Jack Kerouac's...Strange Rules For Writing

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

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[@litabrooker7872]

I use my mobile phone to take photos of the world around me and use them to spark short stories. Thanks, Kieren.

[@ToTheNines87368]

Sometimes when I’m at work a random dialogue line will pop in my head, that either just phonetically sounds good or is just very interesting or perhaps funny, so I’ll jot it down. Nevermind I might not have a scene or characters for those lines yet 😂

[@shalini_sevani]

Whoever is thinking of using Kieren's editing service should go for it. Totally worth it.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you! It's been great working with you ☺️

[@markbrandon5408]

An incredible writer friend of mine says “where the writer elides, the reader provides”. You’re right to say the writer needs to give room for the reader’s imagination. Where the writer is striving to convey an ‘exact’ picture of the world as they see it, the prose can often feel stifling. A(nother) nice video. 👍🏻

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

That's definitely the approach that works for me as a writer and a reader.

[@rickrigdon5565]

Thanks so much Kieren - your thoughts are so helpful. Rick

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Rick thank you so much! This is really generous of you, much appreciated ☺️

[@Speed202]

I love the way you just jumped right into it...

[@ariesmarsexpress]

9:49, I have found useful in specific areas. If I am writing a scene that has the characters discombobulated or dazed or in some way out of tune with what's going on around them, i need to make the reader feel the same way and I am not going to tell them I am doing it. This means bending the rules to bend reality.

[@unrealnews]

"You're a genius all the time" is the bangiest banger I ever heard bang. Dude, listen to what the man is saying, and watch your reaction. He's not a fool. He knows it isn't true, but if you want to write, you write as though you have never had a dull thought, but he can't say "Write as if...". 1) Weakens the idea. 2) To write "as if" is distinct from writing. Also, If you are a genius all the time, you may see ways in which the errors you've made contain genius. If you dismiss your mistakes as idiocy from an idiot, your next sentence, if you give yourself permission to write it, is riddled with your own bullet holes before it reaches the period.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

I see what you're saying there, but writing as though you've never had a dull thought doesn't make that true,. You can't pull writing skill and good storytelling out of sheer confidence. Confidence is an asset, but overconfidence isn't. I don't see There's a difference between assuming you're a genius, and assuming you're an idiot. What about the middle ground there, where you have the benefit of both? That, to me, is a much more stable place to write from. I take your point on discovering value in your mistakes, absolutely, but that's just part of writing, you don't have to treat yourself like a genius to do that. We should all be doing that. Anyway! It's open to interpretation isn't it. If it's a banger for you and it helps your process or someone else's, that's great!

[@unrealnews]

@ Great reply! I suppose I often find myself falling into the idea that all of my ideas are trash, and if I can swim to the surface and get some air, it feels llike I am a genius. I don't know how many others have that kind of experience.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

When you put it that way - absolutely, I get what you mean ☺️

[@MasterZeustastic]

Crisp and to the point advice, need more of these videos.

[@litabrooker7872]

I write down where the idea came from - the well, the bottom of the well. Writing it down and keeping that seedling is useful when despair sets in, or when the inner saboteur wants to beat me up.

[@france1464]

A little off topic but i’m liking your mood lighting! As always, love these empowering advice videos of yours, Kieren. I’m marathoning some while in the middle of a long writer’s block.

[@burnoutminion]

I'm writing a story with a background set in Malaysia, which is why a lot of the dialogue I'm mindful of the use of language and the syntax, to make it sound like something Malaysian would say in their daily conversation rather than something that's formally right and polished. For example, someone may say "Where you grad?" when he actually meant to say, "Where did you graduate from?". To me it makes more sense. Just wonder what's your thought on this in writing a story.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

I think that's a good approach, you're prioritizing your characters and their voices over the written language, which is what we do in everyday conversations. Personally, I think dialogue like that makes things sound more natural.

[@burnoutminion]

@@KierenWestwoodWriting Just wondering if you could make a video to share some of your thoughts on how to avoid being sued by people on defamation when writing a fiction inspired by true story?

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Honestly, I don’t really have a clue there. You’d be better off with advice from a lawyer or something I think!

[@JoeyPaulOnline]

Love that last one 😅 But I do agree with you that interpretation isn't universal and that's okay, we tell our stories and readers find some of their own meaning to it.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Absolutely yeah! The value is in the breadth of interpretations, everyone having their own way to identify (or not) with what we write. It's sharing, I guess.

[@Eldalynn]

I always love these videos. I’m able to take away a little nugget of wisdom that keeps me inspired to keep going on my writing

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Awesome, that's what I always hope for!

[@mayorathfoglaltvolt]

When I write, I write for myself. It is more than enough to me, if I enjoy reading my own lines. Actually, the reason I started writing is, I haven’t found a book that truely spoke to me. So I write to have something to read.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

There's no better reason to do it in my opinion. We're not here long, might as well try and create something beautiful that we love, just for the love of it.

[@francinem4944]

Thanks Kieren 😊 re the bottomless bottom of the mind, ive found that opening into each character gleans depth into the theme and progress of the plot and character arc

[@QuiEstJohnGalt]

Bret Easton Ellis, Jorge Luis Borges, Arthur C Clarke, Albert Camus & Guy de Maupassant, do they have some advices for us too ?

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

I shall find out! Thank you for the suggestions, that's really useful.

[@mkfanatico]

Great! I would like know.

[@immortaljanus]

To all writers: remember to have fun.

[@carololiveira4831]

Extremely ironic that Kerouac wants us to see the exact picture he intended and then gives advice in riddles, lol

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

That is a great point! 😂

[@СумирэЛаоши]

Ok, that is the first time in my life, when I can say that I am the first viewer of a youtube video. Thank you ❤

[@BeingMrsE]

Thanm you. I AM NEW TO WRITIG SO THIS VERU HELPFUL

[@ekurisona663]

man this is good stuff - ty

[@DavidLeeHolcomb]

No purple prose? Ahhhhrrrgh! I can't say "Look out for that falling piano" with fewer than six metaphors and a parable.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Yes you can! I've read your work and it's good :)

[@JackdeSilva]

I have a different problem: talking about the piano I would pitch in suggesting the key is for you to get in tune with the scale of the problem and paint a picture in sharp black and white without it falling flat .....

[@DavidLeeHolcomb]

​@@JackdeSilva -- Music to my ears ...!

[@StevenJamesBeto]

If I remember correctly, Mr. Westwood, the Beat Generation defined "Blow" to mean "Bragg" as in "Blow your own horn".

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Oh thanks for letting me know. That makes more sense than my interpretation!

[@StevenJamesBeto]

My comment needs verification. Memory lasts as long as memory allows.

[@andrewscruggs5906]

Should've done a video on the WEIRDEST ones lol

[@StevenJamesBeto]

I have a hearing deficit. What is the correct spelling of "Tulsas" Media?

[@Oskarwinters]

I thought writing from the bottom of your mind, was more about getting into the dirty inner workings of the human mind. Where we hold our truest opinions the ones we often keep secret.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

That sounds very possible, good point!

[@Oskarwinters]

@@KierenWestwoodWriting I thought about it a little more and maybe he is referring to the saying 'writing off the top of your head'.