Thursday, April 26, 2007
Blogging and pure first drafts
One of the best things about blogs, at least for me, is that I can get new material from writers I like, and much more often (daily or even more often) than waiting for a new book by them (every few years). And almost all of my favorite authors blog. I'm not sure that should surprise anyone - writers write, and blogging is writing, and since most writers write because they want readers to read their writings, it's a marriage made in some heavenly (though material and scientific) place.And so today I read Neil Gaiman (though he calls it a "Journal" and not a "blog"). Fans of his have noticed that he writes his first draft out longhand, in some beautiful Italian leather-bound book, and to the fans' surprise, Mr. Gaiman has not made any edits to his copy - no cross-outs, no line-outs, no scribbles in the margins. They write to him, and he replies:
If I'm writing fiction by hand I'll put a loose line through something that I'm definitely not going to use (but I'd never pull it out, and I'd normally want it to be readable in case I change my mind, or in case there's something there I can use). But for me the important thing is that it's pure first draft, straight out of the head and onto the page, sort of like this blog. The important thing is moving forward, for me: editing, fixing, tidying, leaving stuff out, that's all for when I put it onto the computer, that's all for the second draft.This is very good advice, and not just for writers. Just do it, just start; take that first step; start now. Begin and see what happens. Say "yes", and shelve your worry and tell your negative inner voice (the voice of "Mom", saying "No") to pipe down.
There are no mistakes, in a first draft. There's pure thought becoming pure action. Save everything. Judge nothing. Later, when the thought has run its course, you can go back and collect the things you like and set aside the things you don't (but you may still want those things for different projects, and even if you don't, they still stand as examples of what you tried).
For instance, I've had an idea of collecting and posting links to my favorite authors' blogs, and calling out the ones who don't blog (Tim Powers, you rascal; why don't you blog?!), the ones who do, and the ones who might blog a bit too much (Bruce Sterling, I'm lookin' at you - You write so much, that it's theoretically possible to keep up with everything you write, but there are practical limits to how much one fan can do).
But that post idea became this actual post, and on the whole, I'd rather post actual posts, rather than think about potential posts - and I hope that anyone reading this feels the same!
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Why am I not surprised at knowing author's have blogs/journals? And yet oddly, I have not attempted to look up my favorites... Although a few are deceased!
Secondly, and more to the reason why I am commenting, is to acknowledge writing as an art. It may feel and appear easy to some non-published folk, however many struggle with the prose.
Pure first drafts show the initial truth from the writer. This, to me, is quite marvelous! One is open to the thoughts swimming through their head, and puts it down on paper before they analyze their discovery! It's my secret love of spontaneity - where there might be no rhyme or reason as to why these unusual ideas came to be, however it must be acknowledged. Justification will occur later...
Art shows an inner-truth about ourselves. This can only work without the editing process we feel we need to do. To be successful, the writer must overcome the filtering process within - so they do not appear psychotic, perverse, or violent. By writing continuously, I agree this process begins to remove that destructive filtering device (for creative-writing, not living in society!) inside us, and allows the surprises to jump out at the writer. This might lead the story, blog, or whathaveyou, to go somewhere more significant and natural than where the writer consciously thought. By moving constantly forward, the mind cannot rest and fall back to its editing process.
The premise of the new gameshow Thank God You're Here! is what all writers sometimes need to assist in shutting down the editor within. Those 'in the know' lead the player-contestant in a particular direction, and then ask unexpected questions as the story goes along. The answers from the contestantare funny and surprising, and hopefully very obvious (at least to the player)! This is because the answers aren't pre-arranged, and are obvious, and just known. There is no right or wrong - the answers are what the person first thought.
The artist merely sees it. We visualize people and things in our head until it is described in writing (or out loud), and that 'picture' than changes slightly to accept the new description. When those unexpected questions come around, we answer based on what we are seeing in our head. It should be obvious. It's been created already by the writer. By forcing answers, we have conceded to the editing process in the mind.
Kids are much better at this concept than adults....
I like how you mentioned how many writers keep the words and phrases that do not work. It's normally junk which only detracts from the specific story or subject. And yet they hold onto it! Is it because they respect their craft? Or as the words or phrases might inspire another thought for something else? And, and I can only imagine that as the creative junk left on the cutting room floor was originally created (for something) by one artist, that all of this stuff is interwoven - it is connected, and can be used accordingly.
With all of this said, it just proves in writing, the writer is merely walking backward into the future!
Secondly, and more to the reason why I am commenting, is to acknowledge writing as an art. It may feel and appear easy to some non-published folk, however many struggle with the prose.
Pure first drafts show the initial truth from the writer. This, to me, is quite marvelous! One is open to the thoughts swimming through their head, and puts it down on paper before they analyze their discovery! It's my secret love of spontaneity - where there might be no rhyme or reason as to why these unusual ideas came to be, however it must be acknowledged. Justification will occur later...
Art shows an inner-truth about ourselves. This can only work without the editing process we feel we need to do. To be successful, the writer must overcome the filtering process within - so they do not appear psychotic, perverse, or violent. By writing continuously, I agree this process begins to remove that destructive filtering device (for creative-writing, not living in society!) inside us, and allows the surprises to jump out at the writer. This might lead the story, blog, or whathaveyou, to go somewhere more significant and natural than where the writer consciously thought. By moving constantly forward, the mind cannot rest and fall back to its editing process.
The premise of the new gameshow Thank God You're Here! is what all writers sometimes need to assist in shutting down the editor within. Those 'in the know' lead the player-contestant in a particular direction, and then ask unexpected questions as the story goes along. The answers from the contestantare funny and surprising, and hopefully very obvious (at least to the player)! This is because the answers aren't pre-arranged, and are obvious, and just known. There is no right or wrong - the answers are what the person first thought.
The artist merely sees it. We visualize people and things in our head until it is described in writing (or out loud), and that 'picture' than changes slightly to accept the new description. When those unexpected questions come around, we answer based on what we are seeing in our head. It should be obvious. It's been created already by the writer. By forcing answers, we have conceded to the editing process in the mind.
Kids are much better at this concept than adults....
I like how you mentioned how many writers keep the words and phrases that do not work. It's normally junk which only detracts from the specific story or subject. And yet they hold onto it! Is it because they respect their craft? Or as the words or phrases might inspire another thought for something else? And, and I can only imagine that as the creative junk left on the cutting room floor was originally created (for something) by one artist, that all of this stuff is interwoven - it is connected, and can be used accordingly.
With all of this said, it just proves in writing, the writer is merely walking backward into the future!
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