BS: The writer's life

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: theleveller
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 03:28 AM

I've earned my living from writing, in one way or another, for over 40 years, writing for just about every medium there is, with the exception of journalism. I find that the best thing a writer can do is read - taking in as many subjects and styles as possibl;e, but definitely including the classics such as Dickens, Hardy, Elliot etc. Without doubt, the hardest thing to write is humour.

Any aspiring poet should read A E Housman's The Name and Nature of Poetry.

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: Amos
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 02:43 PM

I sympathize with Rig in this respect; the turgid mass of second-rate books that assault the average agent's desk must be an awful load to shift in the hopes of finding one clear voice in the wrack of a thousand muddy ones. I have seen samples on writer's blogs of very bright and creative ideas from people as young as sixteen, promising and vivid, but spotty in their inexperience and their inability to leave things out.

Being weal in this respect myself, I hesitantly contemplate the art of anti-writing--the telling composition of the things you do not include. I am approaching the conclusion that the art of writing works on balancing these two universes, being constantly torn between the world of things made explicit and the much larger, much more forceful collection of the carefully omitted.

I think this is one reason why writers often say that writing is hard. The final pages are so few compared to the reams left out.


A

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: gnu
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 03:58 PM

Indeed.

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: Ebbie
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 04:28 PM

Great thread.

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: Eiseley
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 11:40 PM

I've found Thoreau's journals to be an especially good resource on how to write unselfconsciously and thoughtfully. As for writer's block, using a pen and paper helps, as does knowing that, for me, good writing starts with clear thinking. If writer's block strikes, I just start thinking harder and the words come.

Eiseley

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: Amos
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 02:45 PM

John Grisham has an essay in the Times about hard work and writing, worth the read.


A

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 12:54 PM

In Regards to the 'writers block' question. I've written quite a bit, from screenplays, to novels, poetry, songs and music, (even some 'Friends of the Court documents'), If you can daydream, you can write. A good tool is 'Define the abstract, and abstract the defined, and openly admit about what others are embarrassed to expose!!!!

Also, I personally prefer to hand write, above typing..though sometimes it's more of a hassle. You tend to pick your words more efficiently.

Good Luck!

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: Amos
Date: 04 Dec 10 - 05:22 PM

Some telling remarks from J.K. Rowling, one of the greatest success stories of writers ever recorded.

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 05 Dec 10 - 06:54 AM

Since this is a fairly old thread, it should be noted that the frequently cited Chicago Manual of Style is updated every few years, and as of 2010 the 15th edition is the current one. There appear to be some significant changes between the 14th and 15th, most of which might be unimportant for magazines or fiction books, but could be critical for "more technical" stuff. (A publisher may specify a particular edition you must use for some kinds of books, but see the comments on proofing below.)

Although a writer/author should know style, mandatory items every writer should have on the bookshelf are an excellent proofreader and a very good editor. Some publishers may provide these in house after they've accepted your book. If one isn't provided, you should arrange to have a competent proofer go over it for yourself. NOBODY CAN PROOF THEIR OWN WRITING ACCURATELY. In addition, it generally is the job of the proofreader to apply appropriate formats (styles) and make sure they're consistent throughout the book.

Exccept in very rare cases, an author should not attempt to "format" a book, regardless of how great a wp operator one believes self to be. It's the proofreader and/or layout editor who will have to change everything you think you were doing to be helpful.

The proofreader should fix your style lapses, punctuation, and most grammatical blunders. You should try to write cleanly, but there generally are factors affecting styles, formats, and layout that the publisher doesn't have time to explain to you.

The editor should have little to do after the proofreader has finished, but what the editor does can be critical to the success of the book.

The author should usually have final say on edits that violate some innate sense of the creation, but in most cases it will be best to trust the professionals, or at least give strong weight to their suggestions.

If you receive queries from proofing or editing, you MUST ANSWER THEM as CLEARLY AND PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE. Press time is generally, for books, scheduled months in advance and is very difficult to change. If you don't answer queries, the book is no longer yours. Somebody will make the decisions for you.

If the press date is missed, and especially if it's because you failed to answer queries, unless you're a "very famous author" it is more likely that the book will not be printed than that it will be rescheduled, for many publishers.

Magazines and newpapers have their own deadlines, and may be more, or less, flexible. Our experience is with (mostly fairly technical) books.

John

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 08:41 PM

One of my favourite author's is Charlotte Vale Allen. When I wrote and asked her if anymore were forthcoming, she said her publisher had refused the last couple. She sounded rather down about it. I have loved every one of her books, mainly novels about women's issues and always including a encouragement in the back of the book and the resources to access. Not a good time for some authors right now?

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: Amos
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 08:55 PM

John:

Thanks for the usual lucid exposition!


A

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 12:39 PM

A friend of a friend recently launched this: http://www.facebook.com/PuddletownGroup?v=info&sk=info#info_edit_sections

Good people.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 02:04 PM

Here's a blicky

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: Stringsinger
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 05:33 PM

There exists a contemporary controversy over whether to follow the dictums of Strunk in the Elements of Style and keep sentences short or to allow for creative use of run-on sentences or the use of "periodic" sentences. The use of the comma to enlarge, develop, extrapolate on ideas has gone in and out of vogue and apparently there are elongated sentences in Hemmingway's works and some short in Faulkner.

I kinda' like the comma, the descriptive elaboration, the subordinated clause ideas,
the placement of the basic germ sentence in various locations, and the free-wheeling
approach rather than a formalized Strunk style.

William Gass is an interesting writer in that elongated style which has its own rhythm
and doesn't lack for descriptive, colorful information.

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: Amos
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 06:45 PM

The elongated style, as you elegantly label it, certainly has its place; but it is a burden on handicapped readers who can only parse one thought at a time and feel defeated when confronted by a cluster of them, all modifying each other, all demanding comprehension, all linked and insisting on being heard, and arriving so closely on each other as to suffocate the mind already short on mental oxygen.

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: Amos
Date: 22 May 13 - 12:18 AM

Here is an inspiring interview done by a brilliant Irish author whose book is self-published. I thought you might find it of interest. She is an old friend and a sometimes habitué of these hallowed Mudcat halls.


http://www.fluid-radio.co.uk/2013/05/love-lucille-redmond-intervivew/

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 22 May 13 - 05:21 AM

Wow, Amos! What a brilliant article. That whole blog is great - I'd never even heard of "Fluid Radio" but am now following it in my RSS news feed. The piece In Memory of Francesca Woodman is excellent too, and of relevance to writers, though she worked in images. Thanks & double thanks -

Anyone who wants to subscribe to this blog can do so either via email, or else click on the teensy, barely visible RSS link at the very bottom of the page (I had to do a deliberate word-search to find it!) which will take you to:

http://www.fluid-radio.co.uk/feed/

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: Suzy Sock Puppet
Date: 22 May 13 - 08:54 PM

That's a great interview!

There is a book that would be writers should not miss. It's called, "If You Want to Write: A Book About Art, Independence and Spirit." by Brenda Ueland.

Get that book! You won't regret it :-)

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 May 13 - 03:19 PM

I need to stop reading long enough to write!

Finally wrote a short, and acceptable, piece in response to recent issue of The Canadian Friend. A short letter to a group was in their newsletter and Paragon Kiln requested use of a comment I made on clayart for its newsletter. All in one week. After 3 years of nada. Maybe...

I once consoled myself that Tolstoy did not start writing seriously until late 30s. If I am going to write anything serious, it had better be very soon!

Subject: RE: BS: The writer's life
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 24 May 13 - 01:19 PM

Pay attention to what John in Kansas says!!! (Cooperate with your editor and proofreaders -- they'll keep you from embarrassing yourself in public and ease the book through the production process.)

I'm surprised no one has mention Ray Bradbury's "Zen In the Art of Writing: Essays On Creativity"...wonderfully inspiring.

I also highly recommend Moonlight Blogger and The Subversive Copyeditor, both blogs and books.

Linn, "retired" (yeah, right) prepress production tech, proofreader and copyeditor