Dec 28, 2022·edited Dec 28, 2022Liked by Susan Dennard
I couldn't agree more about ideas *not* going away until you say they're dead. I wrote my first book INCARNATE in late 2009 -- but my notes for the idea are dated three years before, in 2006. In fact, the original seeds of what later became NIGHTRENDER (which released *this* year) are also dated in 2006. (Other seeds have later dates, but wow was it weird to find that one and realize how long that story had been growing.) And I have another idea I want to work on next that has been growing and changing wildly since 2008!
Sometimes those ideas get put aside because I know they're too much for me right then. Sometimes I'm not in the right space. And sometimes I just don't have enough to get started -- but the ideas don't go away to someone else. They're mine. I'm not in a race with anyone else to write them first. Pretending like I am will only do a disservice to the story, and ultimately, my readers.
I always hated that line in Big Magic also. I agree with the idea of your muse ebbing and flowing, and how writing when that spark is there can be the path of least resistance... but it never sat right with me... that idea that if you didn’t write then, the idea would move on to someone else. And anyway, two writers can sit down with the same idea and create vastly different stories. Our unique take is what makes the story OUR story.
Anyway, I loved this post. Thank you for sharing your lessons learned. I’m going to try to apply your mindset (re: interruptions) to my own writing in 2023. My discipline trait seems to HATE disruptions, but maybe I can look at them more positively.
I’m also working on listening to my gut in the coming year. Since writing my first book, I’ve had two babies and have moved twice. It’s safe to say that I’ve had trouble getting into the writing zone and finding my groove when I sit down to work on the sequel. It’s like there has been a block in my brain when it comes to this story. Something has been telling me to give it a break and focus on another project I have waiting on the sidelines, but I’ve been (stubbornly) determined to get this sequel finished first before moving on. In 2023 I’m going to be brave enough to follow my gut and hope I can return to this story with a fresh outlook.
Oh, WOW, this part ("the idea that if you don’t write something now, the idea will move on to someone new") has to be the absolute worst thing I've ever read in terms of writing advice. I cannot believe that was in a book. Simmering is a thing! A wonderful thing!
I'm so glad I've never read Big Magic and that I certainly did not read it as an impressionable* young writer. That would have fed so much into my sense of "you will run out of time to write all the stories you want." (Said sense is now mostly gone because I have acknowledged each story takes its own time and some don't need to be novels at all!)
Love this newsletter!! This post and all of it. <3
*still impressionable, tbh, just more prone to thinking about it now
"Sometimes scaffolding can be limiting, though. Sometimes we get trapped by the knowledge in her brain. Oh, but I’m not offering enough insight into the thematic arc of this character! Oh, but this scene needs more subtext and tension! Oh, but I am telling too much instead of showing…" << YES, THIS!!!!! Perfectionistic scaffolding trapping me in doubt is the number one reason for my snail's pace. And my admittedly imperfect method for dealing with it? I read a few pages of someone's mediocre but best selling novel and try to channel their 'good enough' mindset. Also, I have a post-it stuck to the edge of my screen that just says, "B+".
1) I totally agree that some ideas are better if you don't write them when they first appear. I've got a lot marinating in the back of my brain and I think when I'm finally ready to write them they'll be better for having hung out for a bit.
2) I cannot express how much I relate to the sick kid saga and losing precious work time. My preschooler and I have both been sick every single month since April and I've felt so frustrated. I see you and the struggle is so real.
3) Good on you for embracing your process. I'm still trying to figure mine out, but it is elusive and chaotic...but maybe that's the point!
Thank you for generously sharing your experience and experiences all these years — it’s a pleasure to be able to support you in a tiny way between book purchases. Happy new year to you and the fam, Sooz!
I really appreciate your newsletter, Susan, and all the writing advice you've dispensed over the years dating all the way back to Pub Crawl! Every book truly is different and no matter how many times I remind myself of that, I still find myself getting frustrated when whatever used to work for me isn't working for me anymore. Excited to explore and play and learn in 2023!
Such a great post, thank you, Susan! I think my top learning in 2022 was just that things are going to take how long they take (and also that I'm really bad at estimating time). For the first half of the year, I tried again and again to give myself ambitious writing schedules, and guess what... I got nothing done, aaand felt bad about it and myself. During the second half of the year, I tried to give myself drastically less ambitious goals (to the point where I had to constantly fight my brain, which was saying "that's not enough, this is going to take too long"), and yes, it's been slower, but I have gotten a *lot* done, on a more consistent cadence, and even more importantly, I'm much more excited about the project again. Good luck with your 2023 goals, everyone!!
Thank you for sharing your experience and insights to help fellow writers!
I relate to Adriana’s question about the challenge of getting back into a project after it’s been a while and you have to rebuild momentum.
I recently wrote a newsletter post about how diving back into a project is a lot like diving back into a pool; it’s usually challenging to get into a swimming pool, whether you choose to wade in slowly (and control the pace but really feel the cold) or to dive in (which is not as cold but very sudden).
Either way, we wade or dive into the pool anyway because it’s so much fun after we get in.
The main message here is that it’s challenging to dive back into a project but it’s also worth diving back in because it’s enjoyable to write!
In my recent newsletter I shared what I learned in 2022, and I wanted to share one thing here to hopefully help fellow writers: I learned that it’s so important to be gentle with yourself, similar to Susan’s comment about grace. It took me several weeks to slowly but consistently work back to a regular writing schedule after taking a break to focus on work. Being patient and gentle and having faith helped with that.
Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences, Susan! I’m sure it helps so many. Happy New Year!
What I learned in 2022
I couldn't agree more about ideas *not* going away until you say they're dead. I wrote my first book INCARNATE in late 2009 -- but my notes for the idea are dated three years before, in 2006. In fact, the original seeds of what later became NIGHTRENDER (which released *this* year) are also dated in 2006. (Other seeds have later dates, but wow was it weird to find that one and realize how long that story had been growing.) And I have another idea I want to work on next that has been growing and changing wildly since 2008!
Sometimes those ideas get put aside because I know they're too much for me right then. Sometimes I'm not in the right space. And sometimes I just don't have enough to get started -- but the ideas don't go away to someone else. They're mine. I'm not in a race with anyone else to write them first. Pretending like I am will only do a disservice to the story, and ultimately, my readers.
/preaching to the choir
I always hated that line in Big Magic also. I agree with the idea of your muse ebbing and flowing, and how writing when that spark is there can be the path of least resistance... but it never sat right with me... that idea that if you didn’t write then, the idea would move on to someone else. And anyway, two writers can sit down with the same idea and create vastly different stories. Our unique take is what makes the story OUR story.
Anyway, I loved this post. Thank you for sharing your lessons learned. I’m going to try to apply your mindset (re: interruptions) to my own writing in 2023. My discipline trait seems to HATE disruptions, but maybe I can look at them more positively.
Here’s to a great 2023, friend! 💗
I’m also working on listening to my gut in the coming year. Since writing my first book, I’ve had two babies and have moved twice. It’s safe to say that I’ve had trouble getting into the writing zone and finding my groove when I sit down to work on the sequel. It’s like there has been a block in my brain when it comes to this story. Something has been telling me to give it a break and focus on another project I have waiting on the sidelines, but I’ve been (stubbornly) determined to get this sequel finished first before moving on. In 2023 I’m going to be brave enough to follow my gut and hope I can return to this story with a fresh outlook.
Oh, WOW, this part ("the idea that if you don’t write something now, the idea will move on to someone new") has to be the absolute worst thing I've ever read in terms of writing advice. I cannot believe that was in a book. Simmering is a thing! A wonderful thing!
I'm so glad I've never read Big Magic and that I certainly did not read it as an impressionable* young writer. That would have fed so much into my sense of "you will run out of time to write all the stories you want." (Said sense is now mostly gone because I have acknowledged each story takes its own time and some don't need to be novels at all!)
Love this newsletter!! This post and all of it. <3
*still impressionable, tbh, just more prone to thinking about it now
"Sometimes scaffolding can be limiting, though. Sometimes we get trapped by the knowledge in her brain. Oh, but I’m not offering enough insight into the thematic arc of this character! Oh, but this scene needs more subtext and tension! Oh, but I am telling too much instead of showing…" << YES, THIS!!!!! Perfectionistic scaffolding trapping me in doubt is the number one reason for my snail's pace. And my admittedly imperfect method for dealing with it? I read a few pages of someone's mediocre but best selling novel and try to channel their 'good enough' mindset. Also, I have a post-it stuck to the edge of my screen that just says, "B+".
Whew this whole thing resonated with me so much!
1) I totally agree that some ideas are better if you don't write them when they first appear. I've got a lot marinating in the back of my brain and I think when I'm finally ready to write them they'll be better for having hung out for a bit.
2) I cannot express how much I relate to the sick kid saga and losing precious work time. My preschooler and I have both been sick every single month since April and I've felt so frustrated. I see you and the struggle is so real.
3) Good on you for embracing your process. I'm still trying to figure mine out, but it is elusive and chaotic...but maybe that's the point!
This all resonated so much for me! Thank you.
Thank you for generously sharing your experience and experiences all these years — it’s a pleasure to be able to support you in a tiny way between book purchases. Happy new year to you and the fam, Sooz!
I really appreciate your newsletter, Susan, and all the writing advice you've dispensed over the years dating all the way back to Pub Crawl! Every book truly is different and no matter how many times I remind myself of that, I still find myself getting frustrated when whatever used to work for me isn't working for me anymore. Excited to explore and play and learn in 2023!
Such a great post, thank you, Susan! I think my top learning in 2022 was just that things are going to take how long they take (and also that I'm really bad at estimating time). For the first half of the year, I tried again and again to give myself ambitious writing schedules, and guess what... I got nothing done, aaand felt bad about it and myself. During the second half of the year, I tried to give myself drastically less ambitious goals (to the point where I had to constantly fight my brain, which was saying "that's not enough, this is going to take too long"), and yes, it's been slower, but I have gotten a *lot* done, on a more consistent cadence, and even more importantly, I'm much more excited about the project again. Good luck with your 2023 goals, everyone!!
Thank you for sharing your experience and insights to help fellow writers!
I relate to Adriana’s question about the challenge of getting back into a project after it’s been a while and you have to rebuild momentum.
I recently wrote a newsletter post about how diving back into a project is a lot like diving back into a pool; it’s usually challenging to get into a swimming pool, whether you choose to wade in slowly (and control the pace but really feel the cold) or to dive in (which is not as cold but very sudden).
Either way, we wade or dive into the pool anyway because it’s so much fun after we get in.
The main message here is that it’s challenging to dive back into a project but it’s also worth diving back in because it’s enjoyable to write!
In my recent newsletter I shared what I learned in 2022, and I wanted to share one thing here to hopefully help fellow writers: I learned that it’s so important to be gentle with yourself, similar to Susan’s comment about grace. It took me several weeks to slowly but consistently work back to a regular writing schedule after taking a break to focus on work. Being patient and gentle and having faith helped with that.
Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences, Susan! I’m sure it helps so many. Happy New Year!