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Everything I need to know as a writer
Feb. 5th, 2005 08:19 pmI learned in kindergarten. Well, perhaps not kindergarten, but certainly during the first couple of years after I began to take my writing seriously.
That's not to say that I'm not constantly working on my craft. There are always new techniques to learn, and I hope that each book I write is better than the last.
But the important things about writing, the knowledge of how I write and what I need to be successful at writing, these are the lessons that I learned early. And that I relearn again and again with each new book.
I suppose it's nostalgia time. My local RWA chapter sent out a survey, which started me thinking about how long I've been doing this. I started writing seriously back in January 1993, which is 12 long years ago. During that time I have completed ten novels, two novellas, and two short stories. I've had two agents, three editors and two publishers. The only constant in this business is that writing only happens when I put my butt in the chair, and my fingers on the keyboard.
Writing: 2,246 words today. Two short scenes, introducing a new character and setting the first layer of the conspiracy in motion.
Drinking: Yellowtail's Cabernet-Merlot blend. It's surprisingly drinkable, since I'm not normally a cabernet fan. In my mind cabernet is tied up with the 80s, and that's really all I need to say.
Watching: Finally sat down to watch the episode of Medium that I'd taped earlier this week. I continue to be impressed by the series.
Reading: Spindle's End by Robin McKinley. This book had been buried in my to be read pile, and only came to light when I was getting ready for my house guests. I'm enjoying it, but unlike some of her earlier works this one doesn't inspire me to bang my head against a table and declare that I can never be a writer because I will never write as well as she does. I hope that's a sign that I'm growing more confident of my craft.
That's not to say that I'm not constantly working on my craft. There are always new techniques to learn, and I hope that each book I write is better than the last.
But the important things about writing, the knowledge of how I write and what I need to be successful at writing, these are the lessons that I learned early. And that I relearn again and again with each new book.
I suppose it's nostalgia time. My local RWA chapter sent out a survey, which started me thinking about how long I've been doing this. I started writing seriously back in January 1993, which is 12 long years ago. During that time I have completed ten novels, two novellas, and two short stories. I've had two agents, three editors and two publishers. The only constant in this business is that writing only happens when I put my butt in the chair, and my fingers on the keyboard.
Writing: 2,246 words today. Two short scenes, introducing a new character and setting the first layer of the conspiracy in motion.
Drinking: Yellowtail's Cabernet-Merlot blend. It's surprisingly drinkable, since I'm not normally a cabernet fan. In my mind cabernet is tied up with the 80s, and that's really all I need to say.
Watching: Finally sat down to watch the episode of Medium that I'd taped earlier this week. I continue to be impressed by the series.
Reading: Spindle's End by Robin McKinley. This book had been buried in my to be read pile, and only came to light when I was getting ready for my house guests. I'm enjoying it, but unlike some of her earlier works this one doesn't inspire me to bang my head against a table and declare that I can never be a writer because I will never write as well as she does. I hope that's a sign that I'm growing more confident of my craft.
