Monday, August 29, 2011

Writing Advise

One of the advice tips in "The Art of War for Writers" is to practice, practice, practice. Practice writing all time, every single day, especially practice writing things you don't feel presured to make "publish perfect."

That was part of the reason why I started this blog. And now that it is a personal blog that is mostly safe from the world (nothing online is truly 'safe')I think I'll use this as my base of operations. I'm a better type-writer than pen-writer anyway.

Lately, a story has been floating around in my brain. It's based in series that I love so I can't ever really write it, but I could still use it for practice.

Probably another time though, since it is late and I'm really tired.

Midnight Manor update. The third revision is done and set out to some trusted friends for review. A little nervous, but I've riding this horse before. He's stubborn and hard to stay on, but enjoyable once you get used to him. Another writing tip book that I'm reading suggested that I join everything from writing clubs, to coffee shops that allow for novices to read their work out loud. I already have support groups in my Creative Writing classes, my job, and my brother-in-law (bless his heart.) Group sessions, I can understand, writing support persons, I can understand even more, but reading out loud to strangers in coffee shops?

Scary.

This same book also suggest that maybe three revisions isn't good enough. But as someone who has finished novels in the past, I know that if I keep working on a story it will just keep morphing into new story after story and the revisions, additions, and cuts will never end. At some point, someone has to say stop. Print. Send. This is what my peer review is for, to see if my book is ready for that kind of attention.

Even if its not I think I'm going to try it. Just to get the rejection letter and feel like I'm at least trying to enter the writing realm. Seriously, some of these help books are making me more nervous than I already am. I'm a bit of a worry wart as it is.

What happens, happens. That's all I can say about it.