Month: October 2018

Challenge day 21

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Today’s read pages 237-349, sections 15 & 16 of chapter On Writing.

One should have a literary agent before going to publish. Be wary of agents who will read for a fee.

Writing has more to do with instinct than with higher thought.

Does Mr. King do it for the money? He says although he has made plenty he never set a single word on paper with the thought of being paid for it. He has written because it fulfilled him. As with most anything in life, he says if you can do it for joy, you can do it forever. Writing is not life, but it can be a way back to life.

With this post I pause. I have arrived at the final postscript of the book. I am about to embark on a journey to take my mother back to my hometown to visit my brother and several of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. My attention will be on her and I have another book to read about spirituality without religion that may get a mention on this her blog thingy, or maybe not. I will return to the postscript of Stephen King’s On Writing upon my return to California at which time I will complete my blog posts of it and my Personal Challenge.

 

Challenge day 20

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Todays read pages 231-237, section 14 of Chapter On Writing

Writing classes? One doesn’t really have to have them (nor does one need this or any other writing book). They may not hurt, but aren’t necessary. Classes mainly give a writer a chance to be around others who share their passion.

The perfect writing environment? Doesn’t exist. Do the best you can by creating your own writing space that has a door that closes. Use it.

Writers learn best by reading a lot and writing a lot. The most valuable lessons are the ones that you teach yourself. Those lessons always occur with the door closed on the writing space.

Stephen’s “pearl” today was this quote: “It is, after all, the dab of grit that seeps into an oyster’s shell makes the pearl, not pearl making seminars with other oysters.” (page 232, Stephen King, On Writing)

Challenge day 19

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Todays read pages 220-231, sections 12 & 13 of chapter On Writing.

Tonight I’ll be short and brief. Short and brief because it’s late and I’m jonesing to get some sleep and short because this part talks about pace.

During the first draft, with the door closed, pace may not have been of concern as that was when the story was being unearthed. Now with a chance to revise and refine through a second draft one should be aware of pace. Look for a happy medium. Too fast and readers will get lost or worn out. Too slow and they will become bored or worse yet put it down. Be careful not to underexplain nor overexplain.

A good rule of thumb is second draft equals first draft minus 10%.

While one needs back story for character definition and motivation, the back story is just that, back. Get through it as quickly as possible while still doing it with grace. Everyone has a history, most of it isn’t interesting. Stick with the interesting.

Research is sometimes necessary when one writes into areas where one might not know much. Research is back story, keep it there. Remember you are writing a novel, not a research paper.

The story always comes first.

 

The Boss

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Diana Ross

Because I need this today.

Sometime about 1981 a young impressionable homosexual of somewhere near 18 years of age (maybe not quite due to a really good fake ID) excitedly awaited his first drag show at his local gay discotheque. He was sitting on the floor laughing with several new gay friends and sipping cheap draft beer. The bright lights shimmered off of the sparkly fabric of the backdrop as the Emcee announced the opening act.

Carolyn Sue Wilson took the stage in her best Diana Ross drag. As she expertly  lypsynced this very tune, that young impressionable homosexual had found his home amoungst friends. He was no longer afraid and alone. He was part of.

Drag queens did that for us back then. Hell, they still do that for us outcasts today. Drag, at least for me, has always been inclusive. Drag is beautiful. Drag is accepting. Drag is outrageous. Drag is fun. Drag spreads love. Drag exudes acceptance.

That old gay dance club was a haven for this young impressionable homosexual. The memories of that club have always brought me comfort. That club helped me to realize I was inherently good. I was part of humanity and not some freak to be thrown away for no good.

I made many friends at that club. Many of those friends faded away.  Many died from the terrible plague we shared in the 1980s. Several of them are still with me to this day. Lifelong friends whom I love dearly.

Wherever Carolyn Sue Wilson is today, I dedicate this post to her. Thank you Carolyn, you always made me feel part of. You always shared a smile and gave this young homosexual the love and acceptance he needed. You girl -were and still are- The Boss.

Carolyn Sue Wilson
Miss Gay Roanoke 1975

Challenge day 18

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Todays read pages 208-220, section 11 of chapter On Writing.

How many drafts?

For Stephen King two plus a polish. For a beginner he recommends at least two drafts. The first draft with the study door closed (you the author only just getting the story out unaffected by outside input, interference or opinion), and at least one other draft with the study door open, sharing that first draft with trusted readers.

Upon completion of the very first writing you, the author, who has spent many months and unending hours unearthing this story onto the pages and need time away. Focus on another project or write a short story or go on an adventure…get away from the book. Rest.

Then sit down and go back though that first draft making notes where you see errors or holes. Do not get down on yourself, screw ups happen and can be fixed. Use this to not only fix mistakes but clear out the unnecessary and add clarity. Ask yourself about coherence and about elements, theme, resonance, meaning. After this stage then let a few trusted readers see this first full draft and read it.

Be careful not to be overbearing on your first readers. We writers can be needy. Resist the temptation.

Challenge day 17

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Today’s read: pages 200-208, section 9 chapter On Writing.

Theme.

Theme is really no big deal.

When writing a book one is identifying trees. Once done, step back and look at the forest. Every book worth reading is about something. During or just after the first draft decide what it’s about. In the second draft make that something more clear.

Good fiction begins with the story and progresses to theme.

Once story is on paper think about what it means, then enrich following drafts with conclusions. This makes each tale written uniquely your own.

Challenge day 16

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Today’s read pages 189-200, sections 8 & 9 chapter On Writing

Today’s take:

Pay attention to real people around you and tell the truth about what you see. Are fictional characters taken directly from everyday life? No. Well no not directly. However details of behaviors make fictional characters are drawn from life.

The best stories may be character driven but in the end the story should always be the boss. Help readers to understand characters, and even sympathize with them, to make the characters real.

In story telling practice is invaluable and honesty indispensable. Transcribe with clarity (without unnecessary adverbs). Use what bells and whistles work for or improve your writing as long as they don’t get in the way of telling the story. Symbolism exists to adorn and enrich, not create artificial profundity.

Story is about story.

Challenge day 15

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Today’s read pages 180-189, section 7 of chapter On Writing.

Dialogue, it gives your cast their voices and is crucial to defining characters. What people are saying often conveys their character in ways of which they are unaware.

Character can be conveyed more vividly through speech. A cardinal rule of good fiction is never tell us anything you can show us. Good dialogue is a delight, bad dialogue is deadly. A writer can improve in respect to dialogue, but a man must know his limitations.

Dialogue is a skill best learned by people who enjoy talking and listening to others…especially listening. The key to writing good dialogue is honesty. It’s important to tell the truth. It must ring true on the page and in the ear. To ring true you must talk yourself and even more importantly listen.