Writing is solving problems. Writing is making the right choices. I used to be somebody who just went with the flow. Whatever happened, happened. Lalalalala. Not anymore. I'm constantly penciling in corrections to my life. Should have done this. Should have done that. Could have avoided this, if only I'd done this or that.
I like to blame this character glitch on writing.
After spending years of constantly looking for what's wrong, I recently realized I do the same thing with my life. I look at every scene from every angle. I mentally follow the path that any given choice may or may not present. Daily events become something I labor over and weigh, while trying to guess the outcome. Every day comes in three acts. You have to think ahead. You have to see past the headlights or you'll end up in revision hell.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
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11 comments:
I don't mind outlining my life, working up a general plotline with a specific goal, but the writing itself has to be spontaneous, otherwise there's no joy.
No matter what we do, we'll always have to edit and rewrite and our best work usually comes from the revisions.
I make way too many mistakes in my life to edit. I'd have no time for living, I'd be too busy revising. Jer
an editor once told me she didn't have any trouble turning off the critic in order to enjoy a movie or book, but i have a hard time shutting it off.
writing is rewriting.....unlike life!
Except I think most of us are constantly rewriting our lives. No, you can't go back, but you can certainly reinvent, change your attitudes, revise your beliefs and learn from your mistakes.
add that to your constant game of "who is it" and you're bound to go gray pretty soon :D
e-mom: ain't that the truth!
Dang woman... you basically just summed me up in that last paragraph.
allen,
thank you SO much!!
peach: :D
Hey, Allen, don't forget to let her know who recommended the book... LOL.
rob -- i knew that! :D
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