Don’t run your ideas and concepts by others;
They might be stolen.
Don’t ask for help when you get stuck;
They might not understand the problem.
Don’t let others see your early drafts;
They might see weakness.
Don’t ask your friends and family for the time to write;
They might be angry with you.
Don’t do anything that could help you meet your goals;
They might be out of reach anyway.
——-
Ever have these thoughts going through your brain?
Don’t.
It’s what you don’t.
The inestimable Michael Ripplinger once pointed me to this video (that granted is aimed at a tech audience) at one of the many times when I was feeling overwhelmed in the past year. It was the right thing for me to hear both then and now.
The gist is this: when you have a purpose, stick to the things that will further that purpose. For example, if you want to be a writer, write. Don’t spend all day every day reading other’s fiction, trying to find the best tools, getting the perfect location setup, and reading *gasp* blogs.
Spend the majority of your available time actually NOT doing those things.
Spend it writing.
Here is the original video by Scott Hanselman: It’s Not What You Read
Now allow me to charm you with a “don’t” GIF of Andre the Giant.
Hi.
It’s been awhile.
No, I’m not quoting a song intentionally. It just came out that way.
I’ve been inordinately busy of late. I won’t make excuses. Just know that if I could have taken the time and energy to keep my Tuesday/Friday cadence going, I would have. Now, let’s get back on track with a short post.
Spending a few days in San Francisco on business is a boon I needed badly. Free time is at a premium due to hours of talks in hotel conference rooms, however, just feeling the hum of the city and seeing, hearing, AND smelling the masses of humanity here is exciting. Yes, I live in Salt Lake, but it isn’t the same.
I’m in love with the concept of a walkable city where one doesn’t need to own a car. There aren’t many like it in the U.S., but San Fran is eminently walkable. I took the BART from the airport to downtown and walked everywhere. It is not only energizing, but it’s also enlightening. I’ve learned I’m out of shape, for one. I remembered that people come in a lot more varieties than generally show up in Utah. Also, I discovered that a lot of people here smoke weed walking down the street on their way home from work in the financial district. Blew my mind. The world is an ever-changing place.
On my walking trips, I spotted a dozen neat little shops, but the one that caught my eye was a hat shop filled with fabulous hand-crafted hats. As is my standing tradition, I bought one.
It is lonely and somewhat depressing to be away from family. Though sitting in a utilitarian hotel room and writing at night, with only the hum of the city to keep you company, does provide plenty of time.
All of these variations on life are experiences to capture for writing inspiration.
As a writer, I cannot afford to be frivolous. I must never leave my most peculiar days to the dismal gray of long-term memory.
And so I write.
See you Friday.
The short answer is no. It does not count.
Writing fiction is not the literary equivalent of horseshoes or hand grenades. Still, sometimes we have to fight the battles we can win. Writing anything is better than not writing at all. This week so far, I’m taking what I can get.
See you Friday.
Mandatory GIF:
It has been brought to my attention that I have failed the writing community at large because I haven’t read the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling (yes, I just linked to Wikipedia for Harry Potter). I will attempt to remedy this by at least reading the first installment after I finish the book I’m currently reading, Red Litten World by K. M. Alexander.
Now let me add my own, “you’ve failed the writing community if you haven’t read”: Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl. I know- it’s an entirely different genre. It isn’t even FICTION!
This book will transform the way you think about the motivations of characters in desperate situations.
This book enlightens you on the motives of men driven to do horrible things.
This book may well change your life for the better. It has mine. Thank you, Meri!
Frankl was a Jew in a concentration camp. He saw some of the worst of the human condition imaginable. He also happened to be a trained psychiatrist who observed and later documented the ordeal.
If you are a writer, read this book. If you are not a writer, read this book.
I’d love to hear from you. What is your “you’ve failed the writing community if you haven’t read” book?
Small update: I’m still working on Rue From Ruin – Part 5. It’s difficult, but it’s worth it!
Stories. Games. Storygames. 