http://electrolicious.com/2006/10/easy_writing Daily affirmations of a word mercenary Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:47:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 http://electrolicious.com/2006/10/easy_writing#comment-7203 amy.leblanc Mon, 30 Oct 2006 20:41:50 +0000 #comment-7203 i think when people bitch about how hard writing is, they're referring to those steps like outlining and fact-checking and such, not the brain dump part. i think the quote is saying that with people who don't ever admit the WHOLE process is hard, it's because they're not doing it, and chances are their writing is inferior. i can't imagine very many of the "great writers" just sat down and did brain dumps a la kerouac. i think when people bitch about how hard writing is, they’re referring to those steps like outlining and fact-checking and such, not the brain dump part. i think the quote is saying that with people who don’t ever admit the WHOLE process is hard, it’s because they’re not doing it, and chances are their writing is inferior. i can’t imagine very many of the “great writers” just sat down and did brain dumps a la kerouac.

]]> http://electrolicious.com/2006/10/easy_writing#comment-7205 Playapixie Mon, 30 Oct 2006 01:48:50 +0000 #comment-7205 I'm a huge procrastinator, so I find the starting part difficult too. But ever since the advent of word processing, this has gotten easier. Instead of agonizing over the first sentence and thinking through my outline linearly, I just start writing. Then I liberally cut, paste, and delete to rearrange things to suit the piece. I tend to write complete paragraphs, and then re-arrange them as appropriate for the developing outline. I rarely find the writing itself to be difficult, just the starting. I’m a huge procrastinator, so I find the starting part difficult too. But ever since the advent of word processing, this has gotten easier. Instead of agonizing over the first sentence and thinking through my outline linearly, I just start writing. Then I liberally cut, paste, and delete to rearrange things to suit the piece. I tend to write complete paragraphs, and then re-arrange them as appropriate for the developing outline. I rarely find the writing itself to be difficult, just the starting.

]]> http://electrolicious.com/2006/10/easy_writing#comment-7204 michelle Sun, 29 Oct 2006 01:03:52 +0000 #comment-7204 sometimes the writing comes easy for me, from the individual sentences right on up to the overall flow/outline/developmental edit. sometimes, though, the sentence by sentence and paragraph by paragraph writing comes easy, BUT the overall structure of the piece has me tearing my hair out. 10 drafts later i'm finally happy with the dang thing. i'm not sure what kind of writer that makes me. i've just experienced it both ways. sometimes it depends on the subject matter. the deeper i want to go, the harder it can be to get those nuggets that really sparkle. sometimes they don't shine through till the 3rd or 4th draft. sometimes the writing comes easy for me, from the individual sentences right on up to the overall flow/outline/developmental edit. sometimes, though, the sentence by sentence and paragraph by paragraph writing comes easy, BUT the overall structure of the piece has me tearing my hair out. 10 drafts later i’m finally happy with the dang thing. i’m not sure what kind of writer that makes me. i’ve just experienced it both ways. sometimes it depends on the subject matter. the deeper i want to go, the harder it can be to get those nuggets that really sparkle. sometimes they don’t shine through till the 3rd or 4th draft.

]]> http://electrolicious.com/2006/10/easy_writing#comment-7206 kate Fri, 27 Oct 2006 19:48:08 +0000 #comment-7206 Oh, and yes, outlining is key for me too, since I really tend to suck at plot. I pretty much never write without an outline - so while my writing itself is more about flow, my structure is pretty disciplined. I'll stop cluttering your comments section now. :) Oh, and yes, outlining is key for me too, since I really tend to suck at plot. I pretty much never write without an outline - so while my writing itself is more about flow, my structure is pretty disciplined. I’ll stop cluttering your comments section now.

]]> http://electrolicious.com/2006/10/easy_writing#comment-7207 kate Fri, 27 Oct 2006 19:46:32 +0000 #comment-7207 YES! I am absolutely the same way. For years I have been wondering why my fellow writers agonize over their writing and talk about it as if they hate doing it. My best stuff is the stuff that comes the easiest, too. If I labor over it, it comes out sounding affected. But, like you, I also write in an informal, conversational style most of the time - so, yes, maybe that's why. Still, it's so nice to know I'm not the only one whose easiest-flowing writing turns out to be her best writing. (and p.s. you are so not the worst writer in the room! you are great!) YES! I am absolutely the same way. For years I have been wondering why my fellow writers agonize over their writing and talk about it as if they hate doing it. My best stuff is the stuff that comes the easiest, too. If I labor over it, it comes out sounding affected. But, like you, I also write in an informal, conversational style most of the time - so, yes, maybe that’s why. Still, it’s so nice to know I’m not the only one whose easiest-flowing writing turns out to be her best writing. (and p.s. you are so not the worst writer in the room! you are great!)

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