Hey Folks,
A lot in “Of Interest” today from the somewhat sublime to the outright silly. Enjoy.
The plan for today was to get to the Hovel early to begin writing New Words on my WIP. Yesterday I got out there a little late and still had some cycling to do, so I ran out of time before I had to return to the copyedit.
For various reasons, I didn’t get out there early. When I do get back (some time or other, and I hope it’s today) I’ll roll straight off the edge into the trenches of the story and race through them with my characters.
There’s nothing I like less in my own writing than to remain outside the story, “directing” and letting the characters have all the fun. I’ve fooled myself into believing they like to have me along, too, if only so they can enjoy a sense of superiority.
As I follow the characters, I’ll hope to keep up, and I’ll endeavor to record what they say and do for at least a few hours.
***
I despise being trapped in a machine that requires regular maintenance. How much more could I get done if not for the regular requirement of sleep, food, and moving about to appease deterioration?
***
Seen in an article by US Navy Pilot Nicole Scherer in the August 2018 issue of Air & Space Smithsonian magazine:
The Basic Rules of Flight
1. Try to stay in the middle of the air.
2. Do not go near the edges of it.
3. The edges can be identified by objects such as trees, buildings, cars, etc.
Anyone who’s flown as pilot or passenger, successfully or otherwise, knows those basic rules to be true. Here’s my own take for writing fiction:
1. Try to stay immersed in the story.
2. Do not go near the edges of it.
3. The edges can be identified in every case by mind-numbing fear expressed in thoughts such as “But what happens next? I’d better figure it out,” and “The character(s) wouldn’t say that. I’d better fix it,” and “The character(s) wouldn’t do that. I’d better fix it,” etc.
The characters, not you, are living the story. It’s their story to tell. Stand back and let them tell it. If you want to control everything, I suggest you write an autobiography.
If, on the other hand, you have the capacity to be generous enough to allow others to tell their own story while you serve only in the lesser role of the recorder, write fiction.
***
Ugh, a really blah day and a little under the weather. I went out and started a session around 9. Wrote only a few hundred words, but already I feel like much of the day is gone. I think I’ll work on the copyedit the rest of today and get back to the WIP in the morning.
So I’ll go ahead and post this.
Of Interest
See “SF Plot Twist Bundle Almost Done!” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/sf-plot-twist-bundle-almost-done/. This is an excellent bundle. Plus he announces the Novel and Short Story Challenge have only a few spots left.
See “Free Fiction Monday: Details” at https://kriswrites.com/2018/08/20/free-fiction-monday-details-2/.
Via The Passive Guy, see “Some Friendly Advice To New Law Students” at http://www.thepassivevoice.com/some-friendly-advice-to-new-law-students/. Seems to me this has a great deal of good advice for writers as well.
Literally “of interest,” see “How Aretha Franklin Earned ‘Respect’ by Flipping Gender Roles” at http://www.thepassivevoice.com/how-aretha-franklin-earned-respect-by-flipping-gender-roles/.
For a bit of silliness (and a special to DB), see “Court considers fake reviews not deceptive if they’re just puffery” at http://www.thepassivevoice.com/court-considers-fake-reviews-not-deceptive-if-theyre-just-puffery/. Be sure to read the comment of yours truly after the post. (grin)
Talk with you again soon.
Fiction Words: XXXX
Nonfiction Words: 620 (Journal)
So total words for the day: 620
Writing of Nick Spalding 1 (novel, tentative title)
Brought forward…… 17778 words
Day 1…… 1449 words. Total words to date…… 19227
Day 2…… 1611 words. Total words to date…… 20838
Day 3…… XXXX words. Total words to date…… XXXXX
Total fiction words for the month……… 38957
Total fiction words for the year………… 287254
Total nonfiction words for the month… 13570
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 111856
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 398860
Calendar Year 2018 Novels to Date………………………… 6
Calenday Year 2018 Novellas to Date…………………… 2
Calendar Year 2018 Short Stories to Date……… 11
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)………………………………………… 32
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)……………………………………… 6
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………………… 193