Why do Writers Write?

Why do writers write? Because it isn't there.

- Thomas Berger

 

 

I love this quote!

 

Isn't it a wonderful image? I get such a great visual of a writer pounding away on a keyboard with clouds and clouds of images filling the air. The clouds for me are filled with hazy characters in all kinds of situations. Some peaceful, some suspenseful, some happy and some terrifying.

 

And we take those hazy images in the clouds and pour them onto paper. That sounds easy. It most certainly isn't!

 

It's the possiblities in the quote that make me smile. The fact that we can and do make so much from nothing at all. Like all of the arts, writing is incredibly creative -- and incredibly exhausting. I think this quote showcases our compulsions with a little bit of humour as well.

 

What's one of your favourite quotes about writing?

Think or Wonder?

There are two kinds of writers: those who make you think and those who make you wonder.
- Brian Aldiss

Do you agree? I'm still deciding. Some authors definitely make me think. Others make me wonder. But isn't it possible to do both at the same time? I think it is, but, just for fun, let's assume it's not.

Which would you prefer?

I would choose wonder. In a heartbeat.

Don't get me wrong, I want to make people think. As a teacher, I try really hard (and even succeed sometimes!) to get kids to think. I'm not a teacher who uses worksheets or text books. I pose puzzles and questions and problems and ask the kids to solve them. Using any strategies they prefer. Showcasing their own learning styles and intelligences. Working in groups, brainstorming, taking risks in order to stretch their brains. Thinking is good!

But...

I totally agree with the Albert Einstein quote I mentioned in the last post - Imagination is more important than knowledge.

For me, it's wonder that brings success, wonder that leads to discussions, questions and possibilities. Wonder not only breeds fantasy and scifi, but all the other genres as well.

Most of you know I've worked with many kids who live & somehow do more than survive in very difficult situations. Wonder is a survival tool for them. It lets them thrive against the odds.

On the other hand, we need words and books to make us think... *sigh*

So, which kind of writer are you? Will your story make me think or wonder?
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I've been negligent with my blog awards again! Jackee over at Winded Words awarded me the Sunshine Award! Thanks Jackee - a little bit of sunshine is just what I need. :)

Yvonne Osborne at The Organic Writer and Julie Dao at Silver Lining both awarded me the Prolific Blogger Award. Thanks ladies!

All three of these bloggers have uplifting, enjoyable blogs - you won't regret visiting any of them! Enjoy :) I'll get to the rest next post. This one is already too long!

Through Me

When KD Lang sang her amazing version of Hallelujah at the Olympic Opening Ceremony, one of the comments I heard was, "I felt like she was not only singing to me, she was singing through me. She filled me up to overflowing." Wow. What a compliment!

As a writer, I'd like to do that one day. Write so someone feels like I've written to them, through them. Filled them up to overflowing.

Again, wow.

I think some books have done that for me. In all different genres, at all different points in my life. The Hobbit was life-changing for me. It was the first fantasy I'd read. It opened up... well, everything. About the same time I discovered Star Trek reruns on TV. Between the two, entire worlds (literally!) opened up. My imagination opened with them.

As a teen, I remember reading Fahrenheit 451 in high school. Another wow for me. Book burning, wall sized interactive TV sets, loss of imagination and intelligence.

Then I read Flowers for Algernon - which I always call Charly. My heart broke. The author's control over the language amazed me. Charly's growth and deterioration throughout the book shattered me. How could they? How could he bear it?

Shakespeare. Even though I found Hamlet a wimpy dolt, the power of his 'To be or not to be' soliloquy riveted me. The deep thoughts. The beautiful cadence of the words to express such sadness, such worry. Then the power of one over the mob in Julius Caesar. The agony of Othello. The trickery of Iago.

Anne McCaffrey & her world of Pern and her ship who sings. Nora Roberts/JD Robb and the incredibly human characters she creates - full of such passion and depth. Suzanne Brockmann and her wonderfully diverse band of troubleshooters - where love, loyalty & justice are the most powerful weapons against hate.

Finally the power of few words fills me. At least when those words carry weight.

• Be the change you want to see in the world. - Gandhi

• Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that. - Martin Luther King Jr.

• Imagination is more powerful than knowledge. - Albert Einstein

• It's kind of fun to do the impossible. - Walt Disney

So, what books fill you up? What authors write not only to you, but through you?

Torches!

“It is the inspiration of the Olympic Games that drives people not only to compete but to improve, and to bring lasting spiritual and moral benefits to the athlete and inspiration to those lucky enough to witness the athletic dedication.”
-- Herb Elliott

“We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own.”
-- Ben Sweetland

The Olympic Torch relay came through my city last weekend. It was a chilly -25 degrees Celsius, but nothing can stop the torch. Everyone just threw on a pair of long johns and out we went.

Great experience. We were lucky with our spot along the route. They switched torch bearers right in front of us, so we got to see the flame up close and personal! Very, very cool!

Total strangers laughed, hugged and cheered together, proving the Olympic Spirit is also alive and well. There's nothing quite like the Olympics to give the spirit a boost.

I love the way people cheer for people -- regardless of race, creed, gender or any other qualifying factor. The Olympics is often more about effort and perservence than winning. So many stories can bring a tear to your eye.

I love the ideals of the Olympics: people doing their best together. Slightly paraphrased, but you know what I mean. It certainly isn't always perfect in reality, but the ideals are incredible. In some sappy way this reminds me of the online writing community.

Over and over and over again the writers I meet online amaze me. Whether it's help with a technical issue, advice on how to tackle a plot problem, a unique perspective on how people write, an honest critique, or a much needed boost to the spirit, the online writing community is there. People helping and supporting people - regardless of any qualifying factors :)

Through blogs, Twitter and writing sites, I've come to know and appreciate so many wonderful people. Inspiration and support at every turn. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your help, advice and support.

Sappy speech over :)

Do you find inspiration in the spirit of the Olympics? Or the magnificient folks you've met online? (Please tell me it's not just me!!)

Capote - "Finishing a book..."

Finishing a book is just like you took a child out in the yard and shot it.
-- Truman Capote

Yikes!!

I'm currently finishing off the rough draft of my NaNo novel. I don't think I'll feel at all like Capote when it's done. Of course, I still have several rounds of revisions and edits to do. So it won't really be done for a while yet.

His quote is probably referring to finishing the final stage of the novel - and giving it over to editors and publishers. I haven't got to that stage yet. Or maybe he means when even that process is done, and you have absolutely no control over it because it's printed. Will I feel like I've killed my baby?

My previous ms is still awaiting another revision round. I'm hoping to let it go off into the real world someday in the not too distant future. Will I feel like Capote?

What about you? If you've been published, did you feel like you'd shot your child? If you're yet-to-be-published, how do you imagine yourself feeling?

Sweating the Small Stuff!

Don’t be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones tend to take care of themselves
– Dale Carnegie

I love this quote by Carnegie. It's another one of the quotes I often use in my classroom. I think I'm a quote-aholic :)

This quote definitely applies to my writing. I have learned so much in the last year and a half - and it's all been about the small stuff.

I've learned to limit my writing to what the reader needs to know - not to include everything I see in my head. I've learned to eliminate so many unnecessary words - that, just, seems, felt, suddenly, ...

I even think I've conquered my dialogue tag addiction!

So yes, working on the small stuff has made me a better writer!

How about you? What "small stuff" have you conquered that's made you a better writer?