Well, bullsh*t, according to Chuck Wendig. I don't know about the rest of you, but I really, really struggle with trying to improve. By nature, I'm a researcher. So, when I come across a problem I'm having or know there's something I need to improve on, I Google. The problem with that is, you wind up with so much conflicting information that you don't know what is what. Or, you find something that sounds so clever, so astute, so on the money that you can't figure out why you never thought of it before. Then you try and implement it and it all goes to hell in a handbasket.
Sadly, this only makes me doubt myself more, instead of helping me. Someone shared this link with me today and I think it's a good read. Funny and inspiring at the same time. Having read this, I'm feeling 110% better about delving into something I a) haven't ever written before and b) am going to present to someone as a gift sooo... maybe it'll help you, too? If nothing else, I think you'll get a good laugh out of it.
Writing advice is bullsh*t
Sadly, this only makes me doubt myself more, instead of helping me. Someone shared this link with me today and I think it's a good read. Funny and inspiring at the same time. Having read this, I'm feeling 110% better about delving into something I a) haven't ever written before and b) am going to present to someone as a gift sooo... maybe it'll help you, too? If nothing else, I think you'll get a good laugh out of it.
Writing advice is bullsh*t
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I've got a little universe plotted out that I'd love to work on, save the white elephant in the room of me not knowing ANYTHING about the foster system and/or related-adoption procedures. I'm pretty much 210% sure the situation that plotted itself into existence would never actually happen. But, still, it's there. I need to stop worrying about how unfactual it might be and just DO IT.
After all... isn't that what disclaimers are for?
I totally hear you and it's funny... I wrote an AU fic a few years ago dealing with that exact same thing - the foster system. I have no idea how it works either, thankfully. I was probably totally off-base, but it is what it is in this case.
However, that's the beauty of fiction, isn't it? It only has to be realistic enough to make sense and be believable. I know as a reader I can generally look past things I know wouldn't happen in real life (I mean, hello, ever watch a cop show?), and still thoroughly enjoy a story. So, I say, WRITE AWAY and disclaim later. :D
Your icon is awesome, by the way. I had to laugh because my husband and I will be talking about something and he'll say, "I don't want to talk to you anymore. I want whatever reasonable person is living in your head!" :D
Hmm, I've never seen that. I'm going to have to put that on my to-watch list. :D
You haven't completely crashed and burned into crazy until you've made an LJ for your muse and proceed to get into lengthy LJ comment fights with him. *side-eyes* Not that I ever did that. LOL
Hahaha... no, I haven't done that, but I have done something even more embarrassing. I had a short story published a few years back (and sadly the epub went out of business) so I made a FB page for my *author name*. She and I have had very public arguments on FB. *headdesk* So yeah, you're in good company. :D
I love the kitty in your icon, is she yours?
They really are something else. Black cats too. I have one and he's the most lovable guy.
Edited at 2015-11-06 11:51 pm (UTC)
I've never had a black cat, but I love 'em all. :)
OH man...is that the one in the picture? I want a maine coon eventually. Even better, a tortie maine coon. :) Does he like the water? An author I follow has 3 of them and the one likes to try to open doors.
Yes, he is. :) OOOOH... the tortie MC are GORGEOUS. And yes, he does, the little freak of nature. He runs outside in the rain and rolls in the grass. Hahaha - he does that, too. I regret taking the child locks off my kitchen cabinets because he opens them and climbs in. Also, if you don't close the door completely behind you, he gets it open and follows you out. GAH. He's such a trouble maker sometimes. They are really great cats though. He escorts me to bed every night... follows me upstairs and waits until I've closed the bedroom door before going back downstairs to wait on my hubby and kids to go to bed. :)
And yeah, if I could do the 'finish your shit' part of his advice, I'd be quids in. The rest of his advice is also brilliant, and OMG YES it makes so much sense. I had similar advice told to me when I had my first child - 'a lot of people are going to give you advice. Listen to them all and thank them politely. Then do what works for you and discard the rest'. I've lived by that for child-rearing (well, pretty much) so I can easily follow it for writing!
YES! *goes off with finishing shit in mind*
Agreed! Most of the time, I can do that. But sometimes... well, there are things that I started years ago that still aren't done. I like that advice about raising your babies though. It makes as much sense there as it does with writing because every child, every writer, every story is different. And because it works one time doesn't mean it will the next.
Hahaha... go finish some shit!