Ask the Author: Larry Botkins
Answered Questions (2)
Larry Botkins
I've been somewhat hesitant to answer this question. It's a complicated one for me, with multiple layers. And because I’ve taken up writing relatively recently, I can’t yet be sure that my experiences so far are representative of anyone but a beginning writer. But I'm having a try with it, in hopes that my thoughts could be helpful, especially to someone who might be thinking about becoming a writer.
First and foremost, I don't seem to be susceptible to the stereotypical hard-stop, hit-the-brick-wall kind of writer’s block, where I’d be unable to proceed, either in writing or thinking up something new. I don’t write every day, primarily because there are too many things to keep up with here on the place. I have worked on my book several days in a row, particularly when the weather’s been bad. Yet there could be something significant in that: I don’t FORCE myself to write every day. So maybe my writing process has a built-in relief valve, in that I don’t ever feel handcuffed to my laptop.
When I write, I tend to free-form every story, or a chapter of a story. By that, I mean that I don’t work from an outline. I’ve tried using outlines, but I’ve ended up feeling I just couldn’t move forward from anything like that. As restrictive as that, maybe. Nevertheless, when I’m typing something into my laptop, I do have a fairly firm idea what I’m trying to do generally. But I REALLY like fleshing out what I’m doing in real time. That can be creating dialog as I go along, adding some little bit of data which supports the storyline, or developing useful ideas about what’s coming next.
As I mentioned in a blog post, I did create a chapter list (as a spreadsheet, for cryin’ out loud) to map out some additions to my current project. Of course, such a thing has to be the first cousin to an outline, but I found the whole exercise to be very helpful. It is revealing, though, that I set the spreadsheet aside and didn’t work directly from it during my work since then.
When I’m not writing, it seems my creative process continues. For example, while driving to town today, I had some really good ideas for the next chapter of my novel. Also, I have ideas about later projects, whether I like having those ideas at the given time or not. I should focus on my current project and work it to completion. So maybe thinking about another novel or short story (or several short stories) could be counterproductive. Still, I don’t shut down such thinking. I relish the thought that I’m still generating ideas faster than I can write them down, or write them out. After all, it has to be good the proverbial spring of ideas hasn’t yet run dry! Hence maybe not ever shutting off that spring keeps it flowing.
There are some thoughts. I hope they’re helpful. Again, because I’m a beginner, I make no claim of being a successful writer, a knowledgeable writer, or any authority on writing at all. But I have taken that first step in writing, and I have that first book out there. So maybe, because I have taken the one first step very recently, my perspectives could be helpful to someone nearly ready to take their own first step in writing.
Thank you for reading!
First and foremost, I don't seem to be susceptible to the stereotypical hard-stop, hit-the-brick-wall kind of writer’s block, where I’d be unable to proceed, either in writing or thinking up something new. I don’t write every day, primarily because there are too many things to keep up with here on the place. I have worked on my book several days in a row, particularly when the weather’s been bad. Yet there could be something significant in that: I don’t FORCE myself to write every day. So maybe my writing process has a built-in relief valve, in that I don’t ever feel handcuffed to my laptop.
When I write, I tend to free-form every story, or a chapter of a story. By that, I mean that I don’t work from an outline. I’ve tried using outlines, but I’ve ended up feeling I just couldn’t move forward from anything like that. As restrictive as that, maybe. Nevertheless, when I’m typing something into my laptop, I do have a fairly firm idea what I’m trying to do generally. But I REALLY like fleshing out what I’m doing in real time. That can be creating dialog as I go along, adding some little bit of data which supports the storyline, or developing useful ideas about what’s coming next.
As I mentioned in a blog post, I did create a chapter list (as a spreadsheet, for cryin’ out loud) to map out some additions to my current project. Of course, such a thing has to be the first cousin to an outline, but I found the whole exercise to be very helpful. It is revealing, though, that I set the spreadsheet aside and didn’t work directly from it during my work since then.
When I’m not writing, it seems my creative process continues. For example, while driving to town today, I had some really good ideas for the next chapter of my novel. Also, I have ideas about later projects, whether I like having those ideas at the given time or not. I should focus on my current project and work it to completion. So maybe thinking about another novel or short story (or several short stories) could be counterproductive. Still, I don’t shut down such thinking. I relish the thought that I’m still generating ideas faster than I can write them down, or write them out. After all, it has to be good the proverbial spring of ideas hasn’t yet run dry! Hence maybe not ever shutting off that spring keeps it flowing.
There are some thoughts. I hope they’re helpful. Again, because I’m a beginner, I make no claim of being a successful writer, a knowledgeable writer, or any authority on writing at all. But I have taken that first step in writing, and I have that first book out there. So maybe, because I have taken the one first step very recently, my perspectives could be helpful to someone nearly ready to take their own first step in writing.
Thank you for reading!
Larry Botkins
Anyone wishing to become a writer needs to search for the rules for writing attributed to the great Robert A. Heinlein, then follow them!
The first of those rules is to simply write. That probably sounds too obvious to be useful, but there's a huge amount of wisdom in that. Writing involves a wide range of elements which must be learned by doing. I know this because I'm certainly still learning.
That necessary learning process can take many forms. The English 302 course at George Mason University was important for me, and it began with the essential basics of writing. For example, one night, which I believe was the first night of the course, the professor said something like, "Tonight, I'm giving you your first writing assignment. It's three pages, on any subject you like." He looked around the room, with growing annoyance, becoming obvious frustration. Then he said, "Why aren't you writing?! You have your assignment! GET BUSY!" I though the ensuing flurry of papers, pens, and pencils being taken out was funny as hell; it was then clear that course was the 'boot camp' of writing. (Alas, some of the kids couldn't deal with the professor being the 'drill instructor of writing,' to their loss.) Of course, the professor was teaching Heinlein's first rule, in his own emphatic way.
Naturally, there are many other ways of learning to write. College/university courses are useful, but I believe the many other methods are equally useful. The point is: there's not one way of learning to write. An aspiring writer will have to embrace ALL of the available ways to learn. I can't identify all those ways to improve because finally, each writer's journey will be his/her own.
Good luck!
- LB
The first of those rules is to simply write. That probably sounds too obvious to be useful, but there's a huge amount of wisdom in that. Writing involves a wide range of elements which must be learned by doing. I know this because I'm certainly still learning.
That necessary learning process can take many forms. The English 302 course at George Mason University was important for me, and it began with the essential basics of writing. For example, one night, which I believe was the first night of the course, the professor said something like, "Tonight, I'm giving you your first writing assignment. It's three pages, on any subject you like." He looked around the room, with growing annoyance, becoming obvious frustration. Then he said, "Why aren't you writing?! You have your assignment! GET BUSY!" I though the ensuing flurry of papers, pens, and pencils being taken out was funny as hell; it was then clear that course was the 'boot camp' of writing. (Alas, some of the kids couldn't deal with the professor being the 'drill instructor of writing,' to their loss.) Of course, the professor was teaching Heinlein's first rule, in his own emphatic way.
Naturally, there are many other ways of learning to write. College/university courses are useful, but I believe the many other methods are equally useful. The point is: there's not one way of learning to write. An aspiring writer will have to embrace ALL of the available ways to learn. I can't identify all those ways to improve because finally, each writer's journey will be his/her own.
Good luck!
- LB
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