writercises | TECH: 101 Tips (8) (Reply)

Original posting 10 May 2009

Writers' Digest, October 2004, pages 26 to 33, has a collection of short "nuggets of wisdom" related to getting published. Maria Schneider is the author of the compilation. Take a deep breath, and here we go:

"Stay in touch with the first impulses that made you start writing -- the pleasure of it and the interest of the story, and not so much the professional side of things. Remain close to that -- when you began writing and were intoxicated with it. If you do, the rest will come, as difficult as that may be." Jeffrey Eugenides

What makes you excited about writing? What makes you want to sit down and bash out a bunch of words? There's the craft and professional side of things, but there's also the fire, the thrill, the push. Flame wars... yes, they're bad. But at the same time, there's something there that makes you keep on pushing at it. Watch for those points of irritation, those excitement spots that make you want to rush into words -- and do something about them!

Write!

Come on, baby, light my fire...