{"id":397,"date":"2017-10-02T20:51:34","date_gmt":"2017-10-03T00:51:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/dremadeoraich\/?p=397"},"modified":"2017-10-02T20:51:34","modified_gmt":"2017-10-03T00:51:34","slug":"write-right","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/2017\/10\/02\/write-right\/","title":{"rendered":"Write. Right?"},"content":{"rendered":"

(That\u2019s crazy talk, you say; don\u2019t you want to get published? Won\u2019t that mean others are reading your words all the time? Yes, but that\u2019s not the same. Readers in a library or gym or living room half a state away\u2014or half a country or half a world\u2014won\u2019t sit across the table from me while they poke holes in my plots. Yes, I\u2019m sure I\u2019ll be critiqued by anyone who ever reads my stories; but a small, intimate classroom setting hits closer to home. It\u2019s a small difference, but compelling nonetheless. I wonder if I\u2019m in good company?)<\/p>\n

I do know, though, that the critique process builds better writing. This will make my second 6-session fiction class. Last time the workshop was facilitated by Lamar Giles<\/a>. This time, our fearless leader is Lydia Netzer<\/a>. Both Lamar and Lydia are published authors, so as a student I know I can learn from their experience.<\/p>\n

To tell the truth, I\u2019ve been in a writing slump. Oh I have lots of ideas. They just never seem to go anywhere. I keep noting them in my little book of ideas. Meanwhile, I\u2019ve gone back to my novel series, which has been languishing for months while I worked on short stories.<\/p>\n

This weekend, I took the time to fill in most of the gaps in my plan for book 3 (book 2 was already plotted and outlined). It looks so wonderful to see all those little colored stickies up on my board, each one a brief note of my intent for that scene. Together they form a sort of road map that will lead my plot through all the essential points up to the crisis and denouement. They give me a target toward which I can aim the arrows of my words.<\/p>\n

Even so, some days are a struggle. I\u2019m tired. I\u2019m brain-fried from my day job. I can\u2019t think of a single elegant thing to say. The words I put in my characters\u2019 mouths are stilted, spoken in the wrong voice. On those days, I might write 500 words in three hours, all of which must be rewritten the next day. I must admit, I\u2019ve begun to shy away from the computer on those days. Maybe that\u2019s a mistake. Maybe that\u2019s the source of this slump. \u2018Coz writing is hard, y\u2019all. It\u2019s tempting, when I\u2019m tired, to make excuses as to why I shouldn\u2019t even try.<\/p>\n

Bobby enticed me outdoors for a few hours earlier today, which I needed, but it was harder to come back to the blank page than I wanted it to be. I did it, though. I wrote almost a thousand words in book 2 (even if I do have to rewrite them later \u2013 who cares?), then I switched over to this blog post so I could try (TRY) to describe how I feel when it\u2019s a struggle. If you write, you already know. If you don\u2019t, these words probably won\u2019t suffice. Still, it\u2019s worth the effort. It\u2019s good practice. So here I am, at my computer, even though I\u2019m blah.<\/p>\n

Right. Onward. Butt in Chair, Hands on Keyboard, Typing Away Madly \u2013 otherwise known as BIC HOC TAM. (Borrowed from Brad Parks, and a darned common slogan for writers online, apparently.)<\/p>\n

Doesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s perfect. Just write, Drema.<\/p>\n

Just write.<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"