Not just another column about writing

[ksmith]

Barry Longyear's "Editor on the Shoulder."

It was the difference between focusing on outcomes and focusing on the activity at hand; between doing something because of what it might get me and doing something for its own sake; between writing to please others and writing to please myself. It was a glorious experience. When I am smart, this is now how I do all my writing. When I am not so smart, I begin edging into thoughts of fame, fortune, and gathering the approval of others at the expense of approving of myself.

Comments

[affinity8.livejournal.com]

That's a great quote! And a great column. Thanks for the link.

"Infinity Hold" is one of my favorite books. I lost my copy awhile ago and have to go get another one.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I ran into Longyear and his wife a few times in Windycon green rooms. Nice people. You wish he never had to go through what he went through, but you don't get to choose.

[galeni.livejournal.com]

I still have my original copy of that essay from the 80s, and refer to it periodically. Still have most of his books, too.

[galeni.livejournal.com]

He dropped off the face of publishing for a while -- do you know what happened and is he happy now? Just judging by the writing he certainly deserved happiness.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I don't know--I know I didn't see him at Windycon for a few years.

[juliabk.livejournal.com]

Oh, man. I'd had no idea. I remember discovering him in the pages of Asimov's in the late 70s or early 80s and being entranced. I'm so sorry he had to go through that. I was the wife in a similar situation, though there wasn't much in the way of substance abuse. I immersed myself in the lives and hearts of depressed people for several years until my ex walked. He was suicidal for the last two years and it damn near killed me, too. I wouldn't wish either side of that equation on my worst enemy.

[kateelliott.livejournal.com]

strong stuff. this line resonated:

"Among the many things I had to confront was my editor-on-the-shoulder, which is nothing more nor less than a manifestation of what I think of myself."

Also this one...

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

"If any of the above applies to you, you have an editor-on-the-shoulder of your very own. Trying to ignore this creature, or trying to beat it into submission with success only allows it to grow unchecked. Success at writing will not remove your creature. Your creature will take whatever success you have and turn it into nothing. Booze and other drugs will not kill your creature. Your creature will use them to control the remainder of your tomorrows.

The solution is to accept yourself, be yourself, and be kind to yourself---a life-long and quite demanding study."