This little piece by Ashley Stokes rang a number of bells for me...
How to talk about your writing | Unthank School of Writing
How to talk about your writing | Unthank School of Writing
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Talking about your writing...
- Thread starter Marc Joan
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A truthful article, and I recognised several situations in it.
I've found that people have two different reactions on learning that I'm a writer—disinterest or being intimidated. One good friend, who's read my short stories and novellas, asked me why I wrote crime novels—was I really a dishonest and violent person, like my characters? I explained to her that the crime genre allows me to tackle all of the issues of society, as well as leaving space to make fully rounded portrayals of the goodies and baddies. Like most writers, I have a retentive memory for unusual incidents, including law-breaking—which is life magnified—compelling material for making up a story.
A rather bigoted bloke asked me what my novel The Perfect Murderer was about. He was known for having an opinion about everything, but knowledge of very little, so I expected him to shoot my plot to pieces. I didn't know him very well, but he was a rugby player, obsessed with computer gaming and parked his sports car in the same place every day, so I used what I knew to tell him that my story was about a serial killer who stalked targets who satisfied the criteria of an ancient role-play game, run online these days, and that he'd just been chosen as the next victim for being a sportsman. The killer was just playing pool at the table next to us—he was watching you all of the time—he left a moment ago, perhaps he's waiting for you in the darkness. My questioner looked around nervously, muttering "Sounds good, I'd like to read it." I kept a straight face.
I've found that people have two different reactions on learning that I'm a writer—disinterest or being intimidated. One good friend, who's read my short stories and novellas, asked me why I wrote crime novels—was I really a dishonest and violent person, like my characters? I explained to her that the crime genre allows me to tackle all of the issues of society, as well as leaving space to make fully rounded portrayals of the goodies and baddies. Like most writers, I have a retentive memory for unusual incidents, including law-breaking—which is life magnified—compelling material for making up a story.
A rather bigoted bloke asked me what my novel The Perfect Murderer was about. He was known for having an opinion about everything, but knowledge of very little, so I expected him to shoot my plot to pieces. I didn't know him very well, but he was a rugby player, obsessed with computer gaming and parked his sports car in the same place every day, so I used what I knew to tell him that my story was about a serial killer who stalked targets who satisfied the criteria of an ancient role-play game, run online these days, and that he'd just been chosen as the next victim for being a sportsman. The killer was just playing pool at the table next to us—he was watching you all of the time—he left a moment ago, perhaps he's waiting for you in the darkness. My questioner looked around nervously, muttering "Sounds good, I'd like to read it." I kept a straight face.
I never discuss anything that I am still generating first draft for.
I don't know why but whenever I have previously discussed a work in progress before I've completed the first draft, I never finish it. Somehow it is like exposing a developing photo (if anyone can remember how that is done in this digital age) to the light too early. The result becomes tainted and I loose interest.
Maybe it's just me but somehow, if I discuss it with others too early then it seems to be no longer my own work.
So now I don't discuss anything about a piece until I have the first draft complete.
I don't know why but whenever I have previously discussed a work in progress before I've completed the first draft, I never finish it. Somehow it is like exposing a developing photo (if anyone can remember how that is done in this digital age) to the light too early. The result becomes tainted and I loose interest.
Maybe it's just me but somehow, if I discuss it with others too early then it seems to be no longer my own work.
So now I don't discuss anything about a piece until I have the first draft complete.
Ah, yes. I've learned to come up with something quick and punchy for my WIP if I know I'll be in public and might be asked about what I'm writing. Something designed to stop a conversation in its tracks, so I can turn it around and ask a similarly nosy question of the other person in response. Thankfully, I mostly socialise with scientists, and research is a bit like writing--never going as well as they would like (So, last I heard you were working on the spread of invasive Phormium; have you managed to get funding for that research yet?) Pretty soon, we're safely discussing the weather.
Ah yes. A classic deflection/reflection strategy. I employ that too.
Ooooh I recognise this situation. "People talking to animals? Like in Dr Dolittle?" Not exactly.
On another note, Ashley Stokes was the first 'professional' to read my manuscript in his capacity as advisor at The Literary Consultancy. I'd sent it off to them (at what for me was a lot of money), clearly marked YA. However, for some reason it was sent to him as the Sci-Fi guy. He gave a really positive report and made some excellent suggestions which I acted on, and then went on to say that it would make a really good YA novel. Had I thought of submitting it as such? I couldn't afford to pay again, so pointed out the boo-boo to the boss and got it read by a proper YA advisor... for free! Then followed her advice too
On another note, Ashley Stokes was the first 'professional' to read my manuscript in his capacity as advisor at The Literary Consultancy. I'd sent it off to them (at what for me was a lot of money), clearly marked YA. However, for some reason it was sent to him as the Sci-Fi guy. He gave a really positive report and made some excellent suggestions which I acted on, and then went on to say that it would make a really good YA novel. Had I thought of submitting it as such? I couldn't afford to pay again, so pointed out the boo-boo to the boss and got it read by a proper YA advisor... for free! Then followed her advice too
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