Thoughts on Writing

There's nothing to writing.  All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.  ~Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith

You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.  ~Ray Bradbury

Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.  ~E.L. Doctorow

I try to leave out the parts that people skip.  ~Elmore Leonard

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.  ~Anton Chekhov

The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.  ~Mark Twain

If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood.  I'd type a little faster.  ~Isaac Asimov

Words - so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them.  ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

I am returning this otherwise good typing paper to you because someone has printed gibberish all over it and put your name at the top.  ~English Professor (Name Unknown), Ohio University

Writing is easy:  All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.  ~Gene Fowler

Being an author is like being in charge of your own personal insane asylum.  ~Graycie Harmon

Every writer I know has trouble writing.  ~Joseph Heller

A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the other one.  ~Baltasar Gracián

What no wife of a writer can ever understand is that a writer is working when he's staring out of the window.  ~Burton Rascoe

Most editors are failed writers - but so are most writers.  ~T.S. Eliot

If I'm trying to sleep, the ideas won't stop.  If I'm trying to write, there appears a barren nothingness.  ~Carrie Latet

It is impossible to discourage the real writers - they don't give a damn what you say, they're going to write.  ~Sinclair Lewis

If I fall asleep with a pen in my hand, don't remove it - I might be writing in my dreams.  ~Terri Guillemets

Let’s face it, as writers we all need a little encouragement and direction when we’re creating our masterpieces. It’s very easy when working alone to “lose the thread,” or veer off track. It’s difficult to avoid getting too close to our own work to the point where we can’t really see it anymore; it’s easy to lose steam and sight of our original vision. It’s easy to begin wondering if it’s all pointless and if maybe you should just give it up and slip what you’ve written into a drawer somewhere and go do something else, like clean the bathroom. If you’re in the middle of a project right now, I have no doubt that you know exactly what I’m talking about. But take heart: I have worked with dozens of writers on their projects, helping them find their way with encouragement and a keen eye for detail. I can help you too. I will bring a fresh perspective, an open mind, and plenty of respect for your ideas and vision. I will help you get out of your own way.

Positive, Honest Feedback

My feedback will always be positive and encouraging. This is not to say that I will only say nice things; if something’s badly written or confusing, I’ll let you know and I might even make you mad at first, because we all hate it when someone tells us our baby is ugly. (One of the most important tools a writer needs is a thick skin.) But my criticism will always be respectful, affirming, and applicable, with the goal of producing your best work while retaining your voice, and your vision. Though writing well can be a daunting challenge, it can—and should—be fun. If, while writing, you often feel like you want to throw your computer through the window, it may be time for a fresh approach to your project. After all, as another editor once pointed out to me, if you’re not enjoying the process of writing, why would you expect others to enjoy reading it?

Why You Should Use a Professional Editor/Coach

Many aspiring writers proudly show their work to family and friends for feedback and criticism. This often leads to false feedback, as those close to you may hesitate to tell you honestly if there are problems with your work. In fact, they may not know. Your Uncle Bob may be a great guy, but without experience and training in writing, he may not know how to give you helpful feedback on your project. As a writer, what you don’t need is lots of people telling you that your writing is great, when in fact it needs work. Asking inexperienced people to critique your writing is like a carpenter asking someone who has no knowledge or experience of building—someone like me, for example—to critique a construction project. I may sincerely proclaim that it looks great, but I won’t know what I’m talking about and my opinion won’t be helpful.

Finding Your Unique Voice

Together we will find your strengths, your talents, your vision, and your unique voice. We will also find those areas which need more work, and improve them in the context of your project. Then, together we will hone these things in a positive way until your dream becomes a reality on the page. I can help you find the “arc” of your story, the through-line or dramatic core that will help pull it all together. I will make suggestions that will create a safe and supportive place to try new things, and opportunities to look at your project with a new perspective on an ongoing basis. I can help with dialogue, action and movement, transitions, and descriptions. I can tell you if something seems forced or doesn’t ring true. I will help you find those paragraphs or phrases that we writers think are so great, and are usually the first ones that need to go. And when your writing sweeps me away, and leaves me smiling and breathless, I’ll tell you that, too.

Fixing the Boring Stuff

I can help with the boring stuff too: spelling, grammar, syntax, tense, and consistency—proofreading—areas where all writers need a fresh eye. I will help you find “ticks” or bad habits in your writing that may be invisible to you as you write.