A New Way to Think About Creativity

So I've noticed that a LOT of people on my flist are freaking out in various ways, shapes and forms about their writing lately. A lot have writer's block, a lot are worried about summergen, a lot are simply concerned that their writing isn't any good anymore/ever.

One of my friends, an actual professional, published author, pointed me to this video of Elizabeth Gilbert, and it changed the way I though about my writing.

She makes a very compelling case for the "butt in chair" approach to writing/creating anything, and I love the way she puts it.

It's a longish video (19 minutes), but it is WORTH watching. Especially if you're a writer, especially if you're having trouble with your writing. Take the time to watch it. :)

So show up for your writing. Put your butt in your chair and your fingers on your keyboard (or your pen to paper). Even if you get only one sentence written, you will know that you upheld your end of the bargain.

A New Way to Think About Creativity

So I've noticed that a LOT of people on my flist are freaking out in various ways, shapes and forms about their writing lately. A lot have writer's block, a lot are worried about summergen, a lot are simply concerned that their writing isn't any good anymore/ever.

One of my friends, an actual professional, published author, pointed me to this video of Elizabeth Gilbert, and it changed the way I though about my writing.

She makes a very compelling case for the "butt in chair" approach to writing/creating anything, and I love the way she puts it.

It's a longish video (19 minutes), but it is WORTH watching. Especially if you're a writer, especially if you're having trouble with your writing. Take the time to watch it. :)

So show up for your writing. Put your butt in your chair and your fingers on your keyboard (or your pen to paper). Even if you get only one sentence written, you will know that you upheld your end of the bargain.

And now I wibble more about writing ;)

So after the last inspirational post, in which I'm all "Positive Energy YAY!" I'm going to complain bitterly that, while I am upholding my end of the bargain, I am having trouble with my castielfest fic.

Did I mention that I shouldn't write crossovers? They stress me out. :P

Anyway, I have the basic premise in my head. The problem is that I'm not nearly as familiar with the other show, although I do love it. I've never really written fic except for SPN, and I'm having a bit of trouble getting into the heads of the characters.

I've also got this quasi-OCD thing when I write, that I like my chapters and sections to be of equal length. I don't know where I got this little compulsion, and I don't even know if it's a valid concern. I mean, who cares apart from me if one chapter is 900 words and another is 2000? Do people notice this kind of thing? Is it just me?

So I have to work out my structure. I have, again, vague ideas for how it should work, but I haven't really figured out all the nuts and bolts. Also, people have already started posting to castielfest and it's seriously stressing me out that I haven't even remotely come close to finishing the story yet. I've barely scratched the surface of the set-up. I know that in theory I have until August 9th, but all these people are already posting and it's pushing my internal "you suck" button.

Meow.

Life is hard. ;)

And now I wibble more about writing ;)

So after the last inspirational post, in which I'm all "Positive Energy YAY!" I'm going to complain bitterly that, while I am upholding my end of the bargain, I am having trouble with my castielfest fic.

Did I mention that I shouldn't write crossovers? They stress me out. :P

Anyway, I have the basic premise in my head. The problem is that I'm not nearly as familiar with the other show, although I do love it. I've never really written fic except for SPN, and I'm having a bit of trouble getting into the heads of the characters.

I've also got this quasi-OCD thing when I write, that I like my chapters and sections to be of equal length. I don't know where I got this little compulsion, and I don't even know if it's a valid concern. I mean, who cares apart from me if one chapter is 900 words and another is 2000? Do people notice this kind of thing? Is it just me?

So I have to work out my structure. I have, again, vague ideas for how it should work, but I haven't really figured out all the nuts and bolts. Also, people have already started posting to castielfest and it's seriously stressing me out that I haven't even remotely come close to finishing the story yet. I've barely scratched the surface of the set-up. I know that in theory I have until August 9th, but all these people are already posting and it's pushing my internal "you suck" button.

Meow.

Life is hard. ;)

Day 5: 30 Days of Supernatural

Day 05 - Your favourite episode

Dear Meme,

Please to stop with the impossible questions. Thank you.

If I really have to pick, then it would be "The Usual Suspects." Yes, it's Season 2. It has Linda Blair, and the boys being the boys, and it's THE episode I like to quote at people to illustrate the Winchester Mind Meld™ that the boys have going on in Season 2. It's a tightly-written casefic, too, and stands alone really well while still fitting into the overall arc. In short it's a really strong early-season episode, and I love it with much love.

It's a close call with others, though: Faith, Mystery Spot, Home... plenty of others that I loved.



( More images under the cut )

Day 5: 30 Days of Supernatural

Day 05 - Your favourite episode

Dear Meme,

Please to stop with the impossible questions. Thank you.

If I really have to pick, then it would be "The Usual Suspects." Yes, it's Season 2. It has Linda Blair, and the boys being the boys, and it's THE episode I like to quote at people to illustrate the Winchester Mind Meld™ that the boys have going on in Season 2. It's a tightly-written casefic, too, and stands alone really well while still fitting into the overall arc. In short it's a really strong early-season episode, and I love it with much love.

It's a close call with others, though: Faith, Mystery Spot, Home... plenty of others that I loved.



( More images under the cut )

Signal boost!

No, no. I haven't signed up. I just think it looks really cool, so I'm pimping it out. I am NOT going to sign up for this unless I've reached a specific number of completed stories by the time the deadline comes up.

Now, normally all my challenges should be written by then. First drafts for both remaining Big Bangs (the Dean/Cas one and the werewolf one), and everything but the two bingo cards is due way before then.

In the meantime, though, I have a few other projects on the go, so I'm not allowed to sign up unless I've written one installment a week, minimum, for "Roses in December," filled at least one square of my bingo cards, and at least two prompts for spn_30snapshots.

So there. Guidelines are established, and no one has to stage an intervention because ratherastory loves signing up for challenges and doesn't know how to pace herself. ;)

Signal boost!

No, no. I haven't signed up. I just think it looks really cool, so I'm pimping it out. I am NOT going to sign up for this unless I've reached a specific number of completed stories by the time the deadline comes up.

Now, normally all my challenges should be written by then. First drafts for both remaining Big Bangs (the Dean/Cas one and the werewolf one), and everything but the two bingo cards is due way before then.

In the meantime, though, I have a few other projects on the go, so I'm not allowed to sign up unless I've written one installment a week, minimum, for "Roses in December," filled at least one square of my bingo cards, and at least two prompts for spn_30snapshots.

So there. Guidelines are established, and no one has to stage an intervention because ratherastory loves signing up for challenges and doesn't know how to pace herself. ;)