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Michael Vorhis

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Born

in Cincinnati, Ohio, The United States

Website

http://www.vorhis.com/FreeFlight-Publishing/Arc...

Member Since

April 2011

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/mike_vorhis

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How do you deal with writer’s block?

Michael Vorhis How does one deal with writer’s block? A looooong time ago I listened to one of those "negotiating seminars" on tape, and I recall a question the cour…moreHow does one deal with writer’s block? A looooong time ago I listened to one of those "negotiating seminars" on tape, and I recall a question the course leader fielded about what to do about competition. He said, "Don't have any." Similarly I'd say the way to deal with so-called "Writer's Block" is to not experience it.

Contrary to popular belief, a fiction writer doesn't create a story. The story invents itself, introduces itself to the open mind, then dictates itself to that author, who records it the way the story wants to be told. If a story isn't dictating itself vividly and experientially, it's because it doesn't want to go forward--either it has been artificially taken too far down a path that's not true to where it wants to go, or it's a story without sufficient merit to go further, or something. Something is wrong, and the story is fizzling. Imagine trying to lead a river up a very gradual up-slope--at some point the current is going to fizzle.

For someone under the gun, trying to crank out novels at the rate of so many per decade (or worse yet, per year), experiencing a "block" might have some meaning. But for writers whose goal is the creation of masterful works instead of mere compliance with schedule pressures, it comes when it comes. Mull it over. Let the story itself take the helm. Ignore the calendar page. If it's a great story it will flow again, at the pace it wants to flow.

Until it does, stop agonizing over it. Live a little--go sailing, or soaring, or fly fishing, or something else that naturally ignites and elevates your spirit. The nemesis of creativity is stress, and when that's washed away then a story can once again weave and grow itself in your fertile mind with ease.
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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Michael Vorhis Advice for aspiring writers? I don't think there is such a thing as an "aspiring writer." There are inexperienced writers, but a writer is a writer by…moreAdvice for aspiring writers? I don't think there is such a thing as an "aspiring writer." There are inexperienced writers, but a writer is a writer by virtue of feeling the need to write. If the need is there, you're already a writer--you were born a writer--and then it's just a matter of letting out what is dying to come out. So grab a pen.

Until the need is there, just accumulate the experiences of life--store them up for when your pen needs them. And whenever the need takes a holiday, give it the holiday it needs.

If you're a writer but you want to polish your ability to communicate emotions and thoughts so that your efforts are effective, read. Not magazines, not pop culture nonsense, but literature. Fiction. Great Masters; adept contemporary authors. Thrilling, riveting, deliciously experiential works. Absorb those good examples of creative thinking and story-weaving and linguistics, and then see how that affects your writing need, and your results.

If random readers (those about which you know nothing) criticize, pay them little mind. Who are they, after all? Have they accomplished anything substantial on paper themselves, other than commenting on (hitch-hiking on) others' original works? Don't worry--everyone knows the difference between the athlete and the nasal voice from the bleachers. Instead of worrying about the reception, have VERY high standards, and ratchet them up ever higher every day of every year, and be true to them. You're the perceptive, discerning reviewer who matters most, particularly at this stage. And it's the body of work you will create that defines your contribution, not any one piece...so don't agonize if this or that work may not have the broadest appeal. Over time you'll encounter your share of intelligent, appreciative readers. Write, and write well, and never mind the reception; it reflects itself far more than it reflects your work.

Feel free to write shorter stories until one of them begs you to do it justice in a ful-length novel...then just flesh in more scenes, out of order if that's how they come to you, and experiment with structure and story pace, and don't be daunted by the magnitude of a full novel project...and one day you'll sit bolt upright to realize you have most of a rough draft.

Then with an eye that's as excited as it is cold, polish and re-work and DO NOT BE IN A HURRY. A masterpiece takes time; work it and let it happen. It will take some years, all told. It's done when it's done.

Then let it simmer for a few weeks, or even much more...and try to self-edit. If whole sections need to be scrapped, that's part of the process, and part of the fun.

At some point you'll feel it's ready. It won't be, quite (you're intent on delivering a truly brilliant work, after all). Very carefully choose a hand-picked group of beta reviewers--people you know who are perceptive, thorough, honest, precise in their ability to communicate, DEVOID OF ENVY, and who care about you. Select people who themselves have dreams, people with the capacity to not only discern, but to appreciate. Try to stick with those who have never been formulized by some creative writing night course or support group--people of each gender who have some life experience under their belts, and who can see multiple shades of grey. Listen to them--mostly, feel their reactions. Re-work the entire thing again, the way YOU would address any problems they "felt." Rejoice in what they loved about it. Employ an editor if they suggest you need one. Care about their perceptions more than their specific fix ideas, because the "how to fix" is your territory. Often a major disconnect can be eliminated with a single word or phrase in one pivotal line of dialog halfway down page 264; you'll know best how to address any issues your team has helped you to see.

Finally, finally...be willing to call it done. The great Leonardo Da Vinci said, "Art is never finished, only abandoned." Of course make sure the cover art is as brilliant as the manuscript itself, and the meta-data (gotta be balanced in so many ways), and all the professionalism with which this work is to be launched. Give it the gift of Dignity; don't be in such a hurry that you make the mistake of sending it out in its pajamas.

But you have to let it fly at some point. When it does, smile. Then get on with the next one, which, if you were born to write, has already occurred to you and has been begging you to start on it! :)

- Michael Vorhis(less)

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Michael Vorhis’s books

Average rating: 3.88 · 65 ratings · 17 reviews · 4 distinct works

	Archangel really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 47 ratings — published 2011 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	OPEN DISTANCE 4.71 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2013 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	An American Sporting Man Goes To Hell 3.17 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Stick Riders 2.40 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 1988 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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19 posts
Michael Vorhis's Blog

Fly Fishing Lore

For the last few years I've been writing articles about fly fishing--some whimsical, some experiential, a few technique-oriented or product-review related...I even got one "epic" fly fishing poem published by the site to which I contribute. It has been fun, and on it goes.

Anyone interested in reading these articles is most welcome; they're published here:

http://www.jsflyfishing.com/blog/cate...

- M Read more of this blog post »

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Published on December 06, 2017 09:27 • Tags: fishing-article

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Michael’s Quotes

“Let him live under the open sky, and dangerously.”
― Horace

12 likes

“God created war so that Americans would learn geography.”
― Mark Twain

tags: americans, geography, war

7546 likes

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye.”
― Jim Henson

26434 likes

“Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.”
― Winston S. Churchill

tags: truth

6767 likes

“Famous people steal my quotes all of the time without knowing; none of it is ever very interesting though.”
― Robert DeCoteau, The New Days: The First Son

tags: celebrities, celebrity, funny, humor, humorous, quotes

4 likes

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Michael’s Friend Comments

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message 3: by Michael (last edited Apr 19, 2011 10:08AM)

Apr 18, 2011 09:13PM

Swimming with Crocodiles: A True Story of Adventure and Survival

Honest, introspective, taut, riveting. Chaffey takes us there with him, and we survive his long and fascinating ordeal as he did.

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message 2: by Michael (last edited Apr 19, 2011 10:10AM)

Apr 18, 2011 09:12PM

A Man Called Intrepid

This book puts one in awe of the quiet, perilous courage demonstrated by those who prevailed covertly but honorably in WWII. Though I never met them, I'll never forget those people.

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message 1: by Michael

Apr 18, 2011 09:09PM

Flashman at the Charge Flashman Flashman in the Great Game Royal Flash Flashman and the Mountain of Light Flashman and the Redskins Flashman and the Dragon Flash for Freedom!Flashman and the Angel of the Lord

These were all fantastically enjoyable reading, not to mention the incredible historical education one gets along the way. I have three more yet to read: Flashman and the Tiger, Flashman on the March, and Flashman's Lady.

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