Friday, January 10, 2014

Advice That has Helped Me

Advice that has helped me.

I've read more than a few writing books by famous writers. Stephen King's book On Writing resonated with me the most. It could be because I grew up with Stephen King. Well, Nancy Drew, The Girl with the Silver Eyes and Stephen King. That's what I remember from my childhood as far as books. Oh and the Giving Tree. That book made me cry, and it wasn't until I got a little older that I understood why.

"Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work." -Stephen King
That sounded harsh to me at first, but I think it's meant to. If you want to be taken seriously as a writer, if you want to be a writer who publishes stories or books or poems, you have to sit down and write even when you don't feel inspired. There are many days I don't feel like writing. Everything that gets slapped onto the page looks like it's been slapped onto the page. I trudge forward regardless. I can edit later, but only if there are words there to edit. Can't edit a blank page. So, there has to be something there. Anything.

"I have spent a good many years since - too many, I think - being ashamed about what I write. I think I was forty before I realized that almost every writer of fiction or poetry who has ever published a line has been accused by someone of wasting his or her God-given talent. If you write (or paint or dance or sculpt or sing, I suppose) someone will try to make you feel lousy about it, that's all." -Stephen King

If Stephen King could go through most of his life being ashamed of his books and his writing, yet be so prolific and write huge volumes that could scare us to death, then it's okay if I feel like my stuff is crap most days.

I'll just get up and go to work.



12 comments:

  1. Hi, Missy!

    Great post. I've never read Stephen King, but I did watch Misery which I thought was very funny in places. Now when I get fan mail signed "your biggest fan", it gives me a little chill and I have to smile.

    Monique

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would love to get fan mail! They can sign it however they want, but "your biggest fan" would be the best. Or scary. I'm not sure which.

      Delete
  2. I would agree that all writers have days that they don't want to write. Some of my best pieces come right after a writers block piece. I have to go write the crappy piece and during that time an idea comes and they turn out to be pretty good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Writing seems to unstick my writer's block, too. That's why I usually have a few stories going at the same time. If one doesn't work, I move on to the other.

      Delete
  3. That's a good plan. The just getting up and getting to work :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I found it to be great advice since it works so well for me!

      Delete
  4. Yes! Yes! Yes! If you are in an artistic realm, you will be criticized because "how dare you do something that inspires you?" I remember reading that Stephen King was a janitor for years while he wrote on his own time. It was a paycheck while he waited to be discovered. That "stick-to-itiveness" had to be the key. I LOVE the message of your post. Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by to comment! I'm not sure if he was a janitor or not. I don't remember if he wrote about that. He did talk about how he was rejected for years, and kept on submitting his stories. I'm always inspired by people that don't give up on their dreams.

      Delete
  5. I am so glad you found something to encourage you and keep your writing going! It's hard when you feel like you have nothing to write! I can tell this is your true passion and you have to keep it nurtured. I would have to say that I know that sounds like a good book but Stephen kinda gives me the creeps..lol I am such a chicken I never watch scary movies..LOL I am the one who ducks and hides under the cover when the music queues something awful is about to happen! LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love scary books and scary movies. I'd be hiding too, but peeking to see what happens!

      Stephen King scared me with a few of his older books, or maybe I was just younger and easily frightened. I still don't walk over storm drains. Anyone who has read IT knows what I'm talking about! ::whispers:: A clown came out of the storm drain.

      Delete
  6. That is how I feel about blogging. I didn't just wait around to come up with the best stuff. Some days, I know I am throwing crap out there but I know that something will stick!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It can't always be gold, rainbows and things that glow. We have to be brave and unafraid. Put things down on paper that we feel might be crap. It's the only way to mine for the gold, rainbow, glowy stuff.

      Delete