I love that Stephen King quote. To my mind, the job isn't writing, it's rewriting - turning the great outpouring of something you needed to say into something others need to read. Good luck!
Substack is a wonderful place to share ideas, experiment, and grow as writers. Thank you for the mention here, Barrie. You have given me a lot to think about after reading this post!
Being open to the learning feels really important and you are so right, Justin, the community is great for moving us all forward, wherever we want to get to. Thanks for reading and for your support, as ever.
What a great post and appreciate your honesty on the process of writing. I'm just in my very humble beginnings of writing but have learnt quickly this year that it is the edit that is everything. Having a weekly deadline to get something also focussed the mind, I need to write, to leave time to redraft/edit in order to publish. It's a really good discipline (and Stephen King is the best!!!)
Ah yes, I suspect I am on the cusp of my annual read of ‘On Writing’ by Stephen King. He’s very wise.
Similarly, I feel like I am at the start, Andrea. I used to barely bother with editing, basking in a notion that it was ‘pretty good’ first time around. I think I’m slowly admitting to myself that I’m not content with ‘pretty good’ but the only way to sharpen the writing is to put the work in. That doesn’t mean I know how yet but I’m practicing. Cut, cut, cut again. Thanks for reading.
Highly recommend Daphne Grey-Grant's newsletter for editing. Full of excellent tips. Found it immeasurably useful (plus it is always, short, precise and to the point!)
I think the gut steers us more and more as we do this again and again. My old painting tutor was horrified when I gave as my reason for painting to please others (I rather blurted that out, but the answer was half true and I was mostly vain about the idea of expressing myself back then). He told me to paint for myself and myself only. Whilst guilty -- still -- of a little vanity, I think I write much more in that way now. And to forever being a writer learning their craft sounds like a fine thing for me. You are learning yours admirably well.
Thank you, dear Matt. It’s a very fine line between vanity and the need for some validation of our craft, I guess. I am guilty of the former too but more comfortable in my skin these days. I like being a novice where these questions bounce around during the process of learning. It’s good to know we are all learning one way of another!
For me, On Writing is the BEST book on writing! Stephen King nails it all the way through... and ends up telling us a tale as well as showing that we need to keep things lean and to keep them moving
I’m so glad you wrote this Barrie… I’ve been stuck in the ‘hell that’s a pile of poo’ mode for weeks and those weeks were the ones when I thought I’d by flying so you can imagine the disappointment. And now it’s almost ‘la rentrée’ and time will be short again.. so I’m reading your words and thinking out loud (waiting with son in Dr’s waiting room) yes yes yes! Thank you, as always, you inspire with honest calm reasoning!!
I love this too
“You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what's burning inside you, and we edit to let the fire show through the smoke.”
I love that Stephen King quote. To my mind, the job isn't writing, it's rewriting - turning the great outpouring of something you needed to say into something others need to read. Good luck!
I would say after this year + of learning the ropes that is my biggest learning! Thanks so much for reading, Mark. Happy weekend.
Thank YOU for writing. Happy weekend to you too
So MUCH to think about in this post, Barrie. I think I better go take a nap before considering all these crucial questions.
It made me think as I wrote it, getting a little deeper (for me). Glad if it sparked some thoughts or ideas. Thanks for reading, Sharron.
Substack is a wonderful place to share ideas, experiment, and grow as writers. Thank you for the mention here, Barrie. You have given me a lot to think about after reading this post!
Being open to the learning feels really important and you are so right, Justin, the community is great for moving us all forward, wherever we want to get to. Thanks for reading and for your support, as ever.
What a great post and appreciate your honesty on the process of writing. I'm just in my very humble beginnings of writing but have learnt quickly this year that it is the edit that is everything. Having a weekly deadline to get something also focussed the mind, I need to write, to leave time to redraft/edit in order to publish. It's a really good discipline (and Stephen King is the best!!!)
Ah yes, I suspect I am on the cusp of my annual read of ‘On Writing’ by Stephen King. He’s very wise.
Similarly, I feel like I am at the start, Andrea. I used to barely bother with editing, basking in a notion that it was ‘pretty good’ first time around. I think I’m slowly admitting to myself that I’m not content with ‘pretty good’ but the only way to sharpen the writing is to put the work in. That doesn’t mean I know how yet but I’m practicing. Cut, cut, cut again. Thanks for reading.
Highly recommend Daphne Grey-Grant's newsletter for editing. Full of excellent tips. Found it immeasurably useful (plus it is always, short, precise and to the point!)
https://www.publicationcoach.com
Haha, and that’s the best kind of way for a newsletter about editing to be. Great recommendation, thank you 🙏
I think the gut steers us more and more as we do this again and again. My old painting tutor was horrified when I gave as my reason for painting to please others (I rather blurted that out, but the answer was half true and I was mostly vain about the idea of expressing myself back then). He told me to paint for myself and myself only. Whilst guilty -- still -- of a little vanity, I think I write much more in that way now. And to forever being a writer learning their craft sounds like a fine thing for me. You are learning yours admirably well.
Thank you, dear Matt. It’s a very fine line between vanity and the need for some validation of our craft, I guess. I am guilty of the former too but more comfortable in my skin these days. I like being a novice where these questions bounce around during the process of learning. It’s good to know we are all learning one way of another!
For me, On Writing is the BEST book on writing! Stephen King nails it all the way through... and ends up telling us a tale as well as showing that we need to keep things lean and to keep them moving
I’m ready for my annual re-read of it. I pick out something(s) different every time!
I’m so glad you wrote this Barrie… I’ve been stuck in the ‘hell that’s a pile of poo’ mode for weeks and those weeks were the ones when I thought I’d by flying so you can imagine the disappointment. And now it’s almost ‘la rentrée’ and time will be short again.. so I’m reading your words and thinking out loud (waiting with son in Dr’s waiting room) yes yes yes! Thank you, as always, you inspire with honest calm reasoning!!
I love this too
“You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what's burning inside you, and we edit to let the fire show through the smoke.”
I’m off to clear the smoke!! 🙏🏽