Sunday, July 12, 2009

WRITING TIP #1

Maybe it's normal. Maybe not. But I've been thinking a lot lately about turning points -- events and decisions that changed us, or defined us; rescued us or fucked us up totally. (I was fucked up... but not totally, not irredeemably. Because I was rescued.)

I was thinking of this stuff back in the spring when I had some kind of killer cold (or flu; it was that bad.) And I picked up the thread again a few weeks ago. Leaving aside my personal rescue from depression and suicide, I think I now know what the decisive turning point in my life was.

Maybe I'll tell you later. Because I'm writing a story now. And the hero is a lot like me. And the last thing a writer should ever do -- hear me now, you young bastards with stories to write -- the very last thing a writer should ever do is talk about his unpublished work. (Hell, maybe writers shouldn't talk about the published stuff either. But sometimes you gotta.)

Turning points. And shut the fuck up and write.

I hope this helps.

3 comments:

BrightenedBoy said...

Good advice. I sometimes talk about my book, but usually only to tell people that I'm writing one and that it's a fantasy novel.

Woozie said...

Does your protagonist's turning point involve legions of German armor and only one anti-tank rocket to serve a hopeless platoon of Russians?

Doctorboogaloo said...

BB: The trouble with talking about works in progress is that it tends to drain the creative reservoir. People are only too willing to offer suggestions and advice. Pretty soon, you can't hear your own narrator over the din.

Woozie: Doh!