such wisdom in here, including the questioning of the wisdom! I want to entertain readers, and I'm always suspicious that my liking something I've written is risky! But just getting the words out one at a time is a great thing, too...
I think the way to get around the no-gaining idea is just to grow old. The thought becomes, What's important to me here? Writing. And does it matter? Yes, to me. So I go on.
I don't write for myself, unfortunately. I do love the process, and the places it takes my mind. But in the end, I write to be read, and to talk about what I've written with readers. And that's a problem, because being published is such a long and thorny process. I sent my latest manuscript to my own agent 2 long months ago. The other night, I dreamed that I gave birth to my daughter, but then forgot about her for four days! That's how attached I become to my manuscripts after I send them out into the world! Anyway, I'm not sure I can ever write words just for words' sake...I'm thinking of cultivating another "hobby" to calm my nerves!
Love this. It’s so easy to get attached by and lost in my own gaining ideas as well as those of others. That full immersion in the writing is always so meditative for me. Your blog articulated the reason for that. Thank you. ~ J.
As someone who is trying to find an agent for a WWII book, let me reassure you. A number of agents have told me that WWII is "done" and no one wants historical fiction about WWII any more. "Go write a book about some other period of history," I was told. So there's the opposite view for you.
such wisdom in here, including the questioning of the wisdom! I want to entertain readers, and I'm always suspicious that my liking something I've written is risky! But just getting the words out one at a time is a great thing, too...
I think the way to get around the no-gaining idea is just to grow old. The thought becomes, What's important to me here? Writing. And does it matter? Yes, to me. So I go on.
I don't write for myself, unfortunately. I do love the process, and the places it takes my mind. But in the end, I write to be read, and to talk about what I've written with readers. And that's a problem, because being published is such a long and thorny process. I sent my latest manuscript to my own agent 2 long months ago. The other night, I dreamed that I gave birth to my daughter, but then forgot about her for four days! That's how attached I become to my manuscripts after I send them out into the world! Anyway, I'm not sure I can ever write words just for words' sake...I'm thinking of cultivating another "hobby" to calm my nerves!
Yes--thank you for sharing these ideas. They really resonate.
Love this. It’s so easy to get attached by and lost in my own gaining ideas as well as those of others. That full immersion in the writing is always so meditative for me. Your blog articulated the reason for that. Thank you. ~ J.
Thanks!
Another great piece. Thanks for sharing it. Think I'll work on the next breath of the song I'm working on ... 🙏
As someone who is trying to find an agent for a WWII book, let me reassure you. A number of agents have told me that WWII is "done" and no one wants historical fiction about WWII any more. "Go write a book about some other period of history," I was told. So there's the opposite view for you.