Comments on: Write, or write not

By: Edie

Edie — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:52:30 +0000

Allison, all your AAAA posts were great, but that last one just hit the spot I was in. It made me feel so good. I’ve been reading a self-hypnotism book, and just reading it is helping me get on track with my writing. Like you my beginnings are my slow part. It takes a little bit to get into the characters’ skin.

By: Karin

Karin — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:08:01 +0000

Sweetie Pie, my advice is to sit down, close yours eyes, and let the characters run with it. Remember? You’re just along for the ride.

By: Terry Odell

Terry Odell — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:45:04 +0000

Thanks for sharing this, Allison. I take heart as I killed two chapters of my WIP and, after a month of dragging, finally sat down and listened to the characters again. It took me 4 chapters to get h/h in the same room (after I cut two), but I realized I was vamping, afraid of what would happen when they had to confront each other.

Part of me wants my agent to sell the manuscript she’d shopping as a series. Another part of me is scared to death she will, because then I’ll HAVE to write to a real deadline instead of having the luxury of being both published AND unpublished.

By: Kendra

Kendra — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:12:33 +0000

Watch out for the guy eating tuna fish, too.

Nice post. Although a tiny part of my brain wishes that you’d said “All doubt and insecurity about every aspect of writing vanishes as soon as you’re pubbed.”

By: Allison

Allison — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:45:39 +0000

Hey Holly! We’re soul mates . . . I love that my son loves Star Wars, because I get to share them with him. He likes Episode III the best, which I don’t get (he’s 7) but I still have a soft spot for the original. I saw it when I was 8 and I think it really changed the way I view stories and storytelling and opened up a whole new world to me.

Hi Lynn, I never seem to have problems with endings. It’s the beginning of the second act that kills me every time. Once I get past the midpoint, the story usually comes along smoothly. (Usually. Got to quantify it because I don’t want to jinx it!)

Thanks Amy I talk too much, I know.

Mary-Frances! Thank you so much for a wonderful review! I loved listening to you, and what a great idea to do a “vlog.” I’m going to post it to my webpage under reviews

Hi Kathy, before I had a computer I wrote long hand . . . I’ve taken notes long hand . . . but I type much faster But I know several major authors who write long hand first, so you are definitely in good company. (I want to say Julia Quinn is one, but I’m not 100% sure . . . ) I’m glad your eye is better, and that you’re writing!!!

Thanks Jane, I’m getting there! Reading the proofs of PLAYING DEAD actually helped because it showed me that in the end, the books turn out okay. Sometimes it’s rocky at the beginning, but they come together. Whew! I just need to get over this hurdle. I’m going to Denver tomorrow, and for some reason, I tend to write well on planes. So I have about 2 hours tomorrow with nothing to do but write . . .

. . . unless some jerk puts their seat down in front of me!

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:02:29 +0000

You’ll be back in the zone in no time.

By: Kathy Calarco

Kathy Calarco — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:23:19 +0000

Allison, I’m one of those insane people who write in long hand. It wasn’t my first choice, but due to some really icky eye issues last summer, the opth. doc said to stay away from the computer screen (really bad for my cornea at the time). So, I couldn’t just not write, thus went pen and paper. WOW! It was a totally different relationship to the story. In a roundabout way it breathed new life into my slumping writing. I compare it to photography vs. painting, because I can’t figure out any other way to explain it.

My cornea has since recovered (sort of), but I still long hand it and then type it, and ever since I’ve made the switch, I haven’t felt blocked or the urge to avoid the task. (Maybe it’s a different way of brain storming. Who knows?)

P.S. You are a terrific writer, not to mention, human, so don’t you forget it!

By: Mary-Frances

Mary-Frances — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:50:42 +0000

Hi Allison, This is simply a terrific post. It is so wonderfully honest. I think it speaks to anyone who wants to write. Thanks for sharing your continuing journey with us! Also, I wanted to mention that I've just started a video blog called Word of Mouth. Once a week I'm going to talk about books that I've read that I've enjoyed. My current pick is Fear No Evil. It's the first book of yours that I read. Of course, since then I've gone back and read all of them!

By: toni mcgee causey

toni mcgee causey — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:55:01 +0000

Beautiful, perfect, amazing advice that I needed to hear today. You rock.

By: Amy Addison

Amy Addison — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:42:03 +0000

Allison, you always give GREAT advice. And thanks for posting this for public consumption. I’m on a couple of the lists where you have posted your wonderful advice, but I think there are lots of writers out there who need to hear this who AREN’T on the lists.

And Mr. King had it right: Writers write.

‘Nuff said.