In today’s Journal
* Quote of the Day
* On “Making” Good or Great Writers
* An Observation on “Pressure”
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
Quote of the Day
“All things are difficult before they are easy.” Thomas Fuller
On “Making” Good or Great Writers
In today’s “Of Interest” I’ve included a “Reader Friday” from the KillZone, primarily because it’s based on a Stephen King quote.
Here’s my response (expanded):
I think the key word in this passage is “make” and King’s repetition of that. This quote runs alongside his thought that writing can’t be taught, but it can be learned.
The mechanics of writing can be taught. In fact, I teach most if not all of them through my mentorships, my nonfiction books, this Journal and in other places.
But it’s up to each writer to apply what s/he’s learned, continue to learn and continue to practice. And by “practice” I don’t mean hover with rewrites. I mean Write New Stories.
In other words, anyone can be taught to write, but in my experience few can learn to “be a writer.” As Heinlein wrote as an addendum to his Business Habits (Heinlein’s Rules), “That’s why there are so few professional writers and so many aspirants.”
For me, it all boils down to priorities. I’ve observed that in most fields of endeavor, greatness (or even adequacy to claim the title Writer) is achieved by a Zen-like learning to let go of what’s holding the aspirant back, combined with passion, determination, and a work ethic.
Plainly put, if storytelling isn’t the aspirant’s passion—something for which s/he willingly sacrifices other parts of her life and maybe even her mental health—s/he probably won’t ever be an accomplished writer.
Generally—again, in almost any field of endeavor—what we are passionate about, we achieve. What we are not passionate about, we naturally allow to fall to the side as less-important while we pursue other interests.
Is that a bad thing? Absolutely not.
I do believe there are “born” writers, but I also believe there are “born” mechanics, carpenters, cops, lawyers, carpet- or flooring-store owners, clerks, laborers, etc. And all of those see themselves as the luckiest person on Earth because all of them get to do what they love for a living.
I’ve personally witnessed oil field workers, working cowboys, and ditch diggers who would not rather be doing anything else.
In fact, I’d go so far as to say if you aren’t in it (whatever “it” is, even writing) because you’d rather be doing it than anything else, you should fold your hand and go do that thing your passionate about, that thing you love to do.
There’s nothing wrong with that, and everything about it is right.
An Observation on “Pressure” (and DWS’ current personal challenge)
None of us are exempt from attacks by our conscious, critical mind. Reading between the lines (where critical mind resides) of his last few posts, I suspect Dean has allowed his critical mind to seep in and apply “pressure” to meet deadlines.
As he taught me and countless others, pressure is a good thing when it drives you to the keyboard.
But once you’re at the keyboard and in the story, you have to shut out the pressure, forget about it and Just Write. The story, not the challenge, is the thing. If you take care of writing the story, the challenge will take care of itself.
Dean’s been at this writing thing for a long time. Eventually he will sit back, take a breath, and remember that what matters is THAT you write, not WHAT you write or when or how long it is.
I predict in the next week or so he’ll kick this challenge to the side, as well he should. Later, in some future month, he’ll probably reboot it and succeed as so few others (myself included) could.
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
See “Day Eight” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/day-eight/.
See “Write Dialogue Like a Pro with Elizabeth Sims” (learn more or register) at https://www.janefriedman.com/write-dialogue-like-a-pro-with-elizabeth-sims/. Sounds as if it might be worthwhile and worth the $25.
See “Paraprosdokian: 40 Funny Sentences You Won’t Expect” at https://examples.yourdictionary.com/paraprosdokian-40-funny-sentences-you-wont-expect.html.
See “Three Platforms for Serialized Fiction” at https://authorspublish.com/three-platforms-for-serialized-fiction/.
See “Self-publishing” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/self-publishing/. Be sure to see PG’s take too.
See “Bookshop.org Continues to See Strong Sales” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/bookshop-org-continues-to-see-strong-sales/.
See “MurderCon: It’s a Killer Event!” at https://leelofland.com/murdercon-its-a-killer-event/.
The Numbers
The Journal…………………………………… 730 words
Writing of WCGN3: The New Mexico Territory (novel)
Day 1…… 1191 words. Total words to date…… 1191
Day 2…… 1206 words. Total words to date…… 2397
Day 3…… 3876 words. Total words to date…… 6273
Total fiction words for July……… 25015
Total fiction words for the year………… 553694
Total nonfiction words for July… 6260
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 132050
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 685744
Calendar Year 2021 Novels to Date…………………… 11
Calendar Year 2021 Novellas to Date……………… 1
Calendar Year 2021 Short Stories to Date… 3
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 64
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 217
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31
Disclaimer: In this blog, I provide advice on writing fiction. I advocate a technique called Writing Into the Dark. To be crystal clear, WITD is not “the only way” to write, nor will I ever say it is. However, as I am the only writer who advocates WITD both publicly and regularly, I will continue to do so, among myriad other topics.