different people. You can certainly spend 75 percent of your "writing time" on your novel and devote another 25 percent to giving yourself a breath from it. You can even go 50-50 on it. It totally matters what your GOAL is with your writing.

I'm getting a bit turned around here. Somebody laments the inability to move a project forward. I think I detect a lack of focus (could be wrong, certainly). I advise FOCUS. The real question is -- Is there something wrong with this advice?

Now, if this person's goal is to continue all the activities at once, and she is determined to do that, I admit, I really don't know what to tell her. It's just that I noticed the lament for the book only, not the other things. Furthermore, the reason I say FOCUS on the book is because it is so much more time consuming. To write a 100K word novel (my first 2 were that big) took me a good deal more time than ALL the poems I wrote in college combined. That's just a fact of life, NOT A PUT DOWN TO POETS.

[Mlou]

Go for it, bf! A well rounded life adds experience and depth to your writing. An ivory tower is nice in theory but real life has a way of throwing curves.
And it IS possible to do it all. When CZ has been around as long as this ancient crone has, he may yet "meet" an author who, in his opinion, has successfully published in just about every area of writing.

[CZ75]

Go for it, bf! A well rounded life adds experience and depth to your writing. An ivory tower is nice in theory but real life has a way of throwing curves.
And it IS possible to do it all. When CZ has been around as long as this ancient crone has, he may yet "meet" an author who, in his opinion, has successfully published in just about every area of writing.

Then again, I may not.

[xcheck24]

I'm getting a bit turned around here. Somebody laments the inability to move a project forward. I think I detect a lack of focus (could be wrong, certainly). I advise FOCUS. The real question is -- Is there something wrong with this advice?

And read bf's answer above to that. She does a lot of other things besides her writing, which in an effect HELPS her with her writing. She's not going to give those things up, and, honestly, I don't think she should. Living life is what gives you the color to your work.

Personally, I have a thesis to finish writing so I can get my masters degree in my hand. There has been a ton of work along the road to get my degree in the last year too. There has been plenty of things I could kick out of my life to completely focus on the school work, but I didn't. And I still don't. Why? Because I would go INSANE and I'd be miserable. And if you're miserable, you CAN'T focus.

So again, focusing is different things for different people. Some people can sit down and write 24-7 on one project and do nothing else. Good for them. But not all of us can do that.

[CZ75]

These other things do not "help" her writing enough, or she would not have been lamenting the lack of progress and asking for advice. Three years = less than 1 chap .... Whole book equals 150 years. This is a problem. She asked for advice, I offered it. Now everybody is jumping down my throat like I have a hole in my marble bag. 1. If you set out to do something incredibly hard (can we agree that writing a novel qualifies?) you probably shouldn't say "Well, I want to do this, but I don't want to give up this or this or this or this or this or this." When I went to college, I gave up a lot. When I joined the Corps, I gave up a lot. When I wrote my books, I gave up a LOT. I'm sure the exact same holds true for everybody else in the world. 2. Instead of everybody pointing out that my advice to focus on a difficult task is somehow the product of a fevered mind, how about you all offering her advice of your own. Go back and read the entire thread and you will see a good deal of lamenting the ability to move forward. My advice was to focus. Everybody else's is to.....

[bfsooner]

Ok, well thanks for responding to my lament from a year ago. However, I have banged out almost 7,000 words after the past two days, and over 11,000 this month. From my first "lament," I moved to a new state and started a new job. I have been able to "focus" my life a little narrower on my novel now that my life has calmed down a little.

Thanks to all for your advice, and to not to be cruel...can we please take this conversation out of blog? I'm trying to keep positive thoughts here. THANKS!!!

[CZ75]

Ok, well thanks for responding to my lament from a year ago."

You are very welcome.

[bfsooner]

I finished Stephen King's book on writing today. I really liked it. I read Christine years ago, and didn't like it at all. Base off of that one book, I decided that I really didn't like Stephen King. Now, I want to read so of his other novels. I'm especially interested in Misery because I love the movie. But back to the writing book, I think this is one of the best books on writing that I have encountered. King has approached with honesty...I appreciate that. He gave me a lot to think about in my own writing. I also left with a game plan for approaching my novel, especially with regards to NaNoWriMo. I wanted to jump up with joy when he expressed his opinions on plotting. I HATE PLOTTING!!! It is unnatural for me. Even when I do plot, I never follow it. Ok...enough blogging...much put pen to paper and ride this wave of enthusiasm!!! My thanks to Stephen King.

[Mlou]

I'm always telling myself I'm going to read that. So far, nada.

[Anblick]

Yeah, that's gotta be one of the best advice book for writer's out there. And *I* actually *read* it!

[pengwenn]

I finished Stephen King's book on writing today. I really liked it. I read Christine years ago, and didn't like it at all. Base off of that one book, I decided that I really didn't like Stephen King. Now, I want to read so of his other novels. I'm especially interested in Misery because I love the movie.

*cough*Steinbeck*cough* Did you hear something?

I've read a bunch of King but I haven't liked them all. I loved Misery, The Dark Half, Pet Cemetary and The Dark Tower series. I didn't like Christine but I think that's because I read it before I learned how to drive so cars didn't really mean anything to me.

[LilacWine]

I loved "On Writing". One of my other favorite writing books is Ray Bradbury's "Zen in the Art of Writing".

[bfsooner]

**Sigh** I'm losing a little of my momentum. Part of it is my work is draining me, and I come home exhausted. Another part is that other distractions are starting to creep into my writing time. But, I am really liking what I'm getting down on paper, and I'm looking forward to what the finished product will be.

[TheMudge]

"Other distractions", Sooner?

That sounds interestingly vague . . .

[pengwenn]

my guess is football

[bfsooner]

Football...and a new season of tv. It was a lot easier when reruns were on...but I just can't miss the new ones!!! Ok, so I could, but I don't wanna (pouts like a child).

[hyperfine]

I used to write while I was watching TV. Especially during the commercials.

Probably not the most productive way to go though.

[bfsooner]

Tonight is going to be especially hard because it's the premiere of the Biggest Loser, America's Next Top Model which are on at the same time...and THEN, Project Runway, Laguna Beach, and a new Criminal Minds are all on at the same time. AHHH!!! I need three tvs.

[bfsooner]

October starts in a few hours...and so does the countdown to NaNoWriMo. For October, I am going work on writing more on my laptop computer as opposed to my laptop notebook pad. I just hope I don't lose too much writing to the backspace key (one of the many reasons I write on paper with an indelible ink pen). I think this is necessary if I'm going to get 50k in November. I am going to work on fleshing out my character profiles and getting my settings worked out. I don't outlines, so I don't have to worry about one of those. I have 31 days to create my NaNoWriMo "toolbox." And all I have to say is "Bring It On, Suckas."

[bfsooner]

Woo...hoo...just completed one item for my "toolbox." I built a spreadsheet to keep count of my words with another area to see how many more words I need to go to reach my goal. I'm such an Excel nerd.

[Anblick]

Wishing all you guys luck. I already know I'll never try this, but have respect for all that try...

[UnCoolDuck]

Okay, I'm in. I just registered at the site. Here's to December 1st and the crappiest 50k word novel EVER!!!

[bfsooner]

I'm official now. 30 days to store up sleep.

[pengwenn]

Well, bf if you keep your fingers moving forward you'll have no need for the backspace key.