Thursday, November 19, 2009

Keep slogging on

Some days the words flow, other days writing is as easy as quarrying rocks. It's tempting to give up on the bad days and assume that what I'm writing is rubbish but Tim Hallinan says
When I read the work six weeks later, I can’t tell the good days from the bad ones. In other words, I usually have no idea whether I’m writing well or badly.
from Timothy Hallinan's Writer's Resources.

I love Tim's website. It's the best writing encouragement you can get.

12 COMMENTS:

Bevie said...

I know what you mean. I just finished one story and have begun another. Already I'm in a "slog" mode. I suppose in six weeks I won't be able to tell my days apart either. Not sure that's a good thing. [smiles]

Whirlochre said...

Very interesting.

On good days, I know when it's good. And on bad days, I know when it's bad. And when I look back, I can tell the difference. That's what being manic is all about, folks (:)!)

The worst thing for me is that when it's really really bad, I can take a load of good stuff and hack it to pieces, just for the hell of it.

Today was good though. Dialogue that's been on the tip of my tongue for weeks has just spilled out like a fart from a cow fed on baked beans, brussels and twice its body weight in fizzy pop per second.

fairyhedgehog said...

Bevie, apart from doing Nano, you always seem to have words flowing.

Whirl, thank you for that wonderful image of creativity that will stay with me until I manage to bleach it from my brain.

Robin B. said...

I agree. Sometimes you can't see what you've done until after it's over - and sometimes it just flows.

The Sapphic Housewife said...

Thanks for the link--I haven't been there before.

batgirl said...

Have you read The Sun, the Moon and the Stars, by Steven Brust? The narrator is a painter, and what he says about painting is so very true for writing.
I need to get back to slogging--thanks for the reminder!

fairyhedgehog said...

Robin, the problem I have is judging what I've written even some time after I've written it.

SH, I'm glad you like the link. I've found it a lot of help.

batgirl, that sounds like a good book. I'll have to look out for it.

Kate said...

Oy is that food for thought!

Thanks for the link. I look forward to checking it - but maybe not until December...

Only 10 more days!

fairyhedgehog said...

Kate, it's also a good link for now if you ever feel like giving up.

writtenwyrdd said...

Personally, I think my writing is on the same level most of the time. But some days are just...golden. Brilliant stuff (or the kernels thereof) are present on some really good days. And it's more the ideas than the actual writing. Those are the days when you can reread and see the shining potential, the strands that pull together ideas you didn't know were perking in your head, but are now there on paper.

I bet you do that, too.

Hope things are going well for you today. :)

fairyhedgehog said...

ww, I think I just don't come out with brilliant stuff! (I know you do though. I'm still waiting to hear more about Boetha.)

writtenwyrdd said...

Oh, don't sell yourself short! Nobody's writing looks particular good at first, and sometimes not until a good half dozen drafts or more.

I do have to get back to Boetha, don't I? Hmmm... Perhaps after NaNo...

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