Why I Am Reading This?

 

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I'm just going to dive right in and answer this without any preamble and hurrah. 

Well maybe just one.

If you are reading because your instructor has assigned you some tedious pages, or if you are trying to figure out the instructions for assembling an Ikea wall unit, or if you are reading your Visa contract (oh wait, nobody actually reads those things). Then this post probably doesn't apply to you.

However if you are reading for sheer enjoyment, and are now immersed in your book, and plan to follow through, it's probably for a few reasons. 

#1 You are enjoying it. It's what people call a good read.

Now honestly number one is the only important motive. If you are enjoying it, it's a good read, for you. 

There is a caveat here. We have to realize that a fan of war stories is not going to be enthralled by a Hallmark Romance. Likewise someone who loves historical drama is likely to close a book on a deep space adventure, very quickly.

But for those who love what they read, there are a few things that make it, and I repeat it for emphasis, A Good Read.

Characters. If you have interesting characters who you genuinely care about, even if you aren't that fond of them, then you will likely get involved in the story even if it is not that original. A good cast can make a story sparkle.

The language is easy to read. If you have to go back and try to figure out what was just said, your pages spent with that book are numbered at best. One of the reasons I couldn't make it through the Hobbit, or Lord of the Rings. Yes there I said it, you may stone me later, it's just too laborious. Too many names and places. Reading can be challenging but it shouldn't be hard.

Whether it be a tale about alternate universes and string theory, or whether it is about a boy and his dog, it needs to flow softly and smoothly and wrap you up in it's own particular form of magic. After all, reading is an escape. If what you are reading stresses you out, the point is defeated.

Interesting language, turns of phrase, description, colourful words will also keep you reading long after bedtime.

Just to add, they is no shame in reading ten pages of a book, staring at it and saying "I can't do this." If you haven't been hooked in the first chapter or so, it likely isn't going to happen no matter what lofty expectations you had.

Now for all you writer's out there, please take heed. If you can put all of this into what you write, there's a pretty good chance you'll have something worthwhile out there, or even something remarkable. 

So Why Do We Write

 

This is not meant to be a treatise on the history of the written word.  That's certainly a mighty big task to put into a blog post. Besides there are libraries full of books, written by much more learned people than me, which delve in the written symbols and words of humankind. So please do not take me to task on my facts as they are actually only mildly relevant to this post.

But a mini lesson could be helpful, here it goes. 

We have records of picture images going back to the Paleolithic era. For the sake of simplicity I am going to lump drawing and written symbols together here.

If you have a chance to pop over to France and visit the caves in Lascaux you will find remarkable drawings over 20 000 old. You quickly realize these were draw to chronicle hunts, weapons and other daily affairs of the time.

The earliest known writing system was Cuneiform, which by comparison is a modern marvel, dating back between 3 500 and 5 000 BC.  This mostly represented agricultural output, contracts, religion and later, finances, law and government. 

So let's go back to the original question. Why do we write?

Well apparently, it's to convey meaning, communicate.

Whether it be a message such as "milk, bread, wine"...or something a bit more significant: "Dear John, I have run off with the cable guy. Dinner's in the oven?", there is a message we are trying to get across.

As this communication game has progressed, we have moved beyond simple messages. We use it to tell stories, chronical history, explain procedures, write up unintelligible Credit Card and Phone Contracts. Writing is used to express our feelings, foster emotions, promote fear. It's used to tell the neophyte how to make mashed potatoes.

It's found on diplomas, legislation, religious texts, medical diagnosis, traffic signs.

From the most basic STOP sign, to law books which line the walls in the Supreme Court, language is all around us.

But for all the different forms and versions of writing, there is but one motive, and that's to convey meaning.

Everyone is a writer of some sort.

But some of us give ourselves the title, Writer.

If you are a Writer with a capital W, you have another purpose, and that's to make your writing something that benefits others. Something the readers will use for practical purposes, or instead will carry them away from the practical into the world of wonder and fantasy.

If you are one of those, your task is move writing into creation.

  

It Takes A Village: Sometimes

 

Maybe one of a writer's greatest fears is that what they have written is not as good as they thought? I've written many stories where I had a good characters, and an interesting story line, but then wondered whether I was kidding myself. Perhaps it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. 

 Is it possible I am not as brilliant as I thought I was? 

So, what to do?

It isn't rocket science to see we need a second opinion, and a third and maybe a dozen more. Sure, we can ask friends to give it a read and see what they say, but that's likely going to be a wee bit biased, and make a whole bunch of people uncomfortable.

How about finding like-minded people to look over your work and give their take on it? That's the ticket.

The best way to do that is to join some writers groups. 

Currently I have two groups that meet once a week, to read, listen and critique each other's work. 

There are also lots of authors groups on social media such as Facebook, Linkedin and TikTok. Here you can just sign up, and join in when you see fit.

These are platforms where we can share stories, ask for advice, give suggestions and basically share our passion with others. It's a place for people to encourage each other and perhaps help them get back on track when they feel they are losing their writer's mojo.

I haven't mentioned specific groups, because honestly you need to do a bit of homework and check them out for yourself. They may not always be your personal cup of tea, and what I find helpful you may find smug and pedantic. 

Members may be well meaning, but they don't get your style.

The main thing is to find a group that you can trust to be honest and give helpful suggestions. 

Even if you don't agree with many of the comments, you may find new insight which helps you turn what you've written from being just another story, into a masterpiece.

John Donne said no one is an island. We can all use a bit of help and support, and if you find a solid group of writers who are serious about bringing out the best in each other, you've found gold.

There is a caveat, some people use an authors group the platform as a kind of speaker's corner. You'll know who they are soon enough and realize they aren't worth the time. 

In the long run though, when you find a compatible and helpful group, with whom you can share your writing, you will feel the benefit. Plus, you will be helping others to pursue their love of writing as well. 

 

There is reading too.

 

There are times when writing is not really an option.

OKay, let me clarify. Writing is not something you try to do. It's something you do. You write when you are inspired, have a great idea, when you just feel like putting down all the thoughts in your head.

That being said there are times when you have no new ideas, very little inspiration, and a surprising lack of thoughts. Actually the last one can be a good thing. an empty mind is a great receptacle for new ideas.

There are some times when you frankly just don't feel like it.

That's totally okay. I love to cook but i also do takeaway a lot.

When there's nothing going on in the writing department, don't sweat it.

Do something else. This isn't writer's block. it's just a closed for renovations time.

when this happens i suggest, no this isn't homework, i suggest, you go to the library, or check out amazon, or even the books that have been gathering dust on your shelves for years.

Find something that cries out "read me" and give it a go.

You might find something great happens. You get hints, suggestions, ideas of how to be a better writer. 

using the cooking analogy, if you don't feel like cooking, surely you still would want to eat. by going out to a restaurant, you might discover some new ideas and tricks to make you a better chef.

It's the same with writing. We all can learn from each other.

so the solution to procrastination or a dry spell might just be to pick up a good book.

The Eureka Moment

 

This morning I woke up with a story idea. Well, that's normal. A writer always has some ideas rattling around the old coconut. Then one of two things happen. A part of you says, what the hell are you going to do with that? So you put it on the back burner, maybe for some day when inspiration comes to pay a visit.

But then there are the rare, wonderful times when something else happens. Something magical. You start picking up story lines, ideas, descriptions, events. Thought and images that say, "Hmm maybe you have something here."

As I brushed my teeth, a verbal hailstorm pounded at my brain. A story was writing itself in my head, imploring me to take dictation. Bam, what about this?  Crash, how about that? Smash, here's an interesting twist. Thump, here's an interesting character. No false alarm, this is the real thing. 

I stopped my morning ablutions and went to the table. This was more important than anything else. Even as I wrote everything down, more bits and pieces were backlogged in my head, faster than I could get them down. After dozens of aimless leads, the gates were opening and delivering me a scaffold. Is that a mixed metaphor? Who cares. For a writer this is the bona fide "AHA" moment. 

From here is a long road of putting the puzzle pieces together. Exploring each one, seeing where fit. There will be the rough draft. The first do-over. The first edit. And the mandatory third and fourth drafts, possibly more. The additions and deletions. And then the moment of truth, taking it to my writer's groups and listening to their suggestions. Taking the ones that fit and letting the rest go. Then the final rewrite and final edit.

From the first tooth brushing flash, up until the moment I finally deem it ready for prime time, it will be perhaps a week, or a month. It's long grind, but in the end, it will have been a blast. 

So here I am now with a myriad of sticky notes surrounding me. An empty word doc sits ready to be given a "work in progress" title. I can hardly wait to get started. 

More bulletins as events warrant.

Honing your craft

 

I'm think I am getting to be a decent writer. At least people tell me that.

Unless you are a total natural, there is really one thing that's going to help your writing. That's writing. Okay two things, reading to others you respect, getting their feedback and listening to their suggestions. Maybe that's five things. You can decide which ones you need to follow.

I wrote some short stories when I was younger, and looking back on them makes me cringe. I think I was trying too hard.

Then came an unfortunate illness which put me in hospital for a few weeks in England. When boredom began to overtake me, I started an old school, pen and paper, journal.

When I finally got back home, I picked up those notes and started to write them into a diary.

I have to admit I thought they weren't half bad.

A short while later I was talking to customer at the bar we ran, and told them about my writer's aspirations.

She invited me to come to the Parliament Street Writer's, a group which met every Monday to read and critique.

I soon became a regular and began to look forward to reading my works, and also receiving hints. Some I totally accepted, while others didn't always quite fit.

But I was now in writing mode. I began to take the little ideas I had all day and put them into story form.

The more I did, the more the ideas flowed. The more I read them to the group, I realized I did have a knack for story telling. 

The constructive criticism they gave me was invaluable. 

I was starting to love writing, and giving my own takes on the other's works.

This isn't a biography so I will fast forward many years. I am a member of a few writer's groups. In some of them we meet, mostly via zoom and offer our readings and critiques.

Others are more like a social media thing, where we post questions and problems about our writing and offer suggestions to one another.

I have since published two books, which would have been unthinkable back in those early days.

Writing is now a huge part of my life, and although I hope to get better, I am more confident that many people enjoy my stories now.

I am sure even a five-star chef had trouble making a grilled cheese at some point. 

It's all about doing what you love, and accepting constructive criticism and advice. 

It's called honing your craft. Most of us have been doing it all our lives in our chosen profession. In time, you are able to stand back and say, "Yup, I am pretty good at what I do."

Just for Fun

Had a bit of trouble choosing a topic, so i reckoned i'd get some other folks to do it for me. Enjoy.                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                                                       

                    

     

Don't Let Genre Trap You

 

Having written about writer's block last post, I found myself in the frustrating position of wanting to start a new project, but every time I tried, tried being the operative word, there was nothing, nada. I was drawing a blank. Not that I didn't have ideas, I had some ideas about aliens, alternate realities, a Zoom meeting where people kept disappearing. I got a good feeling about a ghost living in an old mansion dealing with the visitors who came looking for a good haunting. 

There are times when these flashes would send me to my keyboard until I was well on my way to writing a ripping good yarn. But instead the sticky note where I had written my notion, sat there mocking me, daring me to come up with a tale. 

Then the little voice, which I try to ignore most of the time, gently nudged me and asked, "What are you doing? Are those the only kinds of stories you can write? Are you type casting yourself already?

Of course, I've written other stuff before. Why am I limiting my self. It sure isn't working out too well.

After our little chat, I simply went on with my day, and lo and behold not one hour later, I had an idea, a great idea. And there were no spaceships, supernovas, hostile aliens or evil entities. It was something else entirely. No I am not going to say what it was because it's only in the infant stages. But it was off on another track entirely.

I sat down and dashed off the first 500 words in no time. And I had enough notes on my sticky papers to see this baby get fully grown.

So my point is? No matter what you enjoy most, or what you are best at, or most knowledgeable with, don't get stuck in a genre rut. A good Italian chef can make a delicious French dinner. A good sci-fi writer can write a western. Your favourite genre is not your only path to writing. So if you are stuck for an idea in the vein you are used to, step back, open up to all the ideas around you and if it isn't a part your repertoire, then make it so. You might be happily surprised. 

 

The Well Never Really Runs Dry.

 

These two words are the scourge of any committed writer. 

Writer's block.

It might start like this.

You have a vague idea for a story.

So you grab your cup of coffee, sit down and open a word document.

Half an hour later, the cup is empty and you are staring at a blank screen.

A flash of fear crosses your mind.

I have no ideas, I've got writers block.

What if I can't write anymore?

Or maybe it comes down this way.

You finish a story, and you're quite pleased and you can't wait until the next plot line comes to you so you can start your next project.

A few days later you are still waiting. You are looking around for inspiration. But there is nothing. Show me the inspiration. Nada.

There's nothing there. A few days more of this and the panic creeps in. 

What if that's it? What if I never come up with another idea?

Is this the end of my writing career?

 

Here's the good news. Writer's block is not terminal. I don't know a single writer who experienced this dreaded moment, and went on to never write another word.

This too shall pass.

The fact is, you will get over it. You will write again, and unless you have a deadline from a publisher, this is really a non issue.

Ideas are out there all along the road: you just may have taken an unplanned detour.

Maybe you are just tired.

Perhaps you have other things preying on you.

Possibly you just need a break from it all.

So what to do? As the Tao says. Do nothing.

Go for a walk. Take a road trip. Meet up with friends. Read a good book. Seriously!

Above all don't fight it. 

I'll repeat it,

"This too shall pass."

To Write or Not to Write

 

First of all I will begin with disclaimer.

You DO NOT need to be a writer. It's not in the contract you signed at birth. You mean you don't remember doing that?

Well along with that were the other clauses that said you had no obligation to be an actor, or a singer, artist or a dancer or any other creative endeavour has to offer.

But that doesn't mean you can't sing, dance, chant, draw, sketch, yodel, whatever makes you feel good.

So it is with writing. You don't have to have any particular skill, or have taken writing as a major at Carnegie Mellon University.

All that's required is that you have something to say.

One quick look at social media is proof enough that a lot of people, for better or worse, want to be heard.

That means pretty much everyone can write.

Is it good, is it rubbish? Well that's pretty subjective, but you'll never know until you try.

My first real writing stemmed from a diary I kept while in hospital in England, suffering from a viral pneumonia.

When I got home I decided to put it all together and see what i had. Turned out I had something, humour, pathos, drama, it was all there. To my surprise, it was met with some pretty good reviews.

You might dabble with some poetry. Maybe express your feelings. Possibly talk about a dream you had. 

Whatever it is, it is writing. May not be Pulitzer prize material, but it is still valid.

Writing is in our blood. It's as natural as singing in the shower, or doodling on a napkin.

We all have a creative side, and many of us want to express it in some form or other.

SO this post is merely a bit of a pep talk for all of you who have ideas but never put them down. Forget about how you perceive your level of talent, your fear of criticism, or whether anything will come of it. Just write it down.

If that's where is stays, so be it. But if somewhere down the line it becomes more, then all the better.

It might be a few lines you read twenty years from now which rekindles an old memory, maybe it will be a short story you tell you grandkids one day. and yes perhaps it will become something that you work on and nurture which leads to something much more.

In the meantime, if something in you has the urge to write something. Then succumb to it and just write. Good, bad, ugly, poignant, touching, even magnificent, it doesn't matter. 

Hey, you didn't think you were a writer, but you are writing, and guess what that makes you?

Getting a Makeover

 

This is more of an announcement than a blog post. Although it applies to all your writing.

You will notice the theme and background of "Stephen's Scribblings and Scrawls" has changed.

There a couple of reasons for this. When I first selected the theme it seemed to fit in with my writing style, a bit dark and moody. However, this theme also meant that the posts were sometimes difficult to read, what with the murky background.

After hearing from a few readers (thank you for your comments) I decided to give the blog a makeover, give it a brighter more accessible look.

This is the result, at least for now. 

The other reason for change is simple, things get old and sometimes a new look, like a new shirt brightens things up.

Where does this relate to writing? I'll give you a moment to ponder this. Okay,  if you said that you don't need to be stuck in any genre and can explore new avenues any time it feels right, then you earn a point.

If you suggested that perhaps an old story you abandoned long ago could be reincarnated in a new version, you get another point.

Even a published work can be revisited and give the makeover, as many renowned author's have done with their old works.

So, I guess this makeover can serve as one big metaphor for writing.

QED

( quod erat demonstrandum )

Not being a smart ass, just always wanted to put that into my writing. This seemed as appropriate a place as any.