Sunday 25 April 2010

On Perseverance

Here's the problem:

I didn't do any of the writing I intended to after work last night. Then I woke up early today, but was realy groggy. I got some writing done but it didn't feel good.
Then I got distracted by recording a guitar part for a certain song that a certain forum is writing and recording for a certain in-need-of-cheering comedian. Recording anything other than my little acoustic ditties is one of the most stressful things I know of.
Then my lunch-break became really long because I started rewatching Doctor Who.

A bad day for writing, all round. I felt like giving up.

Here's the solution:

But then after lunch, I sat back in front of my computer, and started to write. Not quickly, or well, but a bit. Then I did that again. Then once more. And so on.
The thing is, there's so many hours in a day. I've never tried counting, but there must be nearly fifty. So I don't have to write a lot, I don't have to write quickly, or even well. I just have to persevere, and write often.

And I have a new technique, too. Instead of writing a list of all the basic plot points, then trying to write as much for each one as possible, I write a list of all the necessary plot points, then try and write as little as possible for each one.
So instead of stressing about how much to write (and getting a novel full of stuff I will immediately cut out,) I am energised by my writing, and will (hopefully) get something slightly novel-shaped at the end. Of course, there's still a lot of unnecessary crap in there, because I usually forget the 'write as little as possible' thing. I forget a lot of things.

So there it is: a thought. Just keep swimming. There's more time than I think.

A teaser: we here at Learning To Read are dedicated to giving you, the reader, the most fulsome and weight-conscious blogging experience we can.
It is with this in mind that tomorrow we will be announcing a new regular feature, and explaining an upcoming project, and formally introducing a new member of the team. Or, as we like to think of it here at Learning To Read, The Team.

4 comments:

  1. Interesting new writing technique. May try it.

    Hope The Team will make the new member feel welcome.

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  2. Just showing up is massively important in any endeavour. Well done sir.

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  3. "I don't have to write quickly, or even well. I just have to persevere, and write often."

    It's is the key. And I'm thinking of putting that above my computer screen.

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  4. I would love it if you did, Lisa. Nothing beats the feeling of being quoted.

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