Hello, writers. This afternoon I had the bright idea of glovelessly pulling up last year’s asparagus stalks, so I speak to you tonight with bandaged fingers. Which makes me want to be kind of brief.
In the past, we’ve talked about rules for writing— those we like, those we hate, those we think are simply untrue.
Tonight, I’d like you please to give us your own rule. Not something you’ve read or been told, but something you’ve figured out yourself through writing and/or spending time with writers.
Here’s mine:
Don’t think of your writing in terms of an extrinsic goal (like getting published, or getting on a bestseller list, or winning an award).
There’ll always be another goal; the horizon will keep moving, the journey will be fraught with tension and you’ll never feel you’ve arrived.
Instead, think of yourself as a person learning to write better and enjoying the climb.
Some of the most extrinsically-successful writers I’ve met think of themselves that way.
What’s your rule?
Tonight’s challenge:
Write a brief scene or bit of dialogue that illustrates your rule.
Limit yourself to 100 words.
For material, feel free to refer to resort to our handy List o’ Scenarios:
- A callow youth and his/her stout companion, having just received word that someone dropped the sacred Jewel of Togwogmagog in the Eternal Swamp, have gone back to look for it.
- - A stranger has come to the Wiltchester Dragon Farm, wanting to buy a baby dragon, but ace dragon breeder Jocasta Entwhistle doesn’t trust him one bit.
- Private investigator Celia Spunk is driving down a rain-spattered street at midnight when she realizes there’s a car following her. It looks a lot like the car driven by the Chainsmoke Killer.
-Incorruptible detective Scotty Blaine delivers a warning to the local mob boss.
-The King of the Fairies is ordering takeout when he runs into an old flame.
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