Wednesday, July 09, 2008

To talk or not to talk

After Leigh’s recommendation at the weekend, on Monday I found a copy of ‘Teach Yourself: how to write a Blockbuster’ by Lee Weatherly and Helen Corner. I’m not sure I’m aiming exactly at the blockbuster market, but I reckon some things - great storylines, ace hooks etc - go down well in any genre. Not to mention of course, that I’m utterly addicted to ‘How to’ books… and you can always learn something.

In it, Weatherly says that one shouldn’t talk too much about what you’re writing – new writers tend to, and professional writers don’t. Inexperienced writers, having talked to all and sundry, sit down to write it and ‘they’ve talked it out of their system.’ I so understand what she means, and I don’t, on the whole, talk much about mine – though you’ll all know I’ve dropped little snippets on my blog lately. But I had something I wanted to talk to Leigh about on Sunday (will the reader accept this?) and I’ve talked to my Mum since I’ve been in the UK and I’ve found it helps to talk a bit. While I talk, I realise things … and it does help that they don’t mind when my face glazes over and I say ‘Oh my god, she thinks the baby is his…’

And then I’m all inspired again and I have to disappear to write some more …

I just wish I could bottle this feeling - how much money would I make? And I could use it for the next time I'm in dumpsville.

6 comments:

Yvonne said...

Must check out that book, thanks for the tip. Glad you're all inspired, I also long to tuck some of it away for the desolate moments!

Jenny Beattie said...

Yvonne, that would be so useful wouldn't it? The book is good - I hope you enjoy it.

Pacha said...

Well I should be a very professional writer then. I don't talk about my writing ever. But then again I hardly write...;)

Wish we could bottle the inspirational moments so that we could squirt it out like perfume when we're low (and can't be bothered to shower!)

Angie said...

I'd pay for a bottle of that!
Your glazed over epiphany moment made me laugh. I'm sure I've done that same thing to Husband. I usually stop talking to him mid-sentence, but he's used to it by now so he just rolls with the punches.
I think you've found the secret: a little bit of talking to key people can help you sort out details, but a lot of blagging to everyone far and wide can kill the magic.

Carol said...

Yay to being inspired!! Glad it's going well for you honey and I see your word count is up to 3,000....you go girl *said in a Ricky Lake kinda way*

Leigh Forbes said...

Yey!
And with such a brilliant story to tell, you really must get it down. I want to read it. I really, really do.