Ask the Author: Joseph Smith
Answered Questions (2)
Joseph Smith
Begin by making sure you have read a wide range of excellent, highest-quality books. Otherwise you will start by building on low-quality foundations. If you have never read a really good book, how can you expect to write one?
Then your mission is to try and understand how you will work best as a writer, with an emphasis on working regularly and productively. It has taken me years of struggle to understand this for myself, and I'm still not sure if I'm on the right track...
Also, remember that a work is not finished until you want it to be. You can rework it, rewrite it, change it, mould it, hone it, fashion it, style it, rip it up and start all over again if you want to. If it's not growing right, smash it down into the ground and plant the seed somewhere else. But if the idea is good - and make sure it is good - do not be satisfied until you know deep in your heart that you have expressed it in the most perfect way you are able to. It is this aspiration, after all the heartache and effort, that gives me the most satisfaction from writing.
I am an aspiring writer too!
Then your mission is to try and understand how you will work best as a writer, with an emphasis on working regularly and productively. It has taken me years of struggle to understand this for myself, and I'm still not sure if I'm on the right track...
Also, remember that a work is not finished until you want it to be. You can rework it, rewrite it, change it, mould it, hone it, fashion it, style it, rip it up and start all over again if you want to. If it's not growing right, smash it down into the ground and plant the seed somewhere else. But if the idea is good - and make sure it is good - do not be satisfied until you know deep in your heart that you have expressed it in the most perfect way you are able to. It is this aspiration, after all the heartache and effort, that gives me the most satisfaction from writing.
I am an aspiring writer too!
Joseph Smith
The biggest breakthrough for me was realising that I had writer's block in the first place! You have to first admit the problem, as it were. But as a caveat: I think there are different forms of blocking, and I can only speak for my form, which specifically is with the overall project - is the idea strong enough? How exactly will it be plotted? Should I keep working on it?
My solution to this problem is to avoid it. If you find you are blocked with a big project, do a different project, and for this the short story must reign supreme. This way you can keep the writing mechanism turning and well-oiled, while the big idea can take a rest. It might even grow and develop while you're not looking.
And don't let trial separation worry you. If it is a good idea, it will survive the temporary separation - of that I have no doubt. The important thing is to keep working regularly.
My solution to this problem is to avoid it. If you find you are blocked with a big project, do a different project, and for this the short story must reign supreme. This way you can keep the writing mechanism turning and well-oiled, while the big idea can take a rest. It might even grow and develop while you're not looking.
And don't let trial separation worry you. If it is a good idea, it will survive the temporary separation - of that I have no doubt. The important thing is to keep working regularly.
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Jan 29, 2015 12:06PM · flag