Just Write Something

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(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

As I work on A School of Many Futures, the sequel to A Bridge To The Quiet Planet, I end up on a mental rollercoaster. I’ve found a way to deal with that.

I’m sure you’ve had ups and downs in your writing – for me, having done nonfiction for so long, writing fiction is trying. Sure I got one novel out after not doing much fiction for awhile, but it took a lot to get back into it. The second novel produces it’s own challenges, from plotting to questions, and though it’s easier than the first book, I have my moments.

Do I do this twist? Should I do something else? Maybe a short story to jumpstart me?

The worst part of writing fiction is you wonder. You can speculate endlessly on what you should do and where you’re going. You’re creative, and you can use your creativity to worry at an amazing rate.

Several of my friends made the same point to me – when in doubt, just write.

If you write, then you get something done.

You have something to use in your story. It may be good enough.

You have something to edit. Sure it’s bad, but at least it can be fixed.

You can try out an idea and see if it works. If it fails, then at least you know (and you can put it in file to save it for later).

If you write, then you don’t worry about being blocked – you keep moving, even if it’s imperfect.

You get your mind moving, so even if what you made is unusable, uneditable, and unsavable, then your brain is in writing mode.

One friend of mine noted that when drafting, they will make it scriptlike and edit it later. You don’t even have to write things in full, just write enough to have something.

This has helped me get over some blockages the last week. I’m writing, even if it’s not perfect or needs editing. I’m thinking and revising my work, improving it over time and seeing it in new lights. Most of all I’m not stagnant, so I’m moving forward no matter what.

Sure there’s challenges – but something is getting done, and each time I’m one step closer to a book.

The only book that fails is the one never written. So next time you’re not sure what to do, write. That’s one thing that can guarantee a book or story or post is done.

Just write something.

Steven Savage

Writing And Life Skills

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(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

Awhile ago, I contributed to a cookbook for authors called Feeding The Muse. That made me think about the challenges authors faced, one of them being how to eat healthy and fast. It was one of the reasons I started posting my recipes here.

This has made me think about something we writers and indeed all creators face – the need for the life skills to allow us to be creative. You can’t write or draw when you can’t manage money or are too busy to clean the house.

This has made me think about all sorts of things that we authors and creatives can and should do.

We need to develop our own life skills: We need to work on developing the life skills that allow us to be creative. My challenge for you – What life skills do you need to improve?

We need to ask for help: We can’t do everything. We may need to hire someone to clean, or our cooking is so bad we need advice. Yes, that’s directed at you. My challenge to you is – What “life area” should you ask for help in?

We need to share our life skills: Everyone has challenges in their creative lives. We also have things we’re probably good at. So go and share your life skills. My challenge to you – What is your best life skill and how can you share it?

We need to share our life skill resources: Books, guides, websites. Let’s share our life skill resources – say a writing club with it’s own web page for such resources? Take this challenge – How can you share your favorite life skill resources right now?

We should make life skills part of creative events: Let’s share our life skills at creative events. Why not make it part of your writing group? Do a panel at conventions? Here’s your challenge – What environments are best for you to share your life skills?

Life skills support our creative work – and thus are part of our creative lives. It’s up to us to learn them, apply them, share them – and admit our gaps.

Steven Savage

Steve’s Update 9/22/2019

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(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

With August out of the way and more time to focus, I’ve had some good results on my projects! Let’s check in!

So what have I done since last time?

  • Way With Worlds: The News Worldbuilding Book is out! Go get it! Go buy it for friends! Go tell friends!
  • Chance’s Muse: The Seventh Sanctum came back from the editor!
  • A School Of Many Futures: Is now being written. The good news is it is shaping up – the bad is it’s a tough little story with all sorts of challenges. Since it is a sort of “double reverse Harry Potter” where two teachers and their friends find a normal school is brimming with conspiracies and chosen ones, it presents many interesting choices. I’m powering ahead, but at the very least Chapter 1 and 2 are going to be heavily revised.
  • Seventh Sanctum: Finally returning to this. What a few weeks.

What’s next?

  • Way With Worlds: I plan to outline the next book – I want to do one more before the new year!
  • Chance’s Muse: I’ll likely edit it in the next two weeks so I can start formatting.
  • A School Of Many Futures: Keep writing! I’m powering through now – and trying a few interesting tricks . . .
  • Seventh Sanctum: Get back to the Python prototypes and maybe (finally) a new generator (I’d like something to celebrate the new book with!)

Steven Savage