I understand how others can suffer from writer's block even though it does not pertain to me. Have not happened and never will. Typically those who suffer writer's block go into writing on the false premise that all writing should be inspired. Like the first sentence you type on a blank page should be heavenly divine. There is this false notion in our society of a true, mythic writer that is a muse-inspired drunkard puking paragraphs reeking of genius. If that's how you think about writing then, of course, writer's block will be common.
When I write, the premise is I attempt to turn shit to gold, eventually.
Closer to the truth is as described in this article, writing is more like blind plumbing work. It's very revisional. Whole paragraphs and pages are reworked and outright deleted left and right. The final script is rarely in the order you started. Then your editor goes to work, butchering your baby. It's very painful, but you know this is the way to end up with something the reader finds readable.
Reading a published novel as a wannabe author, you must keep in mind that it's revised to perfection. Repeatedly hammered like a Japanese sword. Writing is definitely a forging process and not magic.
> Reading a published novel as a wannabe author, you must keep in mind that it's revised to perfection
Yes, in fact, I'm so used to that I sometimes edit my HN comments 10 to 15 times, and get frustrated when the "edit" link disappears.
But the initial one is always easy to write. I don't wonder "geez, what could I say?". It also often sucks, full of typo, things that could be badly interpreted, and so on.
Funny thing is, I'm currently learning to let it suck. Invest less energy. And as this thread proves, I'm failing miserably at it :)
When I write, the premise is I attempt to turn shit to gold, eventually.
Closer to the truth is as described in this article, writing is more like blind plumbing work. It's very revisional. Whole paragraphs and pages are reworked and outright deleted left and right. The final script is rarely in the order you started. Then your editor goes to work, butchering your baby. It's very painful, but you know this is the way to end up with something the reader finds readable.
Reading a published novel as a wannabe author, you must keep in mind that it's revised to perfection. Repeatedly hammered like a Japanese sword. Writing is definitely a forging process and not magic.