more writing

[ellenkushner]

The Story (from my 1/26 post) progresseth; it's turning up longer than I thought it would be. To clue you further in to my Process, here are some of the thoughts that ran relentless through my mind that first night, in between bursts of colorable sentences:

where am I going to sell this? nobody's writing stuff like this.
what if it's too old-fashioned? what if it 's not old-fashioned enough?
is this stupid? does this make any sense? (repeat ad nauseam or until all creative activity comes to a standstill)

Since these are pretty much the same thoughts I had when I was writing Swordspoint 20+ years ago - and pretty much everything else I've published in between - I quashed them as boldly as I could -- trying to bear in mind what my glorious friend Isabel told me last week (at my beloved Tea & Sympathy, where we'd gone to thrash out the meaning of life) when I expressed similar sentiments :

Listen to the voices.

Tell the story.

Good advice. And so I try.

Comments

[jackdaniel.livejournal.com]

Yes, when you're a writer the voices are your friend. Well, the creative ones anyway. And as Swordspoint is one of my favorite books of all time I think you'll be fine if you ignore the negative thoughts.

[yaoi-in-exile.livejournal.com]

You mean the doubt doesn't lessen?!?! :O

Dear God we are all done for.

You see, though, there is a problem with *you* having that thought process, because your material is the best prose I have ever read, and *no* one is allowed to doubt my hero. ...So. *folds arms*

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Forgive me for doubting your hero. I will try to atone by writing many stories in spite of my doubts.

[yaoi-in-exile.livejournal.com]

Well, just as long as you promise. :3

[squirrel-monkey.livejournal.com]

It wouldn't happen to be Russian-themed by any chance, would it?

(This is Kathy, btw.)

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Hi, Kathy! Nope, not Russian - but I do have a grandfather who deserted the White Russian army on his way to the front with a supply wagon.....

[pamola.livejournal.com]

I think the answer to these doubting voices is:
There are a number of people out there that like all sorts of fiction from all sorts of genres.
What genre you write in doesn't matter with these people.
And obviously if you are aiming for a small niche market, getting to that market is going to be easier on the internet.

[tasiha.livejournal.com]

*pipes up with a little voice* if it's TOO old-fashioned, surely it will become the new-old-fashioned and you'll start a new trend

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

It do tend to work that way, don't it?

[darklingwoods.livejournal.com]

Hopefully Isabel's advice will drown out the doubts for a time, what wise words. I teach teenagers and I try and stress that those inner doubts about ones work (I teach art) aren't only for the young and angst ridden. Its something every creative person struggles with no matter where they are in life. You should see their faces because being young things of course they were the only ones who felt that way!
I'm terribly sorry to hear of you struggling, you who have brought tears to my eyes with the beauty of your words, But it does make you very much real.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

All too real, I'm afraid; it does get tiring sometimes. But thank you for your kind words - and thanks even more for what you do to help kids find their art. I am so glad you're out there. Keep on Doing.