*There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly: sometimes it’s like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges.
*-- Ernest Hemingway
I’m all for the no rules thing, but do you guys have any words of wisdom/advice for your fellow sufferers?
I’ll get the ball rolling with the obvious ones, and you guys can add on as you see fit. Also, if you are in need of advice then this here is the place for it.
Write.
The mind is very good at painting pictures, but to subject them to the harsh code of sentences is hard work. I’m not sure it ever gets easier, but the more you do it the more your understanding of it increases. Have a set time or a set number of words to complete each day, and then stick to that schedule. It takes a few weeks to get used to something and a few months for it to become habit, so stick it out long enough for the routine to take root.
Read. Pay attention.
Read as much as possible. Read outside of your comfort zone. The world has birthed countless writers of such ability and talent that reading their work will inspire you (or, um, depress you) but more importantly, they will expand your mind and therefore your ability.
Pay attention. Books, movies, newspapers, people, pretty much everything around you is an opportunity for learning, so observe and pay attention to the small details.
Grammar.
Good grammar aids clarity. Don’t over use commas. Watch the double negatives. Mind your apostrophes. Avoid run on sentences. Etc. Etc. We can go into more depth on this if needed.
We're talking in generalities at the moment. I'd say that good writing should transcend genres in any case, but yes there is a lot of **** out there.
Do you have a particular genre you prefer?
I agree, it's very important to find your own voice and sometimes understanding other people's work can help teach how to express your own voice.
What kind of stuff do you write, Philosophy?
Practice.. writing practice and lots of it. writing practice of all kinds of genres. going over what u wrote and re-writing it. comparing both to see the differences. soon u'll know that there is a particular style/way that u write and u will recognise ur voice.
There are many many writers out there. What I believe people lack in is that they mostly do conventional writing. I believe people need to articulate their rage towards the issue or topic with their writing. This is why I choose the genre as per my character. Which is simply counter-culture and anti-establishment.
el topo, you got any blog? I'd like to see the genre of your work. :)
Torture? Ha, what have you been reading, hmmm?
Okay, so we use the word in any manner we see fit and in any format; nonfiction, fiction, stream of thoughts; whatever. I'm away for work at the moment and won't get home until next week, so can we say to be done by next weekend? Or would you like longer?
So, do you have any literary ambitions/inspirations of your own?
For example, do you aspire to write a novel in the future? And if so, what genre...subject matter?
Also, what kind of books do you enjoy?
I feel I'm all over the place. I'll read books for adults but I love reading books for kids as well. Just finished True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle and loved it.
Trailing behind the whim lies that monitor who observes my choice
Occupied in restrained audit function and he champions no voice
Ready ever to desire an end but he can't move my ego
The id is imprisoned in hindsight, forewarning is a no go
Unimpressive is his state as he watches me making my moves
Rather painfully he stands on nails, his feet occupy no shoes
Electrodes clamped to my nipples and tongue, and charred ash fills in my lung.
16 syllables per line, each couplet rhyming last line mid-verse rhymes with end, alternate sentences penultimate word is my, no, my , no, etc, and the first letter of each line read downwards spells "torture".