Friday, August 01, 2008
So, the wrimo hath begun!
Wordcount August 1: 284.
This is very tough for me as some one who has not written in many years. I thought then that I was good enough - or almost - to make professional sales. But, in truth, I made only one to Writers of the Future - which has its detractors who call it all amateur work (not to say that they're wrong, mind you).
The important thing for me to remember is that I'm not writing to publish, I'm writing to increase the likelihood I can stand looking at that guy in the mirror in the morning. The Nanowrimo founder suggests "exuberant imperfection." Annie Lamott, author of novels, religious books, and "Bird by Bird" the bestest book for beginningest writers, calls for "shitty first drafts." [What do you suggest, Annie, that I do about my shitty seconds and thirds?!?] Stephen King says whip out 2000 words a day. What's her name says write some bones and journal tll your fingers are nubs.
Everyone agrees. Write energetically and let it be rotten writing. It's still forward, better than paralysis.
Can I comply? I don't know - I'm a pretty judgmental guy. I'm also stealing time from Fictitious Force, not to mention family, wife, self-pitying bouts of back pain, secretive junk-food binges, and work which would like me to be all theirs 24/7, to write. Can I actually keep my commitment to myself to write 50K words of crap in the face of all this, especially when they really turn out to be crap?
I sure as hell don't know. Let's find out, shall we?
Wordcount August 1: 284.
This is very tough for me as some one who has not written in many years. I thought then that I was good enough - or almost - to make professional sales. But, in truth, I made only one to Writers of the Future - which has its detractors who call it all amateur work (not to say that they're wrong, mind you).
The important thing for me to remember is that I'm not writing to publish, I'm writing to increase the likelihood I can stand looking at that guy in the mirror in the morning. The Nanowrimo founder suggests "exuberant imperfection." Annie Lamott, author of novels, religious books, and "Bird by Bird" the bestest book for beginningest writers, calls for "shitty first drafts." [What do you suggest, Annie, that I do about my shitty seconds and thirds?!?] Stephen King says whip out 2000 words a day. What's her name says write some bones and journal tll your fingers are nubs.
Everyone agrees. Write energetically and let it be rotten writing. It's still forward, better than paralysis.
Can I comply? I don't know - I'm a pretty judgmental guy. I'm also stealing time from Fictitious Force, not to mention family, wife, self-pitying bouts of back pain, secretive junk-food binges, and work which would like me to be all theirs 24/7, to write. Can I actually keep my commitment to myself to write 50K words of crap in the face of all this, especially when they really turn out to be crap?
I sure as hell don't know. Let's find out, shall we?
Labels: inappropriate, modern life, nanowrimo, slap in the face, writing
