Autumn's Writing Rant

[Moonlit Naiad]

There's something that bothers me a lot... It's when people (myself included, as well), say "I can't write."

What I want to know is "Are you trying?" Or, are you merely daunted by the idea of putting ideas down on paper?

Compounding this, there's an unreasonable expectation that just because we use words in our day to day lives, that we should be able to write just as easily as we speak. Well, unfortunately, that's not the case. That's akin to saying that people should be able to draw because they see things every day.

We don't expect that the first time we put pencil to paper that we're going to be able to draw the perfect likeness of someone, and yet somehow we expect that the first time we put pen to paper, our ideas will flow out in coherent, well-crafted sentences, forming a story for all to enjoy.

Like I said, unreasonable expectations.

Sure, there may be a few people with raw inborn talent and the ability to almost 'magically' form works of art, whether images, music, writen word, or so on. But, for every one like that there's millions of us average folk. And for us normal people, it takes time and practice - and the dedication to stick to it and actually do that practice.

Ask any artist - a painter, a portrait artist, a pinup artist, or so on - ask them how many pictures or sketches they did before they had something even close to what they were imagining. I guarantee, that for almost everyone you ask, the answer is most certainly not their first one; likely, it's not even in their first hundred or so.

As writers, then, we need to watch our arrogance - and not to assume and not to expect that our first efforts will be worth showing. Sure, it's unpleasent to pour your heart into something and not have it turn out like you expect, but if you can't get past that....

Keeping on this analogy - the other great arrogance that I've noted in myself and others is assuming that once we've got the words down, they're good, and in no further need of attention. Well, to be brutally honest, that's a first draft. It's a sketch, if you will. And while there is indeed a market and niche for sketches and other unpolished works, it's still not high-quality work - it's still not a masterpiece.

Once you've got the sketch down, the rough outlines; then is the time to go over it again, erasing mistakes, firming up areas, smoothing things out, adding in the details. Eventually, after a few times over it, you'll have something approaching a finished product. And then, still, there's going to be mistakes, errors, and so on - until you get really, really skilled at it - then the errors are probably still there, but smaller scale things. In a picture, maybe the proportions are off, maybe the colours are off, maybe the perspective is off. Similar errors will occur in writing, as well - and this is when it's helpful to have others look at it, and offer constructive criticism. This is where, in theory, writers have it easier than painters - generally we don't have to scrap a whole piece because of an error, though it may take substantial effort in reworking.

Back on the topic of practicing - how many artists do you know that doodle? Little rough (or not so rough) images in their notebooks, textbooks, or whatever. Well, concious of that or no, that is practice. We as writers should do the same sort of thing - in the margins of our notebooks or textbooks, write down interesting little phrases - snippets of dialouge, an interesting piece of imagery, a brief description. Play with it, have fun, take notes on what's going on around you.

The way to get better at writing is not to sit around and say "I can't write." The way to get better at writing is to write. Everyone can write. Everyone, with practice, can write well. So, what are you waiting for?

(Addendum: No, this isn't directed at any one person. I'm not singling out anyone, not even myself. :p And, yes, it is a rough draft, a first time through. There's bound to be errors in it, but if I wait for myself to take the time to polish it, it'll be next year before the rant is ready ^^;;; )

[Mitera Nikkou]

That was a good rant.

I know I was horrible when I first started writing, but years of practice, even without learning it professionally (such as reading books that teach you how to write better and all that), has helped me not seem like a Neanderthal. ^_^; And before that, I doodled and drew for years, and I got fairly decent at certain things. Same with reading, before I got into those things.

But I'd like to add that, some (like myself) know they can write but have irrational self-doubt or something... Or just can't get into the mood to do something, and their excuse is "I can't do it." We know practice can do alot of good, but now we must find a way to solve these other things! XD

[Arkain]

Just because you can't produce a Rembrandt or a Kafka on your first try doesn't mean you should quit now, to boil part of it down.

People say I have a talent for writing, but I've never produced anything complete that has spanned more than a couple standard pages.

I start running through ideas and never complete anything...which reminds me, I need to gut my Work folder.

[Christina Anikari]

It is good advice as such. The problem is that it requires people to have the slightest inclination for practising. I can't practise it is simple as that. I get frustrated and enters either a minor depression or a murderous rage if i don't get it right in a couple of tries and it is not just a temporary thing. For example i've tried skiing once, five years ago and i still get angry and myself and everything around me at the mere thought of skiing.

So while it is good advice for most people, there are some it just can't apply to. Neither people who are too lazy, too stressed out or just plain unable to show dedication to anything will benefit from it, and it might perhaps even hurt them.

[FreeFall]

Arkain, Hemingway made a living off stories that were oftentimes only a dozen pages long. The fact that my stories tend to average about 50 pages long doesn't actually *mean* anything. Last night I cut the last five pages out of my current work for simply being too longwinded. Worry about clarity of the point, not size. If you cut and trim and expound in the right places, length becomes a non-issue.

Oh, and about never finishing...every writer knows that one. Get halfway in, toss it. Get three fourths, notice a sudden glaring hole, toss it. Get almost done, realize its crap, toss it. I think there's some divine law of attrition.

Either that or the Muse is a sadist cackling over our shoulders, starving us for a taste.

[Garath the Shadowshifter]

I think there is an important thing needed though to write or draw.

You have to at least partly enjoy what you are doing. Or enjoy at least partly what you are creating. Let me explain.

See if I said I can't draw. I'd be lying. Yet I also would be telling the truth if you looked at it another way.

See I can draw alright. I once used one of those 'skeleton' guides to draw a rather impressive looking Goku. I was pleased with how Goku came out. But the problem is, when I draw like that. I'm not feeling much if any joy in doing so. I don't have any of my old drawings. Mostly because they just didn't do anything for me even after they were done.

I can't draw, because I don't feel anything positive when I draw.

When I write however, the time just flys by. I enjoy what I see forming on my word pad. I enjoy going back and fixing a few things here and there.

But most of all, I really enjoy what the final work looks like. Even if it's flawed. Heck I'm writing a certian story right now that's getting very little reworking going into it. It's mostly just something for me to write without having to worry about fixing all the little mistakes. Pretty much something to write just for the fun of it.

So while with practice you can do something really well. I don't think you should if you aren't having much fun doing so. I thought I wanted to draw. But now, I realize I'd rather stick to writing. I have more fun there.