RTW: The Write Kind of Help…
Okay, okay, that’s a bit of a cheesy blog title for this week’s Road Trip Wednesday, but please, my creative energies are all NaNo-focused, so I’m afraid you get the scrapings from the bottom of the creative barrel. And you get really long sentences too, it seems! This week’s Road Trip prompt from the YA Highway ladies is:
Share your most inspiring and/or motivational video, book, or quote on writing!
When it comes to getting motivated about writing, if I need external help, there are some videos I turn to. In particular, documentaries about or interviews with writers about their writing can help. These are easy to come by on YouTube, just by searching on an author’s name. Depending on my mood, sometimes something fictional will help. There are a couple of Columbo stories, for example, that feature writers (yes, I’m a Columbo fan), and while not strictly about the craft, they’re fun, and strangely inspiring.
Books? If I want to be inspired to write, I will either read some good fiction, or pick up Stephen King’s ON WRITING. In fact, I’ll conclude with a couple of quotes from ON WRITING. These aren’t necessarily “Go get ’em, bucko!” kind of inspirational quotes, but to be honest, the whole book is inspiring, and since it would take too long (and put me in all kinds of copyright trouble) to quote the entire book, here are a couple of gems I plucked out. Pieces of Stephen King wisdom that I happen to wholeheartedly agree with:
Talent renders the whole idea of rehearsal meaningless; when you find something at which you are talented, you do it (whatever it is) until your fingers bleed or your eyes are ready to fall out of your head. Even when no one is listening (or reading, or watching), every outing is a bravura performance, because you as the creator are happy. Perhaps even ecstatic. That goes for reading and writing as well as for playing a musical instrument, hitting a baseball, or running the four-forty.
And here’s a theological statement from Stephen King to which I can honestly say, “Amen!”:
If God gives you something you can do, why in God’s name wouldn’t you do it?
So, what’s your inspiration? What movie, book, or quote helps you through the doubts, the dry patches, or the snarky comments from well-meaning friends and/or relatives? Comment below, or join the YA Highway Road Trip (see the YA Highway blog for details on how to participate).
Oh, love that second quote. So true. Well, and the first one too!
I read On Writing, but I didn’t fall in love with the book. It was … good. Though, yes, it was nice to know the King has been writing since he was a little kid and all that happened in his life shaped him to be the great writer he is.
Thanks for sharing, Colin!
You’re welcome, Juliana. I know not every book is going to affect everyone the same way. I really didn’t want to like ON WRITING because, well, it’s Stephen King, and he writes horror, and that’s not a genre I read… but what can I say? I found his down-to-earth, tell-it-like-it-is approach refreshing and helpful. And it actually got me reading some of his books. I wanted to know how much he follows his own advice. 🙂
And yes… for the most part, he does.
I love the Harry Potter series! The books inspire me like no other. Typically when I run out of steam or motivation, I like to go back and read that old favorite!
I didn’t mention Harry Potter, because they aren’t necessarily books that continue to inspire me. However, they did give me the kick up the backside to get back into writing after a long literary hiatus. After reading the first couple of books, the thought trickled into my head: “You used to do this writing thing, and your ideas weren’t all that bad… you could write stuff like this… why don’t you do that anymore? What are you afraid of? Don’t you remember how much you used to enjoy creating worlds and characters, and making up stories…?” So, yes, Potter deserves a mention. Thanks, Julie! 🙂
On writing, huh!? I think I’m going to buy that book – those quotes are great. I really love motivational quotes, and I really love this post. I tend to draw my motivation and inspiration from a variety of sources – videos, books, quotes but also my day to day interactions, stories and tidbits I collect from people, scenes I witness…. it all builds into a big ball of motivation 🙂
Thanks, Samantha! If you search my blog, you’ll find me raving about ON WRITING in numerous places–I can’t praise it highly enough. IMO, it should be on every writer’s desk, next to Strunk and White’s ELEMENTS OF STYLE. I think one of the things I like about King is that he’s so very unpretentious. His list of must-read books includes some of the classics you might expect alongside Harry Potter. He’s not about looking good to literary critics, but about writing good stories and doing what you love regardless of what anyone else thinks.
It’s great you can find motivation in all kinds of places. That means you’ll always find some way to keep going. 🙂
I have to reply to your comment here, Colin, because what you said really struck me: “He’s not about looking good to literary critics, but about writing good stories and doing what you love regardless of what anyone else thinks.”
For the longest time, I had it in my head that my writing had to be “literary,” if that’s even a real thing. And honestly, I kind of looked down my nose at certain types and genres of books. But now, as I look at some of my favorite books – not the ones I enjoyed once, but the ones I reread again and again – I see that they aren’t highbrow by anyone’s standards (well, except To Kill A Mockingbird).
I love ON WRITING for many reasons, but that’s one of them – King writes what he loves. What he’s good at writing. And I want to do the same.
Also, I LOVE that second quote. Should be a motto for everyone, no?
Thanks for your reply, Daisy. I’m sure the literary critics can rattle of a list of reasons why certain types of books are better than others, and why reading the classics is “better” for you. But I come back to one very simple thought: we write and tell stories to communicate. If a book doesn’t speak to you in some way, whether it’s simply to entertain you, or maybe to go deep and speak to your life in some way, then I don’t care who wrote it or what genre it is–reading it won’t benefit you (other than teaching you how not to write!).
King’s literary style is not always my favorite, but the man can write–he’s very good at what he does. And what sings through his work is the fact that he loves it, That’s what counts. 🙂
And yes, that second quote is a keeper. 🙂
I loved ON WRITING. Such a good book! I didn’t expect it to be chock full of personal anecdotes, but that made it just so much better. And I have to agree with you on that last quote–Amen is right! I really need to dig into more craft books, especially after finding King’s book so helpful. Rebecca Behrens mentions BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott in her post today and it sounds pretty great too. It’s just too darn bad there are so many other awesome books in my TBR pile at present. 🙂
I’ve found the problem with craft books is that after a while, they all seem to be saying the same thing. And that’s inevitable. After all, “show, don’t tell” is an important maxim, and it should be discussed in books on writing. But after you’ve read the tenth book with a chapter on it, it gets a bit much. One of the reasons I enjoyed Monica Wood’s book, DESCRIPTION, was that she actually discusses why “show, don’t tell” should be applied with caution, and how there are times when it is actually preferable to tell, not show. So, if you want to mix it up a bit, try Monica Wood’s book! After a while, you need to find craft books that find a new way of discussing the same tried-and-true principles, that educates, affirms, and inspires. Which is why King’s book deserves to be read by every writer.
I’m such a bad Stephen King fan. I haven’t even read it yet!
Usually for inspiration fiction is what I turn quite a lot. I also tend to be motivated by writer characters so the TV programme Castle always gets me writing afterwards.
And yay Columbo! Peter Falk was awesome. I always enjoy watching the tv films. I just love how he knows straight away and plays with them until he tricks them into confessing.
* how he knows straight away who the killer is. Haha, I got so excited there I missed words out!
I’m in shock. One moment please.
OK. You haven’t read ON WRITING?! Of all people, I would have thought…! Put that on your Christmas list now, young lady! You hear?! ;D
Okay, you’re a Columbo fan too. You have redeemed yourself. 😉 Seriously, though, it’s such a clever format, because it shifts the focus of the mystery onto how Columbo solves it, not so much on who did it. We all know who did it, and, yes, within the first 5-10 mins of being on the scene, Columbo usually knows who did it. The trick is in proving it, and that’s what’s so fun to watch. How this educates us as writers is how a little creative thinking can breath new life into an old format (e.g., the whodunnit). And the Columbos that feature writers are really good fun! 🙂
Oh, and my wife really likes Castle. I’ve not seen many episodes, but it looks like a good show. 🙂
ON WRITING is very definitely the top of my “craft books I want to read” list. I’m thinking of making January craft book month–could be a good way to start the new year! And I wouldn’t have thought to Youtube videos about writers, but I’ll give it a shot! Thanks!
A few years back I began a tradition of reading ON WRITING as the first book I read each year. It helps inspire and motivate me for the year. And it’s always well worth the time to read.
Through YouTube you should find plenty of videos of writers discussing books, the craft, and even some bios of writers. Have fun! 🙂
I love both of these quotes! I bought this book a while ago, and it has been sitting on my shelf. I suppose I should read it. 🙂
Despite my initial aversion to Stephen King (you know, horror writer, not my genre, etc.), I decided to read ON WRITING because, let’s face it, King is an enormously successful writer, and if I want to be successful, I should read how-to books by successful writers. I was so glad I did. His no-nonsense approach to the topic is both entertaining, and refreshing. I highly recommend it. 🙂
Oh Stephen King, you really can’t go wrong with him. I’ve read some of the writing books he has out and they’re super helpful! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome, Valia! 🙂
Those are really awesome quotes. I think I may need to add that to my shelf of writing books. Thanks!
Here’s mine.
You’re welcome, Tyler-Rose! I can’t recommend ON WRITING highly enough. 🙂
Jaime recommended ON WRITING to me and I really should make a point of reading it. Great quotes 🙂
Jaime’s a good sister! 🙂 ON WRITING is definitely worth reading.
I LOVE On Writing! I really need to buy my own copy so that I can read it again. There are so many great quotes and the whole book in general is really inspiring.
I could have sat here and typed in pages of quotes from ON WRITING. It’s the only craft book I’ve read multiple times, and will read many time more!