Are you only half a writer? | 008

[@F.C.Shultz]

What do you think? How important is having fun when writing a book?

[@B-MC]

I would agree but refine it to Be Engaged. Because if I'm to write stuff I enjoy writing I might instantly write a mess of an action scene because its in my mind what makes a Thrilling moment... but it wouldn't be very good and would have nowhere to go and would be the writing equivalant of tossing a bowling ball overarm - it's big and grand and thrilling and ... will probably do more damage in the long run, I won't learn anything, I probably won't even successfully knock down a single pin. But if I'm finding ways to be engaged, I'm still enjoying bowling, but I'm not feeling the urge to suddenly toss the bowling ball in the next lane just to get a sense of novelty and chaos, it'd be controlled fun, working within the confinements of how bowling balls work to hit more and more pins, enjoying the act of practising rolling the ball, without ever pushing myself to have to be a pro bowler or relaxing so hard I roll it in the gutter on purpose for whimsy. Fun on its own sounds unfocused, and I do have the genuine goal of Getting Good, so it's sort of like Mario ... enjoy trial and error but don't confuse fun with trolling and self-sabotage. Some of my worst 'fun' habits would lead me to write gibberish and would be unsustainable forms of fun.

[@AudioEpics]

Extremely! It just doesn't work when it becomes a chore.

[@typhoonboom]

its the most important part i'd say

[@k.b.tidwell]

This is why I'm not published. I can't finish what I don't love, and it's proven very hard for me to nail down what I love. I like you, subbed.

[@F.C.Shultz]

It's very hard. Starting with short stories might be a great way to discover what you love writing.

[@AudioEpics]

I'm only half a writer since I write with my spouse. 😉 We regularly listen to our own audiobooks to keep track of our worldbuilding and history, but mainly because we enjoy them. It's great sharing this love for storytelling. It has made us stronger as a couple and as a writing team.

[@F.C.Shultz]

That's great! I'll have to check them out!

[@Crime_Mime]

I'm very glad this video popped up on my recommended. I do get caught between this seeming dichotomy of writing as an art vs writing as a business. I don't want to create a book that's little more than a product designed to elicit a series of emotional responses for maximum profitability. Finding this line between writing what will sell vs writing what I want to write is a tricky balance to get right.

[@F.C.Shultz]

It's very tricky! The book The Secrets of Story by Matt Bird helped me think through writing to market vs writing with an audience in mind.

[@vimalpatel4060]

Thanks man. You seemed to have popped up, at the right time in my life. Now, I am off to find the dragons slayers daughter, and find a way of this pit of dispair. Is there a princess and gold at the end of this journey, that I don't know. But, I am glad, the rose weapon is a thing, and your voice is a bundle of joy. Inspiring. So, thank you.. and if you don't mind, Why did you start writing books?

[@F.C.Shultz]

Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad these videos are helpful. I didn't start writing until my early 20s when I took a few writing classes in college and fell in love with reading and writing. Haven't looked back since! You?

[@vimalpatel4060]

@F.C.Shultz I started after, a job offer collapsed in the summer, we became closed off people. That was it, there I started with basic ideas, wrote quite a lot. But, your video. On focusing, on the best simple story is really keeping me energised, as I think. I have gathered enough, after many rejections of the process, to produce something. At least. The past version of me would benefit from. So, summer 2020, and marathon of rejections, and here we are jazzed, for the future. Thanks, Shultz.. (And what does F. C. Stand for?)

[@F.C.Shultz]

@@vimalpatel4060 I see I see. I'm glad to hear these videos are helping you write more. And F.C. just stands for my first and mindle name. Nothing too exciting, ha!

[@profjeff9]

Thanks, I needed to hear this today.

[@F.C.Shultz]

You're welcome!

[@stillbuyvhs]

1:26 Unless you're Ray Bradbury. ;)

[@Mark-rm2yu]

I'm half a writer, but it's because I only write half a blogpost and then get distracted by life. Then, I lose the motivation for that one and move on to the next potential post.

[@AudioEpics]

I hear you. It's a problem I'm familiar with. If half-finished novels had an expiration date, the stench around my computer would be unbearable.

[@thecrystalliaguild]

I kinda don't really want to write a book, I just want the story to exist in a proper form and would even like it to be an animated series, but making a book or webnovel would probably be most simple since it doesn't need a team of people and business things so I'll probably have to do that at some point

[@F.C.Shultz]

I feel that tension. I've found writing it as a book is a great way to get it out there and definitely involves a much smaller team. It can also serve as a "proof of concept" for a different medium someday, like an animated series.

[@jakiedark]

I see myself more as 10% a writer.

[@dcle944]

Do you really love what you wrote? I don’t. I’m proud of what I created, but love? No. I have better taste than that. That’s like saying you love your first paintings. Yes, have fun, be passionate, but if you already love what you wrote as a beginner, there’s not much room left for you to grow.

[@BbGun-lw5vi]

That’s not what Bradbury was talking about. He was saying to love the process. Write what you enjoy instead of what you think society wants you to write. Write with passion and gusto not out of obligation.

[@F.C.Shultz]

I do love the first books I wrote, but I know they're far from perfect. I love the writing process and writing the stories I want to write. I also love them because I wouldn't be the writer I am today without having written those early stories. But I agree with what you're saying. There's a great video of Ira Glass talking about this exact thing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXnVnn6CZ71-macsi=A4Efr-mYflJswz_E

[@AudioEpics]

A finished novel is like a child. You feel unconditional love for it, you discover much of your own personality and interests in it, you enjoy spending time with it but you're still aware of its flaws. 😉