Comments on: Write What You —— http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/ ...and anarchy ensues Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:49:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Sherry Thomas http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/comment-page-1/#comment-1260 Sherry Thomas Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:37:00 +0000 http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/#comment-1260 Evangeline,<br/><br/>Don't worry. Zen happens over time. You'll get there. :-) Evangeline,

Don’t worry. Zen happens over time. You’ll get there. :-)

]]> By: Evangeline http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/comment-page-1/#comment-1256 Evangeline Fri, 06 Feb 2009 08:16:00 +0000 http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/#comment-1256 Ha! I'm working on it Sherry. But it's v. difficult. -.^ Ha! I’m working on it Sherry. But it’s v. difficult. -.^

]]> By: Sherry Thomas http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/comment-page-1/#comment-1251 Sherry Thomas Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:38:00 +0000 http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/#comment-1251 HelenW,<br/><br/>Thank you.<br/><br/>Jordan,<br/><br/>You said it. And remember, Shakespeare was a purveyor of popular entertainment in his day.<br/><br/>Sarah,<br/><br/>Thanks.<br/><br/>Courtney,<br/><br/>You are right. And I think when you push those boundaries, you not only understand your characters better, but understand yourself better too.<br/><br/>Evangeline,<br/><br/>I think as you develop as a professional writer, you have to let go of perfectionism at some point and settle for a limited perfectionist. Because perfectionism just takes too long.<br/><br/>And letting go is good for you. ;-) I know, I know, easy for me to say. I live like Pig Pen from Peanuts. <br/><br/>M,<br/><br/>Feel free to bestow something similar on your hubby. I think my secretly likes it. :-)<br/><br/>Janine,<br/><br/>Yes that too. You have to read your story--again and again through the editing process as it so happens. So it's really crucial that you write something you want to read. HelenW,

Thank you.

Jordan,

You said it. And remember, Shakespeare was a purveyor of popular entertainment in his day.

Sarah,

Thanks.

Courtney,

You are right. And I think when you push those boundaries, you not only understand your characters better, but understand yourself better too.

Evangeline,

I think as you develop as a professional writer, you have to let go of perfectionism at some point and settle for a limited perfectionist. Because perfectionism just takes too long.

And letting go is good for you. ;-) I know, I know, easy for me to say. I live like Pig Pen from Peanuts.

M,

Feel free to bestow something similar on your hubby. I think my secretly likes it. :-)

Janine,

Yes that too. You have to read your story–again and again through the editing process as it so happens. So it’s really crucial that you write something you want to read.

]]> By: Janine http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/comment-page-1/#comment-1245 Janine Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:37:00 +0000 http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/#comment-1245 I've always believed in "Write what you want to read." If you write anything else, you won't entertain yourself, and then, how can you hope to entertain other people? I’ve always believed in “Write what you want to read.” If you write anything else, you won’t entertain yourself, and then, how can you hope to entertain other people?

]]> By: M. http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/comment-page-1/#comment-1244 M. Sat, 31 Jan 2009 21:36:00 +0000 http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/#comment-1244 Yes! Yes! If 'write what you know' were true then e.g. only people who should write about other worlds would be Buzz Aldrin & Co.! <br/>Me, I go for 'write what I think would be fun to read/do myself if I were free as a bird and not a timid IRL person'. Which, for the record, is fun for me but so far hasn't resulted in any editorial interest. *g*<br/><br/>And, ref: previous post: <br/>'writing at the pace of stoned snails' Hahaha! And I'm not telling my DH of the title bestowed upon yours since then he'll expect something similar. Yes! Yes! If 'write what you know' were true then e.g. only people who should write about other worlds would be Buzz Aldrin & Co.!
Me, I go for 'write what I think would be fun to read/do myself if I were free as a bird and not a timid IRL person'. Which, for the record, is fun for me but so far hasn't resulted in any editorial interest. *g*

And, ref: previous post:
'writing at the pace of stoned snails' Hahaha! And I'm not telling my DH of the title bestowed upon yours since then he'll expect something similar.

]]> By: Evangeline http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/comment-page-1/#comment-1243 Evangeline Sat, 31 Jan 2009 10:53:00 +0000 http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/#comment-1243 That's very perceptive. I don't struggle with the "write what you know" concept because I'm greedy for sensation: I want to know everything. As a result, I end up tossing everything and the kitchen sink into my novels. Ultimately, the more I learn, the more I realize what I don't know, and that is humbling. <br/><br/>I've also come to realize that knowing everything doesn't help me keep control of my life, or dodge the curve balls it throws my way. So when I write what I don't know--which, as a historical romance author is a lot--I'm relinquishing the manic grip I've tried to have over my life (and good grief is writing the best way to realize you have no control over anything, and it's best to accept it than to agonize over it!!). That’s very perceptive. I don’t struggle with the “write what you know” concept because I’m greedy for sensation: I want to know everything. As a result, I end up tossing everything and the kitchen sink into my novels. Ultimately, the more I learn, the more I realize what I don’t know, and that is humbling.

I’ve also come to realize that knowing everything doesn’t help me keep control of my life, or dodge the curve balls it throws my way. So when I write what I don’t know–which, as a historical romance author is a lot–I’m relinquishing the manic grip I’ve tried to have over my life (and good grief is writing the best way to realize you have no control over anything, and it’s best to accept it than to agonize over it!!).

]]> By: Courtney Milan http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/comment-page-1/#comment-1242 Courtney Milan Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:42:00 +0000 http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/#comment-1242 I've found that writing is a good way to expand understanding and imagination. It's when you push the boundaries that you really start thinking about who and why and what kind of person would do this and why. It's malleable. In some sense, you know and understand by writing, and if you don't understand what you've written, it's probably a good sign that you need to keep working. I’ve found that writing is a good way to expand understanding and imagination. It’s when you push the boundaries that you really start thinking about who and why and what kind of person would do this and why. It’s malleable. In some sense, you know and understand by writing, and if you don’t understand what you’ve written, it’s probably a good sign that you need to keep working.

]]> By: Sarah Jensen http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/comment-page-1/#comment-1241 Sarah Jensen Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:46:00 +0000 http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/#comment-1241 Yes, write what you understand and imagine. Perfectly put. Yes, write what you understand and imagine. Perfectly put.

]]> By: Jordan http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/comment-page-1/#comment-1240 Jordan Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:02:00 +0000 http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/#comment-1240 If we had to write what we "knew," there would be no such thing as fiction. Libraries and bookstores would have only autobiography.<br/><br/>Shakespeare (probably) didn't know 12th century Verona or teen love suicide or cross dressing love affairs (unless Shakespeare in Love is, in fact, true), or magic or murder or, or, or. And yet 400 years later we're still reading what he wrote about them.<br/><br/>I think to write what you really have to "know" (or understand as you've said here) is people. How they act, how they react, and especially how they feel. (Not "Human Nature" because abstractions generally make poor stories--<em>people</em>.) If we had to write what we “knew,” there would be no such thing as fiction. Libraries and bookstores would have only autobiography.

Shakespeare (probably) didn’t know 12th century Verona or teen love suicide or cross dressing love affairs (unless Shakespeare in Love is, in fact, true), or magic or murder or, or, or. And yet 400 years later we’re still reading what he wrote about them.

I think to write what you really have to “know” (or understand as you’ve said here) is people. How they act, how they react, and especially how they feel. (Not “Human Nature” because abstractions generally make poor stories–people.)

]]> By: HelenW http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/comment-page-1/#comment-1239 HelenW Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:59:00 +0000 http://www.sherrythomas.com/blog/2009/01/30/write-what-you/#comment-1239 This was great. This was great.

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