Comments on: Process and Malcolm and Outliers

By: On Writing Process « Words, Words, Words

On Writing Process « Words, Words, Words — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:04:46 +0000

[...] 3, 2009 · No Comments Gay Degani had a great post up on writing process this week at the Flash Fiction Chronicles. It’s a nice take on a subject I’ve been on [...]

By: Gay Degani

Gay Degani — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:56:30 +0000

Dang. The last sentence doesn’t make sense. What I’m trying to say is perhaps the writer sets up a piece so that the pleasure the reader gets isn’t surprise but rather, as you say, “Oh, yeah.” The story often dictates this.

By: Gay Degani

Gay Degani — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:55:09 +0000

I don’t think we really disagree. I think each story will give you what it needs to give you in terms of “anticipation.” For some the pleasure will come from the surprise whether it’s large or small, and for others the pleasure will be in the certitude the set-up the author’s set-up has given the reader.

By: K.C. Ball

K.C. Ball — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:02:18 +0000

You know how we are so on the same page with this sort of thing; we’ve chatted about it. This is good stuff you are offering.

I only have one small quibble.

I don’t think a story always has to have an unexpected ending. Like you, I believe it must be inevitable, the reader must say, “Uh huh”. But I also believe it can be anticipated, as long as it is satisfying, the reader must also say, “Oh, yeah!”

By: Alexander Burns

Alexander Burns — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:20:55 +0000

I haven’t done much lately, but I have periodically posted rough drafts, or even sections of story that were cut from a final draft for some reason or another, on my blog. That was actually the whole impetus for having a blog in the first place, to add a layer of responsibility and force myself to actually write instead of screwing around.

For me, stories almost always grow out of something small and undeveloped. Just start writing whatever. If it’s worth pursuing, the story will likely develop out of that, even if you have to go back and fix things for continuity. I almost never have stories leap fully formed from my head.

I wouldn’t worry about the post quality so much. All writers – all artists in general – are in a constant state of learning and refining their art. That means allowing yourself to be bad sometimes.

By: Gay Degani

Gay Degani — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:31:40 +0000

Thanks Madeline. It’s tough but it’s the only way to do it. That’s why I’m writing a story on line at my blog. I feel scared as s**t because I hate anybody reading anything before I think it’s as good as it can get, but that’s how most people feel and we’ve got to get over it. It’ll be better later. LATER. It can be bad as it gets better.

By: Madeline

Madeline — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:58:01 +0000

Great post, Gay! Really hit home with me today. I think the “just sitting down and doing it” isn’t glamorous enough for most people…