After A Lifetime Of Being A Writer, Of Sitting Down To The Blank Page And Making Up Words, I Can Now

After a lifetime of being a writer, of sitting down to the blank page and making up words, I can now say, with definitive clarity, that writing is exhausting.

I think, because it’s an art and a craft, and we have this idea that it’s somehow a calling and “fun” and not “real” work, that it isn’t demanding or exhausting or draining.

I’ve been writing for 30 years, and while sometimes I’m on a roll and it all just flows naturally, the usual process is a struggle. And I can struggle in a million different ways on the same day. Even a day that flows can be filled with struggle before and/or after I hit that flow. 

Writing is real work. It is exhausting. It is draining. It is also rewarding. But that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t take a toll on you.

I’ve written nearly 20k words in a week, and I FEEL it. It has taken a huge amount of energy and focus, and was prepared for it.

You are not a machine. The words don’t come out of nowhere. Brain work is real work. It takes energy and focus and sometimes you have to fight yourself the whole way to get the words out. We might not be lifting I-beams and building houses, but we’re working. 

Please remember to take care of your body and your energy and your self. Take breaks. Give yourself credit for how far you’ve come, even if you don’t think it’s far enough. Count the times you are struggling to write as part of the work, not your failure… because this IS part of the process. Staring out the window is part of it. Walking around and getting a drink. Glaring at your work because it’s not going in the direction you want it to. ALL part of writing.

Writing is hard, and it’s not just about putting cool ideas down on the page. 

The fun can be in your draft where you write without restrictions. It’s where you surprise yourself and get excited as you create something from nothing.

The fun can be in the rewrite where you find new words to tell the same story. It’s where you make scary into frightening, sad into heartbreaking, amusing into hilarious. It’s where dull words begin to sing.

The fun can be in the editing where you can see what can become of your baby. It’s where words of encouragement can enlighten you in unexpected ways. It’s where suggestions and criticism help you learn. It’s where a fire can be lit within you.

There is no fun in your attempt to be perfect. It’s where nothing is gained but an unfinished piece. Do not take the fun away from writing by biting off more than you can chew when the fun is why we started writing.

Hey! I made a handy-dandy little chart about world building! If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an ask!

A Timeline of Women’s Fashion from 1784-1970 (source: http://kottke.org/17/07/a-timeline-of-womens-fashion-from-1784-1970)

How the setting looks in my head:

How the description comes out on the page:

10 Writing Resources: Characters

From the basics to the very in-depth, these are some of the resources I go to when I’m developing new characters. Have a look at my favorites, and add your own!

1. 25 Things About Creating Characters

As a writer, creating characters is probably the most important thing you do. Get it wrong, and the story will be wrong no matter how well plotted.

2. Lessons From James Scott Bell: Characters That Jump Off The Page  

Readers are engaged by characters who do not always act in a predictable way. Think of how to have your character make decisions or respond in ways the reader won’t see coming.

3. Crafting Memorable Characters  

Successful main characters are the agents of their own destiny, they are someone we root for, and they grow or change during the course of the novel.

4. 6 Must-Know Tricks for Getting to Know Your Characters    

Most of us don’t start writing until we’ve come up with a character we just adore. But how can we make sure this character will also be adored by our readers?

5. Creating Your Hero’s Fatal Flaw

The most intriguing conflicts are the ones that come from within people’s own personalities.

6. Five Unrealistic Character Traits    

These characters have traits that are so unrealistic, the audience starts thinking about the author’s intention rather than the story at hand.

7. 100 Character Development Questions for Writers  

Answer these in character, but only in a situation where your character would be 100% honest with themselves and with the person asking the question.

8. Writing Crutches: Gestures  

What are gesture crutches, and why should we avoid them?

9. The Path to Deepening Your Protagonist

 Protagonists don’t write themselves. No character does. So why leave trait-choice up to the character?

10. Nine Kick-Ass Excercises to Find Your Character’s Voice  

Creating unique voices for each viewpoint character is essential in creating fiction readers want to read over and over.

What about you? What are your favorite blog posts about creating characters?

(cross posted over here)