In Today’s Journal
* Quote of the Day
* The Myths Are Alive and Well
* Of Interest
Quote of the Day
“Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not.” Pablo Picasso
“I have zero issue with writers writing in big, complex worlds… but you create the worlds by writing in them….” Dean Wesley Smith (see Of Interest)
The Myths Are Alive and Well (sigh)
For a writing instructor, would-be fiction writers are maybe the most head-shakingly aggravating creatures on Earth. Although few actually utter it aloud, their very core seems to consist of a big ugly ball of tightly wound “I Just Can’t!”
But they really want to write fiction, so they cast about for advice.
Maybe they’re fortunate enough (as I eventually was) to hear about Heinlein’s Rules and the non-technique of Writing Into the Dark.
Even if they are, unfortunately most of them aren’t strong enough to push down their fear-based critical voice, take a deep breath, and actually try WITD.
Instead they turn to ‘common wisdom’ to learn how to write.
And per that ‘common wisdom,’ by and large, they’re led to believe they must outline a novel before they can actually write it, and they must consciously construct a ‘world’ before they can write good stories in that world.
In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.
Outlining and world-building are actually only ways to delay writing. And both are actually harmful to the process of creativity because both create pressure that’s all but impossible to overcome.
Those two huge myths have preemptively killed more budding fiction writer careers than all the other myths combined.
Early on Thursday morning, in a relatively rare post on actual writing (vs. promotion), Dean Wesley Smith listed some of the ways intentional, conscious-mind world building actually harms writers.
Here’s an excerpt from that post:
“Creating elaborate worlds ahead of writing functions [to harm writers] in a number of ways…
Makes the writer feel like they are writing.
Calms the fear of writing.
Gives the writer a feeling of superiority over their coffee-shop peers.
Guarantees they will never fail in their writing because they will never write.
And last, but most importantly, they can tell their family they are writing and not have to actually show them anything.”
…
“No one I have ever seen go down this myth trap of building huge worlds ahead of time before actually writing has managed to escape and become a full-time writer, let alone ever write much of anything in the world they built. Just too much pressure.”
Dean goes on to offer specific advice to those who’ve “bought into the world-building myth,” but I’ll leave it to you to learn that advice on your own by clicking the link in Of Interest.
With any luck at all, you’ll read and heed his advice. If you do, and if you buy in, the nonsense of failing before you even begin will be a thing of the past.
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
How to Create Compelling Hooks for Every Chapter An excellent post! Study this! I’ve even added this one to my list of helpful links over on my author website.
Things that Stop Us in Our Tracks: Are you your worst enemy? Another good article.
How to Use Short-Form Video to Market Your Book