Listen, I have no idea why I feel differently about being a writer than I did a few days ago, but I do. Is it the period of quiet introspection with my pen-and-ink journal that gave me a chance to work out how I feel? Is it the conversation I had with a friend? Is it the weather? Is it the restful splash of scotch I had last night after a long, hard day?
Who knows?
Maybe it's that I've been reading a book of short stories by famous, successful authors. My reaction to them has been a mixture of, "Gosh, that's a well-set scene! Gosh, that's an interesting character!" and "Ugh, why is this character so boring? Ugh, what a formulaic plot twist! Ugh, what a dumb resolution!"
There is no stronger goad than the feeling of, "Hell, I could do better than that!"
Granted, I still don't have any fresh ideas, but I have a reworked second draft of an existing novel-in-progress I can dive back into. Will it eventually be a good book?
It'll be as good as I can make it, and that's enough.
||| Comments are welcome |||
Help keep the words flowing.
Who knows?
Maybe it's that I've been reading a book of short stories by famous, successful authors. My reaction to them has been a mixture of, "Gosh, that's a well-set scene! Gosh, that's an interesting character!" and "Ugh, why is this character so boring? Ugh, what a formulaic plot twist! Ugh, what a dumb resolution!"
There is no stronger goad than the feeling of, "Hell, I could do better than that!"
Granted, I still don't have any fresh ideas, but I have a reworked second draft of an existing novel-in-progress I can dive back into. Will it eventually be a good book?
It'll be as good as I can make it, and that's enough.
||| Comments are welcome |||
Help keep the words flowing.
Yeah, I've had that feeling as well. Some "classic" authors, I wonder how they EVER got published! Anyway, you already know you have people who love and appreciate your stories.
ReplyDeleteBesides, anyone can afford to spend half an hour a day working on writing or editing, right? :) *hint hint*
Take whatever goads provide the stimulus, Tony, and run with it.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck.