Cocky

[rowyn]

We are all so absurdly cocky.

I don't know that anyone really deserves this rant, but I was just thinking it as I was reading about someone else's creative process. I was thinking of saying something about my own, and then I thought: What the heck do I know about how to write? What do I really know? I'm not a published author. I haven't published so much as a single short story (well, wait, there's "The Bribe" -- thanks, Tufty and Greywolf! -- but that's not exactly the most impressive credential). I haven't so much as finished writing a single novel. The closest I've come is wrapping up the occasional plot thread on Sinai.

So what do I know about it?

Moreover: what do all these folks talking about it know about it? 'Cause most of the people I hear going on about "their process" don't have credentials any more impressive than mine. And yet they talk, with the most amazing confidence, about "what it takes to get published" and "what works" and "what doesn't work" and "pitfalls to avoid" and on and on and on. I can't blame 'em, exactly. I do it, too. We parrot what we've read or been taught by someone else, or our fumblings as we move forward, or backwards, or sideways.

It's hard to take any of us very seriously. Maybe we're right. But goodness, how would we know if we are? If I believe Richard Bachman -- who at least has credentials -- I ought to have quit writing Prophecy six months ago and finished Silver Scales instead. But here I am, still going ... wherever I'm going. Whyever I'm going. I don't even know where this entry's going. Up in my journal, I guess.

Comments

[justbishop.livejournal.com]

It's odd to come across a post like this right now (I found you via jordangreywolf BTW)...

I'm just about to send a query letter to an agent, having spent the better part of a year working on my first book.

I set up a journal where I could put down book updates and reflect about the craft. Sounds pretentious, doesn't it? *grin*

For me, I'm always interested in how other writers write.. writing and creating is a highly personal thing.. everyone has their own way of doing it. For instance, I read King's On Writing and a book on writing by Terry Brooks back-to-back and both authors take a very different approach to the craft. I love discovering how the process works for people because maybe I'll learn something new about it. Maybe I'll see something that might work for me as well. I've been very insecure about this whole thing, since I've never written a book before. Was I "doing it right?" *shrug*

I figure, if I'm interested in knowing how other people do it, maybe other people will be interested in knowing how I do it. At the very least, sharing helps me better understand what I do by vocalizing it.

So far the journal's not much in the way of reflection.. more like whining.. ;)

That's my ramble.

[rowyn]

Hello! *waves*

So far the journal's not much in the way of reflection.. more like whining.. ;)

I can relate to that. When I talk about writing my book, it's mostly to whine, too. ("Wah! Writing is HARD!")

And I am curious about how other people go about creating. But I'm getting a lot more skeptical about the ones who say "You have to do this". Like, say, writing an outline for a novel. It turns out that even some successful, published authors don't use outlines when they write. :)

[justbishop.livejournal.com]

That's what I mean about King and Brooks. King just writes. He's like me... I'll think and think and think and ultimately write the whole thing in my head before I ever put it on paper. Brooks will sit down and outline and organize and plan beforehand. Two different approaches.

And you're right... writing *is* hard. *grin*

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

But very rewarding. :)