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What writing lesson have you learned this year?
Hi everyone and happy new year!
Right now in Amsterdam it sounds like an old war film – NYE is the one night of the year when people are allowed to set off fireworks and they basically set off enough to make up for the other 364 days. “Loud” isn’t doing it justice…
I’m lying under a blanket with a poorly back and thinking about the last year. It’s always nice and helpful to think about future plans and goals, but I think it’s also important to reflect on what the last year has taught us.
For me, I think I’ve realised that I need feedback more than I thought I did. From trusted writer friends (one in particular) and professionals (in my case, my agent). I think as time has gone on I’ve rather lost my nerve and I need to keep checking in. I was more confident when I was unpublished, work that one out?! Perhaps that will change again over time, but right now I feel like I’m treading water when I’m writing for too long without feedback.
Another thing I’ve learned is that I cannot juggle multiple projects. I have an idea for a non-fiction book, and a screenplay that I intended to work on alongside my main novel work in progress. But I just can’t do it. It’s a valuable lesson, really, and as much as I’m jealous of all those polymaths acing multiple things all the time, I will never be one of them.
The other thing I’ve learned is that, if an idea is good enough, it will find its time. There’s a couple of different ideas that I have been tinkering with over the years but they’ve never been quite right and I’ve abandoned them. This week, I finally worked out the problem. They’re two halves of the same whole. Combining them has finally made me see how to pursue both ideas… and hopefully this new combo idea will be my book six.
So that’s me… what about you?
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8 Replies
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Okay, I’ll start. First let me say I am not a curmudgeon. I have had some excellent agency representation and have some dear friends in the publishing industry who really know what they are doing, so I feel I have been blessed.
But I really am beginning to feel a little annoyed at the way some people talk to writers. I think we all need to band together to lift one another up. Here is why:
Too many people talk down to writers these days, and treat them with disrespect and condescension. But we are the talent, and I am tired of it.
Here is what I have learned—Be Brave, Be Proud, Be Yourself, Don’t Listen to Idiots, Write YOUR WAY.
Stand Tall. Encourage the Good People and the Kind People and the Real Writers.
The publishing world would have nothing without us. Again, we are the talent.
Be Fearless. Write Your Heart Out.
Eventually you will win!!!
Go Jericho Writers go.
That’s mine. I am feeling good about 2020.
😂
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Love this David, need to print this out and pin it above my desk. Thank you.
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Thanks David for reminding us!!!
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Happy New Year!
I have learned how supportive and friendly the writing community is, how inspiring it is to see people championing each other and cheering on others successes. I’ve made some great writing friends online and met a few in real life too.
I’ve learned what I like and want to write about and not to shy away from it. I have learned not to censor myself and worry I might go too far or make people uncomfortable and it has paid off in the short stories and flash fiction I’ve had published this year.
English isn’t my first language so on a more practical note I have learned about right and left-branching sentences and how to apply them consciously to my writing, rather than just instinctively.
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Jane, you are welcome!
Here is a blog post on the dilemmas facing women in writing, which I think applies to all of us. I might write more on this later. It is fascinating.
https://blog.reedsy.com/what-women-writers-want-from-editors/
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Ah! That explains the Amsterdam NYE fireworks. We were there on a cruise ship some years ago and I was utterly astonished at how many private homes set them off. It was quite a sight to behold, though I imagine the Dutch dogs could do without it. Still, at least they only get it one night a year.
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Yes, it’s absolutely wild! The Dutch seem to love fireworks too and throw all safety concerns out the window while we cower in our apartment! Our Dachshund (Dutch by birth haha) doesn’t notice them at all but my poor Yorkie X Miniature Schnauzer howls and cries all night and no amount of calming spray or melatonin or weighted jackets helps so this year we booked them into a ‘dierenhotel’ – basically an animal hotel! – in the middle of nowhere so he wouldn’t suffer!
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I suppose I’ve learned I need to set aside more time for reviewing what I’ve written both critically and technically. I’m a kind of write and run type which is good for getting the essentials down but not for polishing the prose. I find editing and re-writing dull as it lacks the inspirational spark that the original text had when it was being created so that’s something I need to sort.
