{"id":1646,"date":"2012-04-18T06:59:37","date_gmt":"2012-04-18T10:59:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.siriuspress.com\/studio\/?p=1646"},"modified":"2012-04-18T06:40:01","modified_gmt":"2012-04-18T10:40:01","slug":"enjoy-the-ride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.siriuspress.com\/studio\/2012\/04\/enjoy-the-ride\/","title":{"rendered":"Enjoy the Ride"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Karl Sprague | Twitter: @karlsprague<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Incredible<\/a>

Incredible scenery on the road in Banff National Park | Photo by Alaskan Dude on Flickr<\/p><\/div>\n

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I\u2019m convinced that the creative process for fiction writers is a messy mixture of imagination, insecurity, and wee bit of insanity. Combine ingredients, shake well, then get the synapses to start firing, and wait for sheer genius to flow from every pore in your body.<\/p>\n

I can only speak for myself, but I don\u2019t frequently stare at a blank screen, my fingers poised at the keyboard, waiting for ideas or inspiration. No, more likely, I\u2019ll be pounding away on the keys, creating something clever or profound . . . before I realize that it has nothing to do with the manuscript I\u2019m working on, or the blog I\u2019m writing. Some of my best writing, unfortunately, has been zapped into the great digital void by the delete key, because it didn\u2019t fit.\u00a0 OK, I have to be honest. Some of my worst writing has suffered the same fate.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve read in a number of books and blogs that writers should never edit while they write, because the muse is fickle, and you don\u2019t want to interrupt her when she\u2019s on a roll. But it sure seems that you can waste a lot of time and creative juices in the process. \u00a0I\u2019ve tried to go the other route and write the perfect paragraph before moving on and then spent an entire day on twelve sentences. If that kind of discipline is required to be a successful writer, I\u2019ll pass.\u00a0 I\u2019m just not wired that way.<\/p>\n

I started out with a writing process that was a little schizophrenic, a little neurotic and definitely not productive.\u00a0 It involved writing a blog or a story in a vacuum and then posting it and waiting for the world to react. I\u2019d wait all of two minutes before the internal voices would begin.<\/p>\n

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\u201c<\/span>Sometimes you need to have the confidence that when you write you can draw on an ancient and mystical force…\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cIt was pretty good, wasn\u2019t it?\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I think so, but what if they don\u2019t get it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat???\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I blew it.\u00a0 I should have looked at it one more time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, they\u2019ll get it once they read it. \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat if they already read it and hated it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat could explain why I haven\u2019t heard anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSettle down, maybe they just haven\u2019t seen it yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re kidding yourself. You can\u2019t send out drivel like that any more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDrivel? It wasn\u2019t that bad, was it?\u201d<\/p>\n

So then I go back and re-read it. \u201cIt was pretty good, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d . . . and I repeat the process all over again.\u00a0 Within a half hour, I\u2019m a basket case. That was the routine with the weekly blog. But the hundred thousand word manuscript? I was in a near-catatonic state waiting two weeks for feedback from a freelance editor.<\/p>\n

Over a period of time I realized two things: I couldn\u2019t wait until I had finished product to get some kind of feedback and a conversation with myself was not productive \u2013 or healthy.\u00a0 So I discovered the answer by involving some other people in the conversation . . . and going for a drive.<\/p>\n

Now when I write, I picture myself driving in a car to an outstanding destination. You can come up with your own version of this, but here is what works for me, and why:<\/p>\n

Destination:<\/strong> Currently I\u2019m on the road to Banff, to take in the beauty of Lake Louise. Your destination (the book, article, blog, etc.) has to be appealing enough to be worth the journey. When you finally arrive (and complete your book \/ project, etc.) it will be beautiful \u2013 and rewarding.<\/p>\n

\"Pontiac<\/a>

Pontiac Firebird | Photo by Stokpic on Flickr<\/p><\/div>\n

Vehicle:<\/strong> I\u2019m driving a 1969 Pontiac Firebird.\u00a0 It\u2019s a convertible.\u00a0 And it will fly. The engine rumbles. Heads turn. As you write, enjoy the ride! It will get monotonous and challenge you along the way, so make sure that you still get a thrill when you sit behind the wheel.<\/p>\n

My role:<\/strong> I\u2019m driving.\u00a0 Ultimately, I\u2019m responsible for getting us there.\u00a0 So I have to control when we go, how fast we drive, when we stop, and what route we take to get there.\u00a0 As a writer, I can\u2019t delegate these responsibilities. I want to be in charge.\u00a0 I need to be in charge.<\/p>\n

The passengers<\/strong> \u2013 and each one plays a critical role:<\/p>\n

\"Hunter<\/a>

Hunter S. Thompson | Photo by billypalooza on Flickr<\/p><\/div>\n

Hunter S. Thompson<\/a> \u2013 he sits in the back seat, as far away from me as possible.\u00a0 When he\u2019s coherent, he\u2019s the agitator, and always looking for excitement. He occasionally screams, \u201cThis is boring! Let\u2019s get this baby up to 140 miles an hour!\u201d Sometimes he smacks me in the back of the head and cracks up if it causes me to swerve off the road.\u00a0 He breaks out the hallucinogens every once in a while, but he always goes to excess, and then passes out.\u00a0 Thankfully.\u00a0 As a writer, you need to push the limits. Stretch us. Stretch yourself.\u00a0 Make Hunter proud.<\/p>\n

Eeyore<\/a> \u2013 he sits right behind me, so that he\u2019s within reach if I need to punch him while I\u2019m driving. He constantly says things like \u201cWe\u2019ll never get there;\u201d \u201cI\u2019ll bet you\u2019re lost;\u201d and \u201cWho\u2019s going to read this garbage?\u201d\u00a0 Eeyore serves a dual purpose. You don\u2019t need everyone telling you how great your writing is.\u00a0 Occasionally you need a pessimist voice, just to keep you honest, so long as it doesn\u2019t overwhelm the conversation. But even more importantly, there are times when it just feels good to punch the pessimist in the nose and shut him up.<\/p>\n

Gandalf<\/a> \u2013 he sits in the middle, in between Hunter and Eeyore.\u00a0 He helps me navigate and sometimes points out things that I\u2019d never see when it\u2019s raining or dark outside.\u00a0 He\u2019s also helpful to have around, in case I\u2019ve driven into a ditch or I\u2019m completely lost. He keeps the forces of evil at bay.\u00a0 Sometimes you need to have the confidence that when you write you can draw on an ancient and mystical force – and know that all your hard work can lead to something magical.<\/p>\n

\"Grace<\/a>

Grace Kelly | Photo by targophoto.com on Flickr<\/p><\/div>\n

Grace Kelly<\/a> \u2013 she rides shotgun in the passenger seat.\u00a0 She lets me know that this is a noble pursuit, and there\u2019s a certain amount of grace required in the writing process (sorry for the Grace \/ grace, but trust me, the reminder works).\u00a0 Now that she has returned to the US after her royalty gig in Monaco, she constantly asks, \u201cWhat did I miss?\u201d \u00a0I want to be the one to show her this world \u2013 my world. Confidentially, I want to impress her. \u00a0Your writing should not appeal to the least common denominator.\u00a0 Help us discover a new way to look at the world through your eyes . . . and your words. Make us glad we took the journey with you.<\/p>\n

The writing journey can be therapeutic, and sometimes it is liberating.\u00a0 But it can also be lonely. You may be visited by demons, which can wreak havoc with your creativity and confidence.\u00a0 So don\u2019t go alone.\u00a0 Pick an awesome destination.\u00a0 Assemble your crew carefully. Then enjoy the ride. We can\u2019t wait to read about it.<\/p>\n

~~*~~<\/p>\n

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Biography<\/h3>\n
\"Karl<\/a>

Karl Sprague<\/p><\/div>\n

Karl Sprague<\/strong> is\u00a0a writer and executive coach.\u00a0 His blog, The Short Distance, can be found at www.karlsprague.com<\/a>. He has completed a manuscript for a thriller entitled Castro\u2019s Shadow<\/span>.<\/p>\n

You can follow him on Twitter\u00a0@karlsprague<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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