Other hobbiests have quirks. Runners prefer a certain brand of shoe or prefer a time of day. Painters might prefer a specific canvas or theme. Musicians might learn new instruments quickly, or stubbornly stick to one like a loyal dog.
I have a few, but I didn't really think of them as anything writerly. But as I've found out, the more I speak with other writers, the more I find that we are all alike.
I have spoken with a few writer's now who mention this dreaded "writer's block" monster. I admit that I do not really feel afflicted by this blank screen notion, but then again, I have my own demons to battle. To each his/her own, right?
I tend to know where my story is going ahead of time, although I don't really outline per se. I more write out a brief synopsis that sort of captures the film that's going on in my head. And then I set out to write it. So as long as the scenes keep coming, I keep writing. I do rewrite the scenes, but I don't find outright outlining, notecards, etc handy as I am super visual and just can't hack it. Half my time is spent transforming the perfect movie in my head into something even closely resembling it. Frustrating.
Do you struggle with writer's block? How do you overcome?
Writer's ADD
So my good friend David helped me out with my own particular writer's problem, and adequately termed it, "writer's ADD". I like it. It's apt. What writer's ADD (for me, anyway) is this:
- I get idea (as stated above), write summary, and then begin writing
- I get to about 10-15K words
- I get about 10 other story ideas (like above) that all sound so much more interesting/salable than the one I'm already working on
- I scratch current draft
- The process repeats itself
It's quite awful, really. I sometimes will take a month off writing convinced that I will never be a good writer, and then start back up again in short time. Another writer, Chris Canary, has told me that the intense idea that your writing is crap is actually perfectly normal. (And he's published, so I'll take his word for it!) So I've decided to just keep writing, and if I don't sell, fine. I'll keep honing my craft, working to get better, and eventually I will not only write something that isn't drivel, but I'll also publish, too.
Location, Time, and Medium
Every writer has a "thing". You know, one writer starts in the morning after a cup of coffee and doesn't stop until noon. Another only writes 1,000 words a day. Yet another writes a book a month, hidden away in a closet.
Some use computers, others notepads. Some may even use an old typewriter.
We all have quirks to our special process that works for us, and, once discovered, will not stray from it. Like a lucky rabbit's foot, we will stick to what works. Even if it doesn't.
Genre
Like musicians, we choose our instrument. Some of us write journalistic non-fiction. Others write essays meant to persuade. Some pick fiction, and either stick to one genre within that field, or sample widely. Some believe that a good writer should hone their craft on one. Other writers may only be capable of one genre, or one type of writing. Yet others are literary virtuosos, able to wield their words like a true musicians masters a new instrument.
We can't all be Mozarts, but that doesn't make us any less writers. Any of us.
Speed
We all write at very, very different speeds. Some writers only put out one book in their whole lifetime. Others will put out a book per month, rapidly writing novels at breakneck speed.
I tend to write quickly. I can write over 1,000 words an hour when I focus, and can keep this pace up for several hours. I've never written more than 10K a day, however, and have never had the luxury to be able to do so. I find 1-3K a day much more comfortable, with 1K being very feasible. For others, this is a challenge.
I don't think we can really change how quickly or slowly we write. Those who know me in "real life" know that I am a very quick person. I think, talk, and move at lightning speed. I just can't do things slowly. And so my writing, naturally, follows suit. Does that mean my writing is better because it's faster? Oh heck no. Well, I'd like to think it's as good as anyone else's, really.... but speed isn't everything, and you shouldn't measure your speed to someone else's. Remember: if you finish, you are accomplished. Finishing is literally half the battle.
Motivation
By far, what motives writers is my favorite thing to talk about. I love learning why writers are motivated - what got them started, their dreams, what keeps them going. What as that final straw that made them say, "Enough, I must write!" ?
I do agree with other authors that money alone is not a sufficient factor. I'll use an illustration for this.
Say you have two teachers. One always wanted to be a teacher; the other just took the job because she could do it. (Or he, sorry.) The first, while yes they are doing it for the money (we all have bills!), what will keep the teacher in long after the novelty wears off, long after the job gets tedious, is the love of teaching. Money will motivate anyone to come in to work, but only a true passion will cause someone to strive for excellence and mastery. So yeah, the latter teacher can come in for the money, but will they work to improve their skills? Take criticism well? Stay in the career field when other offers come their way? Likely not. Or if they do, they will end up rigid and bitter at the end of it all, and not very happy either.
Why do I write? Well, it's about like anyone else. First of all, I'm not very good at anything else. I am dead serious about this. My first and major skill is language. I scored a 798 or so on my SAT (without studying) in verbal skills, and 99% in all ISTEP verbal scores. I taught myself to read, and have always read voraciously. I can't help but love to read and write. And I am really not good at anything else, at least not at the level I am with language. And in terms of art? Forgeddaboutit. I can sort of sew and paint, but writing is my true creative outlet.
Second, I write because I have to. My ideas come to me in stories. Ideas, plots, characters. That classic "what if" comes to me when I watch movies, read other stories, and talk to people. I can't help but make up stories, and I enjoy it.
Third, because it's what I have always said I would do. If you looked at what I said I wanted to be when I grew up, it was almost always, "writer". I have always wanted to be a writer. Always. I can't remember a time where I said, "Oh, I want to be something else." Well, I may have said that, but in the back of my mind if I could do anything and not worry about bills - writing would be it. Hands down.
Fourth, because I have to at this point. I'm at the point where working a job doesn't bring in enough to pay all my bills. Like Steven King before Carrie, I could use a break. I don't need millions - maybe a thousand or two (or ten!) to pay off some bills would be great. I'll keep my day job if I can write and bring in some extra cash on the side. Money is my final motivator, but certainly not my first motivator.
Can you think of any writing quirks I didn't list? What are your writing quirks?
Feel free to friend me on NaNoWriMo's site : lynnswayze. Thanks!
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