tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post115650712313985124..comments2023-11-03T05:49:10.841-04:00Comments on Storytelling Rules: Discipline…. One simple word.. hard freakin’ conceptMaureen McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-1156726095028087402006-08-27T20:48:00.000-04:002006-08-27T20:48:00.000-04:00As a person who reads what you are able to churn o...As a person who reads what you are able to churn out every week despite the evil whispering and shoulder sitting -- let me tell you -- you are making it look easy!!!<BR/><BR/>If you need discpline I shudder to think what I need - more wine?Molly O'Keefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15171236688541657736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-1156717083504062532006-08-27T18:18:00.000-04:002006-08-27T18:18:00.000-04:00It's not that I don't wonder about what I'm writin...It's not that I don't wonder about what I'm writing. I save just that for the editing portion -- and believe you me, I do a *lot* of that.Margaret Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11556769462995493735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-1156684071502490602006-08-27T09:07:00.000-04:002006-08-27T09:07:00.000-04:00It is hard when you're unpublished to keep a regul...It is hard when you're unpublished to keep a regular writing routine. And I don't think it has anything to do with lack of motivation, but rather writing isn't our "day job". When you have to work a job, have children, a husband, various pets, it can be a challenge to put your butt in the chair and write. Even if you do get seated, the Internet has a big pull. I think the key is setting realistic goals and being honest with yourself. I don't feel bad if I don't write every day if I had a lot of "life" going on. But I do set goals for myself and make sure that I'm always working towards them.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12777733587200293442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-1156554901424805562006-08-25T21:15:00.000-04:002006-08-25T21:15:00.000-04:00Okay, who spotted the boo-boo in my last comment? ...Okay, who spotted the boo-boo in my last comment? There's one too many "you need's" in there. D'oh!Margaret Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11556769462995493735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-1156549240307830942006-08-25T19:40:00.000-04:002006-08-25T19:40:00.000-04:00Here's the key question I think you should be aski...Here's the key question I think you should be asking yourself: am I *having fun*? Am I entertaining myself? 'Cause if you feel like writing's a chore? Baby, it will be. <BR/><BR/>See, here's the thing: I can talk about my work with enthusiasm because I love my characters, even when the writing isn't easy. I don't yammer on for hours because I think I'm the greatest writer in the world -- I just love my people and the stories I give them.<BR/><BR/>So I say, forget the rules, the "oooh, I must have this" or "I must have that." You've been at this long enough to know what you need you need to know without thinking about it -- you KNOW it. And if you forgot something? It wasn't that important to you in the first place, and *there's nothing wrong with that*. Different writers emphasize different things. It's one way we differ from each other -- it's part of your voice.<BR/><BR/>Speaking of which, if you write from enjoyment, from a place of enthusiasm and just plain "oooh, baby, this is gonna be good because it's a story *I* want to read," your voice will be there. Without effort. Without angst. Can't prevent it, really. *G* <BR/><BR/>So please, I beg of you, quit worrying you'll make a "mistake"! Stop the analyzing! Forget the "musts" and "shoulds" -- you aren't writing those authors' books. You're writing your own. Only you can tell your story your way, so just dive right in and tell it. <BR/><BR/>And then later, we can all get to read it. *G*Margaret Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11556769462995493735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-1156527056407284792006-08-25T13:30:00.000-04:002006-08-25T13:30:00.000-04:00Maybe they're just good fakers? I don't know... I ...Maybe they're just good fakers? I don't know... I think if you don't have some self-doubts, if writing isn't a little hard, I wonder if you're pushing yourself hard enough...<BR/><BR/>someone once told me if you don't fall down skiing, you're not trying hard enough. I kinda agree with that. And I'm okay with it... For skiing. I'm not trying to be a pro at that. I'm just out for fun, hoping not to break anything on my way down the hill.<BR/><BR/>With my writing, I hope I push myself to fall down a few more times... Hmmm... I kinda like that analogy. Maybe shouldn't have wasted it on a comment. :-)Maureen McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-1156517188329592452006-08-25T10:46:00.000-04:002006-08-25T10:46:00.000-04:00I think it's very fair to say you're not alone in ...I think it's very fair to say you're not alone in this, Sinead. And I think you've absolutely struck gold with everything you've said. As I read your post today, I sat here nodding. There was an almost carefree abandonment with writing when you didn't know the 'rules', you just wrote.<BR/>I don't know what the answer is, I can find a bazillion excuses, the "P-rocrastination" word being a big one, but really, that's still a lame, lazy excuse at best, for me. I've even been known to tell myself, "I just ate, I'm horribly full, there's no way I can concentrate on writing anything good." Puh-lease, it's not like I'm going to get cramps from writing on a full stomach. Discipline is definitely a great word, as is dedication. I think I'll highlight them and stick them on my monitor.Anne Crawford-Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08273410743920730211noreply@blogger.com