Steam of Consciousness
I know it might seem contradictory that I'm blogging on Goodreads while about to mention how I prefer to write more and talk about writing less, but let me explain:
Aside from vague references to WIPs and such, I keep the literary steam in my boiler-brain. I've learned from experience that the quickest way to defuse an exciting writing idea is to talk about it before you've written it.
It's an easy mistake for people to make -- they might get stoked about something they're planning to write, and they might be tempted to talk about it. But don't do it; keep the ideas in your head, where they'll nag at you and force you to write them down to give them life. That's the discipline of the work. The blank page is the confessional of the working writer -- it's where we spill our guts. Otherwise, we should keep mum.
The Twit is full of people who want to be seen as writers. There's always a ton of folks who do that. They love to talk about writing. And, yeah, there's a lot to talk about with writing, sure.
However, there's a clear line of demarcation between *talking about writing* and *writing* -- and there's probably a 10:1 ratio of people who like to talk about writing versus writers.
Writing isn't called "the loneliest profession" for nothing! I see a lot of people on the Twit who are affected by that and want to commiserate with other wannabe writers -- again, being seen as writers, versus, you know, actually writing.
Here's a secret, though: when you're really in it with writing, you're never lonely. You're immersed in the work, and it's the one true bliss any working writer can know.
I'm not advocating that people undertake a monastic literary existence -- but it helps, in many ways. Or, at the very least, in carving out a space for yourself and your words and making that space sacrosanct. It's the only way the work gets done.
People have asked how I'm so prolific, how I get so much writing done. And I've explained that I write around the margins of my day. Which usually means I'm up at 4 a.m. and I write until 6 a.m. In this way, regardless of what the day brings, I know I've banked the time and made progress on a work. I take advantage of the fact that I'm an early riser, and I make it work for me.
However you go about it, carve out your space and time and make that inviolate. That's your writing time and space, and it's the only way you'll get anything done.
This rule of thumb is the key to meaningful literary productivity: write more; talk about writing less. You'll get far more done that way.
And don't let the steam out of the boiler -- keep the ideas inside you, let them power your work, with the written words the only proper release for them. Loose lips and rejection slips are the twin banes of the writing world. Mum's the word, where the process is concerned. Resist the urge to blather on social media (especially the Twit), and concentrate on your work. That's the true discipline of the profession.
If you find the loneliness of writing is getting to you, maybe writing's not really for you. Swim in the worlds you build, live in the pages and dance with the characters you create. They'll keep you company while you work.
Aside from vague references to WIPs and such, I keep the literary steam in my boiler-brain. I've learned from experience that the quickest way to defuse an exciting writing idea is to talk about it before you've written it.
It's an easy mistake for people to make -- they might get stoked about something they're planning to write, and they might be tempted to talk about it. But don't do it; keep the ideas in your head, where they'll nag at you and force you to write them down to give them life. That's the discipline of the work. The blank page is the confessional of the working writer -- it's where we spill our guts. Otherwise, we should keep mum.
The Twit is full of people who want to be seen as writers. There's always a ton of folks who do that. They love to talk about writing. And, yeah, there's a lot to talk about with writing, sure.
However, there's a clear line of demarcation between *talking about writing* and *writing* -- and there's probably a 10:1 ratio of people who like to talk about writing versus writers.
Writing isn't called "the loneliest profession" for nothing! I see a lot of people on the Twit who are affected by that and want to commiserate with other wannabe writers -- again, being seen as writers, versus, you know, actually writing.
Here's a secret, though: when you're really in it with writing, you're never lonely. You're immersed in the work, and it's the one true bliss any working writer can know.
I'm not advocating that people undertake a monastic literary existence -- but it helps, in many ways. Or, at the very least, in carving out a space for yourself and your words and making that space sacrosanct. It's the only way the work gets done.
People have asked how I'm so prolific, how I get so much writing done. And I've explained that I write around the margins of my day. Which usually means I'm up at 4 a.m. and I write until 6 a.m. In this way, regardless of what the day brings, I know I've banked the time and made progress on a work. I take advantage of the fact that I'm an early riser, and I make it work for me.
However you go about it, carve out your space and time and make that inviolate. That's your writing time and space, and it's the only way you'll get anything done.
This rule of thumb is the key to meaningful literary productivity: write more; talk about writing less. You'll get far more done that way.
And don't let the steam out of the boiler -- keep the ideas inside you, let them power your work, with the written words the only proper release for them. Loose lips and rejection slips are the twin banes of the writing world. Mum's the word, where the process is concerned. Resist the urge to blather on social media (especially the Twit), and concentrate on your work. That's the true discipline of the profession.
If you find the loneliness of writing is getting to you, maybe writing's not really for you. Swim in the worlds you build, live in the pages and dance with the characters you create. They'll keep you company while you work.
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