Comments on: When the Going Gets Tough http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/10/when-the-going-gets-tough/ about the craft and business of fiction Thu, 24 May 2012 13:41:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Australian Speculative Fiction Blog Canival – December ‘09 InkyBlots Edition | InkyBlots http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/10/when-the-going-gets-tough/#comment-129435 Australian Speculative Fiction Blog Canival – December ‘09 InkyBlots Edition | InkyBlots Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:56:16 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2104#comment-129435 [...] *Writer Unboxed has some excellent advice on Writing in More than One World and When the Going Gets Tough – All Consuming Inspiration or Little Ideas? [...] [...] *Writer Unboxed has some excellent advice on Writing in More than One World and When the Going Gets Tough – All Consuming Inspiration or Little Ideas? [...]

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]]> By: Barbara Samuel O'Neal http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/10/when-the-going-gets-tough/#comment-129304 Barbara Samuel O'Neal Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:03:36 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2104#comment-129304 For me, the books that come like a bolt from the blue are what I call "gift books." They show up every now and then, whole and complete and really fast and absorbing to write. But they only seem to show up every now and then, and the rest of them have to be written one bloody page at a time. Some are easier than others. Some take so much work it's insane, and some are revealed one inch at a time. How easy it was to write never seems to make the slightest difference on how readers respond. By the time a reader gets them, the rebellious teen has grown up, put on some decent clothes and got himself some manners, I suppose. No rhyme or reason to it. Glad the new book is coming easily. Mine, on the other hand (which arrived like a bolt of beautiful lightning! So brilliant! So beautiful! So amazing and interesting!) is misbehaving badly. I'm going to have a very clean house and too many cookies. .-= Barbara Samuel O'Neal´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.barbaraoneal.com/2009/12/win-free-arc-secret/" rel="nofollow">Win a free ARC of THE SECRET OF EVERYTHING</a> =-. For me, the books that come like a bolt from the blue are what I call “gift books.” They show up every now and then, whole and complete and really fast and absorbing to write.

But they only seem to show up every now and then, and the rest of them have to be written one bloody page at a time. Some are easier than others. Some take so much work it’s insane, and some are revealed one inch at a time. How easy it was to write never seems to make the slightest difference on how readers respond. By the time a reader gets them, the rebellious teen has grown up, put on some decent clothes and got himself some manners, I suppose.

No rhyme or reason to it. Glad the new book is coming easily.

Mine, on the other hand (which arrived like a bolt of beautiful lightning! So brilliant! So beautiful! So amazing and interesting!) is misbehaving badly. I’m going to have a very clean house and too many cookies.
.-= Barbara Samuel O’Neal´s last blog ..Win a free ARC of THE SECRET OF EVERYTHING =-.

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]]> By: Katrina http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/10/when-the-going-gets-tough/#comment-129293 Katrina Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:51:19 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2104#comment-129293 After finishing my second novel, I had this great idea for my next book. I told my husband about it and he loved it. But when I started to write it I started feeling blah about. Sure it was a great idea, but it was a boring novel. (Unfortunately I didn't figure this out until I hit 50 pages.) So I started my next book and I'm thrilled about it. My family likes the other idea better, but hey, they're not writing the book. I can't believe I've written over 100 pages in two weeks--I'm really jazzed about it. I agree, when you love the project you're doing,the writing comes faster and it's so much fun to do! After finishing my second novel, I had this great idea for my next book. I told my husband about it and he loved it. But when I started to write it I started feeling blah about. Sure it was a great idea, but it was a boring novel. (Unfortunately I didn’t figure this out until I hit 50 pages.) So I started my next book and I’m thrilled about it. My family likes the other idea better, but hey, they’re not writing the book. I can’t believe I’ve written over 100 pages in two weeks–I’m really jazzed about it. I agree, when you love the project you’re doing,the writing comes faster and it’s so much fun to do!

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]]> By: Kristan http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/10/when-the-going-gets-tough/#comment-129290 Kristan Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:15:59 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2104#comment-129290 Ditto Kwana and Jim (although I only got to 14k words before I put the manuscript aside). Maybe this "lightning bolt" idea is why I've always liked a good storm... .-= Kristan´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kristanhoffman/~3/K1k62ymwokA/" rel="nofollow">Gems</a> =-. Ditto Kwana and Jim (although I only got to 14k words before I put the manuscript aside).

Maybe this “lightning bolt” idea is why I’ve always liked a good storm…
.-= Kristan´s last blog ..Gems =-.

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]]> By: thea http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/10/when-the-going-gets-tough/#comment-129289 thea Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:44:38 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2104#comment-129289 i believe those stories that come at you with a bang are usually the ones that are the best! i believe those stories that come at you with a bang are usually the ones that are the best!

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]]> By: Karin Gilllespie http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/10/when-the-going-gets-tough/#comment-129285 Karin Gilllespie Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:48:58 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2104#comment-129285 Great post, Allison. It's amazing how every book is different. I just blogged about my hearbreaking book (which cost me three years) But at least I'm a sadder but wiser girl. http://southernauthors.blogspot.com/ Great post, Allison. It’s amazing how every book is different. I just blogged about my hearbreaking book (which cost me three years) But at least I’m a sadder but wiser girl.

http://southernauthors.blogspot.com/

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]]> By: Jamie http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/10/when-the-going-gets-tough/#comment-129282 Jamie Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:25:19 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2104#comment-129282 I agree with the "Big Bang Idea" theory as well...having the story force its way from inside somewhere is thrilling...but a question: What do you do when you've finished that thrilling, gotta-be-written-NOW! idea but the thought of revisiting for revisions is overwhelming? (this is where I currently sit and talk about a rut?) Any thoughts WU gang? I agree with the “Big Bang Idea” theory as well…having the story force its way from inside somewhere is thrilling…but a question: What do you do when you’ve finished that thrilling, gotta-be-written-NOW! idea but the thought of revisiting for revisions is overwhelming? (this is where I currently sit and talk about a rut?) Any thoughts WU gang?

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]]> By: Lydia Sharp http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/10/when-the-going-gets-tough/#comment-129280 Lydia Sharp Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:39:38 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2104#comment-129280 Forget the Billy Ocean song. I'm going to have that cute squirrel in my head all day. :) I'm right there with you on this. The idea for the novel I'm currently writing first hit me a year ago, but I wasn't in the right frame of mind to work on it yet. (Well, that, and the fact that I was already working on two other projects...only so much I can do at once) Then I sat down to work on something completely unrelated and this novel came out of me, suddenly refusing to be ignored any longer. It is, indeed, a thrilling experience. There have been times when I've had to force myself to get started on a project, or to see one through that seems to be going entirely too slow. But as you said, feeling that tug to rush to your computer everyday and pour your guts into your manuscript, although it may sound atrocious to someone who has never experienced it, is so much more fun. ~Lydia .-= Lydia Sharp´s last blog ..<a href="http://lydiasharp.blogspot.com/2009/12/few-words-about-writing-and-motherhood.html" rel="nofollow">A Few Words About Writing and Motherhood</a> =-. Forget the Billy Ocean song. I’m going to have that cute squirrel in my head all day. :)

I’m right there with you on this. The idea for the novel I’m currently writing first hit me a year ago, but I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to work on it yet. (Well, that, and the fact that I was already working on two other projects…only so much I can do at once) Then I sat down to work on something completely unrelated and this novel came out of me, suddenly refusing to be ignored any longer. It is, indeed, a thrilling experience.

There have been times when I’ve had to force myself to get started on a project, or to see one through that seems to be going entirely too slow. But as you said, feeling that tug to rush to your computer everyday and pour your guts into your manuscript, although it may sound atrocious to someone who has never experienced it, is so much more fun.

~Lydia
.-= Lydia Sharp´s last blog ..A Few Words About Writing and Motherhood =-.

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]]> By: Jim Wisneski http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/10/when-the-going-gets-tough/#comment-129279 Jim Wisneski Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:16:39 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2104#comment-129279 Hey Allison - I'm with you with the "a-ha!" moments. I wrote 35k words to a book and realized I hated everything about it. I hated the characters, I hated their whining, and I hated myself for writing it! Deleting it hurt because of the time it took to get those words down BUT it felt good to get rid of that burden and move on to a better idea. Jim Hey Allison -

I’m with you with the “a-ha!” moments. I wrote 35k words to a book and realized I hated everything about it. I hated the characters, I hated their whining, and I hated myself for writing it!

Deleting it hurt because of the time it took to get those words down BUT it felt good to get rid of that burden and move on to a better idea.

Jim

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]]> By: Kwana http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/10/when-the-going-gets-tough/#comment-129278 Kwana Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:44:50 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2104#comment-129278 Great post. Sometimes you think you have that all consuming idea and it's not it and it is painful to know if you should write through or not. I've done both. .-= Kwana´s last blog ..<a href="http://kwanawrites.blogspot.com/2009/12/holiday-giveaway.html" rel="nofollow">Holiday Giveaway!</a> =-. Great post. Sometimes you think you have that all consuming idea and it’s not it and it is painful to know if you should write through or not. I’ve done both.
.-= Kwana´s last blog ..Holiday Giveaway! =-.

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