I am not ranting
Jan. 18th, 2007 12:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ksmithIn response to various posts that have been circulating about writing speed and the definition of "good" and my own current pondering...
Your definition of 'good' and mine are likely two different things. A hundred different things. I read different books for different reasons, and my definition of good may change from book to book or day to day, depending on the itch I need scratched at that particular time. There are things I prefer to read that pretty much overlap with things I like to write. Some folks, readers and writers both, hate those things. I sometimes hate what they love. Do I believe that there is an overarching definition of "good"? In a word, no.
Five books, same pattern. I'm screwed. Likely doomed to a non-commercial writing life as well. I'm adjusting.
At some point, I lose patience. I lose patience with folks talking things to death. I lose patience with myself for talking things to death. Just write the damned thing. That goes for me, and anyone out there who happens to be reading. Just write the damned thing. What happens, happens. And sometimes it has to do with being fast, and sometimes it doesn't. And sometimes it has to do with being "good", and sometimes it doesn't. It just happens, because writing is part of life and life ain't fair.
Ultimately, it's all down to you. You go in knowing, or more likely, learning as you go, that wanting it isn't enough. Needing it isn't enough. Loving it isn't enough. It's an art and a business. Sacred and profane. It's just writing and no one cares if you do it or not because if they don't read your story, they'll read someone else's.
Authors stop writing well-beloved characters, and we survive.
Just write the damned thing.
Your definition of 'good' and mine are likely two different things. A hundred different things. I read different books for different reasons, and my definition of good may change from book to book or day to day, depending on the itch I need scratched at that particular time. There are things I prefer to read that pretty much overlap with things I like to write. Some folks, readers and writers both, hate those things. I sometimes hate what they love. Do I believe that there is an overarching definition of "good"? In a word, no.
Five books, same pattern. I'm screwed. Likely doomed to a non-commercial writing life as well. I'm adjusting.
At some point, I lose patience. I lose patience with folks talking things to death. I lose patience with myself for talking things to death. Just write the damned thing. That goes for me, and anyone out there who happens to be reading. Just write the damned thing. What happens, happens. And sometimes it has to do with being fast, and sometimes it doesn't. And sometimes it has to do with being "good", and sometimes it doesn't. It just happens, because writing is part of life and life ain't fair.
Ultimately, it's all down to you. You go in knowing, or more likely, learning as you go, that wanting it isn't enough. Needing it isn't enough. Loving it isn't enough. It's an art and a business. Sacred and profane. It's just writing and no one cares if you do it or not because if they don't read your story, they'll read someone else's.
Authors stop writing well-beloved characters, and we survive.
Just write the damned thing.
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no subject
Date: 2007-01-18 11:38 pm (UTC)As old boundaries are erased, new ones are drawn to take their place. And there's always someone around to tell you on which side you fall.
Pollyanna, what?
I hope publishing shakes out so that more venues of pro--by this, I mean edited/CE'd--level publication develop. And what's "good" will be decided after we're dead, by different standards than exist today.