The best writing advice I have heard was I think from my mind.
It: You are sad, aren't you?
I: Yes.
It: Do something.
I: Like what?
It: Write your emotions down. Write anything, you can mould your condition/emotions into a poem, a play, a short story, starting pages of a novel, anything it can be. You would feel better.
It was right. Most of the poetry I have produced was by following this advice. I wonder if it's a problem? Being able to write only in hard times!
I sang of leaves, of leaves of gold, and leaves of gold there grew.
Following the example of the estimable Pensive:
The best writing advice I have heard was I think from my mind.
It: Don't do it!
I: Why not?
It: There's no point to it.
I: Thank you! That's exactly what I needed to hear!
Ben Elton, Write, the only way to learn to write is to write.
Michael Leggett, Paraphrasing whilst quoting someone else. if you have writers block, get very drunk, then write, anything that comes to mind, it will be complete b******s, the next day when you've sobered up, throw the rubbish you wrote in the drunken haze away and your writers block will be gone.
From Epictetus: "If you wish to be a writer, write."
From a colleague and friend: "Never lose your voice."
Last edited by lavendar1; 07-13-2007 at 09:49 PM.
A couple people here have said, "Don't force it." I have to disagree. I think what separates a real (i.e. published, professional) writer from people who occasionally jot down a poem or a short story are the ones who force themselves to sit down and write. If you wait around till your muse inspires you, you might spend weeks at a time without writing a single word. I find that if I just start writing, I eventually find my inspiration. It may seem like a chore at first, but once I get in the zone, I'm really happy that I've written and usually happy with what I've written.
So, contrary to what most people would probably say, force it!
This thread would be helpful too!
http://www.online-literature.com/for...t=20546&page=2
Dreams! adorations! illuminations! religions!
the whole boatload of sensitive!
— Allen Ginsberg, Howl II.
Save everything.
That way, when you're having one of those "OMG I SUCK" days, you can look back at your old **** and realize you used to suck even worse.
---------------------hedonistic
A-****in'-men.Originally Posted by tudwell
---------------------hedonistic
i once had a bad case of 'writer's block' and my theater arts mentor told me that i just had to take it easy.
recently another teacher told us that we had to finish everything we strated, unless you have totally lost the feel for it.
...don't need therapy to rehabilitate my smile...
http://profiles.friendster.com/6239700
If you are in the midst of writing something and suddenly overcome by writer's block, I've found that literally demanding of yourself (vocally, non-rhetorically) "Okay, WHAT am I trying to say??!" can be quite effective.The self-induced adreneline can prevent you from entirely losing your flow.
Kill your darlings - by s. king. I am not a huge fan of his books but that was a very good piece of help because sometimes it's so hard to put ideas on paper that when it's time to edit you just can't let go...
I had two wonderful pieces of advice from my mentor, Andre Dubus. He used to say: take the thing you love the most and cut it. And: don't let your pen leave the page without knowing what your character is thinking.
I'll have to agree with Tudwell: force it. If you force it, it will come.
If you want to write like some great writer that you admire do it, at least you will be doing it consciously. Also you will have to deal with your idols sooner or later, expel them out as soon as you can and that will be done by writing them out. Once they're out you will find your own voice.
You don’t have to be simple, if you want to write in a complex and unreadable way do it, and be ready to deal with the criticism.
Remember, you don’t have to write to anybody, you don’t have to explain yourself to anybody, you don’t have to be understood, you don’t even have to be read and appreciated. Is the fact of writing that makes you a writer.
My last advice is the most important one: don't follow advices.
Finnegan Rhies
"If the fool would persist in his folly he would become wise" William Blake
3 things come to mind:
"I write for my own amazement."
"Turn off the censor in your head."
"If you keep a journal, make sure it is illegible."
"When you listen to the radio you are a witness of the everlasting war between thing and idea, appearance and reality--the human, and the divine."
-Hermann Hesse
Personal opinion: trying to find a "right" way to write is an exercise in futility.
Por una cabeza
Si ella me olvida
Qué importa perderme
Mil veces la vida
Para qué vivir
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