I know plenty of people who think writing, in any form, is easy. Of course, these people have never written for a living.
The title of this blog is the best advice I ever got from an editor. It came about one day when we were at a Press Club meeting. (These meetings consisted of a group of us gathering in a smoky bar and drinking a lot every Thursday.) I admitted that I often sat, stumped, for a lede to come to me. It was then explained to me that I was overthinking things. Stop thinking so much, he told me, and just write. Then go back and fix it up.
I've been rolling ever since. I tried to pass along that little nugget at the last place I worked, but of course, it fell on deaf ears. Self-improvement wasn't a priority there, which is one big reason I left.
Now I've applied that same advice to a book I'm working on. I put together a loose outline, then go. I'm having more luck this time, too. Before, I tried to make sure I followed an outline closely and revised as I went. Now I know to just write the damn thing, then go back and self-edit.
It makes writing a little bit easier.
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2 comments:
This is so true. This point was really driven home to me when I participated in NANOWRIMO. I didn't complete my novel, only 11,000 of the required 50,000, but check it out if you don't know about it already. Very motivating, I'll probably participate next year as well. www.nanowrimo.com
Where art thou???
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