Friday, August 17, 2007

Character flaws

John Baker asked me earlier this summer to contribute to a series he's posting on his blog about the phases involved in creating a text, and here are my thoughts. Hmmm--I fear I sound slightly awful, I remember writing this as a maniacal middle-of-the-night e-mail, it is rather horrifyingly resolute and opinionated! I sound excessively sure of myself...

4 comments:

  1. it is rather horrifyingly resolute and opinionated! I sound excessively sure of myself...

    Maybe you did but you affirmed many things that I have been thinking

    I was becoming crippled by self-doubt though I knew I have a good story, some talent, an audience, and much discipline

    What else could I want?

    Again thank you for your post. There are few posts on writing that I take something from. I took much from yours

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  2. I loved this, actually, even though much of it I knew about you. Getting myself ready to start writing again (school starts September 6!), I am thinking about process...

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  3. Yes, frankly I came close to posting a ranting comment over at JB's about the glibness of your last few sentences: nothing like brushing despair and self-doubt off the table like a few stray crumbs, eh?

    And I still haven't finished my contribution to the series, though I've promised John. Too much self-doubt.

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  4. Don't be so hard on yourself! That was one of the most practical interviews about revision I've ever read. Sometimes around draft 6 or 7, you start to wonder if you are a blabbering idiot who can't pull it together. I'll keep your reassurance in mind as I push past my middle drafts.

    Most of all, it's always wonderful to meet another writer who drafts longhand. Keep up the great work, and I'll keep reading...

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