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Before I start - last chance to enter my contest is Wednesday the 23rd.Now as the Franken-Novel - no I don't mean I'm Mary Shelley. More like Dr. Frankenstein. See it occurs to me while working on this WIP that it's sort of like having a patient on the operating table, guts spread out in all directions, waiting to be pieced together again. Only it's more than just your average patient. I am in some ways playing God - trying to breathe life into something inanimate.
We have to be able to take this thing, slice it up, reattach and insert things, and leave no visible scars. So how do we do that? How do we keep the soul of thing intact?
Bet you thought I was going to start listing pointers here, right? Well, the truth is that in this case I'm not sure there are any. We can (and should) study craft, review and dissect the work of others, take classes and go to conferences and workshops, and do any of the other worthwhile things writers do. But there's also a heart to this folks. I don't mean to sound all existential or anything, but they don't call it "art" for nothing. Because at the end of the day, when we've done all but (and maybe including) bleed into the manuscript, it's that little bit of our own soul that's transferred over, and in this writer's opinion, that's what ultimately makes it breathe.
So don't go running out there screaming, "Lisa said it's art so I don't have to work so hard anymore!" Uh-uh. Nope. Not what I said. What I AM saying is, in your obsession (because let's face it we tend as a group to obsess) to follow all the rules, analyze plot and structure, character, hooks, and everything else under the sun - DON'T FORGET THE CREATIVITY. Therein lies the soul I've been talking about. Don't lose that. Please.
Great reminder Lisa! Creativity plays a huge role and that is something we can develop but harder to list bullet points on!
ReplyDeleteWell said Lisa! I love the comparison here, I know I piece apart my ms and move things around. It's hard to believe sometimes that I actually end up with something that flows by the end!
ReplyDeleteThe soul of what you're creating is the base, the foundation, wherein all flows. Love this post, Lisa. (BTW, you're one of the winners on my blog, today. lol)
ReplyDeleteExcellent point! And is being a writer the reason I'm such an obsessive person? hehe, I'm using that excuse from now on. Sorry, it's just my art, I can't help it...
ReplyDeleteBeing the "structure queen" you have very wise words Lisa! We can get so caught up with the "rules" we forget, ah, we are creating stuff!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! You're right, it's all about the creativity. When we forget that we've lost something vital to the process. Thank you for this awesome reminder!
ReplyDeleteSo true. We read about rules, rules, and more rules, and sometimes we obsess too much over every little detail. Bottom line, if I'm reading my own work and something odd catches my eye, it needs to be fixed. If I don't catch it, them my awesome critique buddies do. *wink wink*
ReplyDeleteThe bliss lies in the creativity. Rules are the challenge.
ReplyDeleteExcellent point. Love how you put it, we put a bit of our soul into our work
ReplyDeleteThe Dr. Frankenstein Analogy really hit home for me since I write scenes out of order sometimes. Occasionally, I feel like I'm trying to sew arms and legs on the right place of the body, and I'm not that good of a seamstress :)
ReplyDeleteI have to thank you all for such AWESOME comments! I apologize too, because I normally reply to all of you - unfortunately I was away yesterday so didn't get to! :( But I read and LOVE all of them.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true! I've been reading a lot of books on craft and other books in my genre, but I can't forget to let my own creativity shine in my WIP when I sit down to write. :)
ReplyDeleteAs much as publishing and writing can be a bisuness, we mustn't forget that one bit of innocence at the center, or the beginning of it all...creativity. Well said!
ReplyDeleteGhenet - Never forget it. It's what makes us love it so much.
ReplyDeleteLydia -Thanks!
Great post! I think because it's art we have to work harder! I work harder on my art than I do on anything else - and I'm a hard worker!! :)
ReplyDeleteJemi - GREAT point! I think sometimes people don't realize how hard artists work in any medium. Oh and glad you found my contest!
ReplyDeleteObessive? Me? How can that be? But wait, I've sliced and diced one ms as if I's an appretince sushi chef, I've rewritten the beginning to another ms at least fifty times and it's still not right, I've tossed a whole story, then resuscitated it . . . twice!!!! OMG I'm obsessive.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a medically trained person you can suggest, Lisa?
Lee you crack me up! Take a deep breath. You'll be okay.
ReplyDeleteHey Lisa! Just a quick note to say thanks for following me on Twitter, but I don't actually Tweet anything (I just like to follow peeps for information). I won't be offended in the least if you Unfollow me~ just wanted to let you know :)
ReplyDeleteJess - no worries you never know if the mood might strike you.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Lisa. Soul is one thing we can't learn. It's the one vital ingredient we have to dig deep for. But once you find it, wow!
ReplyDelete