I’ve never liked the idea of being an “aspiring” writer. Thankfully, Chuck Wendig nailed the reason why. He also managed to turn it into a message that’s both inspiring and humbling, which turns out to be just the right medicine.
Here’s his breakdown:
By the way, in case you haven’t read any Wendig, I highly recommend it. His fiction is great. His non-fiction is great. His blog is great. His Twitter feed is great. Look, he’s great. You can find him here.
. . . is to copy it.
For example, I’m writing a short story called “The Dead.” I think it’s got promise.
Learn more about the fine art of copying fine art.
Plenty of writers love theorizing about their craft.
Henry James is famous for his prefaces. Many bloggers (myself included) attempt to explain all the little pieces that go into crafting a strong story.
But this can all get a little abstract.
What are the practical considerations made by great writers when they’re writing great stories? What’s going on inside their heads?
Often, this crucial piece of the process is lost. Who could be there to capture it? Not the writers themselves. They’re busy writing.
Yesterday, I stumbled across this transcript of a story conference for Raiders of the Lost Ark held between Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Larry Kasdan while reading K.M. Weiland’s blog Wordplay.
I haven’t finished reading the transcript yet. But for everyone interested in what goes on inside successful writers’ heads while they’re writing a successful story, it’s a rare chance to find out.
Note: Speaking of adventure, I’ll be away in Iceland all next week on vacation. I’ll return with a new post the week after. Stay frosty.
These are pretty cool. I want one.
I’m inspired by people who are inspired. When you’re around the right people, you can feel their inspiration. You can feed off it.
I’m uninspired, even discouraged, by people who are uninspired. They make me feel like it’s OK to be uninspiring too.
I think that’s part of the reason the inferi are so frightening in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. There are so many of them, and it’d be so easy to give up, to let them pull you down, to join them.
Your gut almost convinces you it’d be better if you went with them than if you fought them.
I like keeping a list of people who inspire me. Some of them I know, some of them I don’t. Some are real, others fictional. When I’m feeling discouraged, I look at the list and think about these people, about the example they set with their own lives.
Who inspires you?
