A few weeks ago, I had to halt my current work-in-progress as I had no way of knowing where it was going.
Some stories I've written completely in the dark, with little to no roadmap as to where it was going. I love those stories as they seemingly wrote themselves.
My current work-in-progress was like driving through a gigantic forest of dense brush . . . and there was no letting up. I've ran across obstacles (no, I will not call it writer's block!) where I slogged my way through the story until I finally found the way clear. Remember driving through the dense brush I mentioned moments ago? The clear path was right on the other side. All I had to do was keep going.
Not this time. I had to reverse . . . then, when I found what was causing the mix-up, I turned in the right direction.
My current work-in-progress now has a much clearer path. I know where it's going . . .
If you ever find yourself struggling with your story, stop and examine where you are. Could you be going down the wrong path? If it is, go back through your story and find the new direction.
Friday, June 28, 2019
Friday, June 21, 2019
Stop dwelling; move on / Happenings In The Outhouse 21-June-2019
What's in the past cannot be changed.
So why are you dwelling on your past mistakes?
Stop dwelling.
And move on.
Think back to your New Year's resolutions. Let's keep it simple and say you had a personal goal to go to the gym four days a week. Doable, right? Then, after a few months, you decide to take a short break. You don't go to the gym for a week. Then two. Realizing what's going on, do you cram in a bunch of times to "catch up"?
No. Start over. Hit the reset button.
For roughly a month, I've been dealing with some weird medical issues with my wife. It has caused me a lot of stress, and in turn my writing has been dealt with one heck of a blow. What am I doing about it? First, prioritizing my life. Family is and always will be first. Without my wife and kids, nothing else matters. Alongside that is my health. After that is my writing.
Writing will always be there. Even if life happens and I don't get to the laptop for months, the stories will always be there.
I must stress that no matter what happens, take time for yourself, don't dwell on what you haven't been able to do, and just hit the reset button. Move on. It's okay to go slow.
I am currently at the 5,000 word mark on a new story. Will it be done by the end of June? Nope. Shooting for July.
And if I don't do that, it's okay. It will be published.
So why are you dwelling on your past mistakes?
Stop dwelling.
And move on.
Think back to your New Year's resolutions. Let's keep it simple and say you had a personal goal to go to the gym four days a week. Doable, right? Then, after a few months, you decide to take a short break. You don't go to the gym for a week. Then two. Realizing what's going on, do you cram in a bunch of times to "catch up"?
No. Start over. Hit the reset button.
For roughly a month, I've been dealing with some weird medical issues with my wife. It has caused me a lot of stress, and in turn my writing has been dealt with one heck of a blow. What am I doing about it? First, prioritizing my life. Family is and always will be first. Without my wife and kids, nothing else matters. Alongside that is my health. After that is my writing.
Writing will always be there. Even if life happens and I don't get to the laptop for months, the stories will always be there.
I must stress that no matter what happens, take time for yourself, don't dwell on what you haven't been able to do, and just hit the reset button. Move on. It's okay to go slow.
I am currently at the 5,000 word mark on a new story. Will it be done by the end of June? Nope. Shooting for July.
And if I don't do that, it's okay. It will be published.
Friday, June 14, 2019
Can you do better? / Happenings In The Outhouse 14-June-2019
Better is a fine line between perfection and just slapping something together with duct tape.
But is it really a fine line, as if one was balancing on a high wire? I would argue that it isn't. Better is a wide chasm, where you should have your sights set on the other side.
You should also resign to the fact that you will never achieve perfection.
What is perfection when it comes to art? This may be in books, movies, paintings, sculptures, houses, well . . . virtually anything that can be created. The deer stand that I sit in each hunting season may not be perfect, but it's better than sitting my butt on the cold, frozen ground.
How many movies have you seen where you enjoyed it and everyone else criticizes it to no end? Or books? TV series?
Strive to do better. If you really want to see this in action, look at your favorite artist, be it musician, author, painter, singer, etc., comparing from their early works to those decades later. Those who persist over time will be more refined and far along the "better" line than those just starting out.
But is it really a fine line, as if one was balancing on a high wire? I would argue that it isn't. Better is a wide chasm, where you should have your sights set on the other side.
You should also resign to the fact that you will never achieve perfection.
What is perfection when it comes to art? This may be in books, movies, paintings, sculptures, houses, well . . . virtually anything that can be created. The deer stand that I sit in each hunting season may not be perfect, but it's better than sitting my butt on the cold, frozen ground.
How many movies have you seen where you enjoyed it and everyone else criticizes it to no end? Or books? TV series?
Strive to do better. If you really want to see this in action, look at your favorite artist, be it musician, author, painter, singer, etc., comparing from their early works to those decades later. Those who persist over time will be more refined and far along the "better" line than those just starting out.
Friday, June 7, 2019
Write to your readers, not writers / Happenings In The Outhouse 07-June-2019
I watched an interview, by a famous CEO, who said one of the biggest problems companies make is that they focus too much on their competition.
Who should they be focusing on?
Customers.
This makes complete sense. I follow a number of authors on social media and I chuckle how much they seem to focus on other writers, comparing themselves to be better than other writers. In fact, they take great pains in critiquing other writers, only to build themselves up.
I have not watched the last season of Game of Thrones, as I do not have HBO and I only watch the shows on DVD. But I have seen many criticize how the last season was done. Again, I sit back and chuckle to myself, thinking, "If you think you can do better, do it!"
Honestly, that is what I should have titled this post, and I may expand on that notion next week.
So, to my fellow writers out there, quit focusing on other writers and delight your readers. Take them on a journey.
Who should they be focusing on?
Customers.
This makes complete sense. I follow a number of authors on social media and I chuckle how much they seem to focus on other writers, comparing themselves to be better than other writers. In fact, they take great pains in critiquing other writers, only to build themselves up.
I have not watched the last season of Game of Thrones, as I do not have HBO and I only watch the shows on DVD. But I have seen many criticize how the last season was done. Again, I sit back and chuckle to myself, thinking, "If you think you can do better, do it!"
Honestly, that is what I should have titled this post, and I may expand on that notion next week.
So, to my fellow writers out there, quit focusing on other writers and delight your readers. Take them on a journey.
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