or, Don’t Read so Close to You - Andy Summers talked about listening to song takes in different locations for better insights. Does that work for writing, too?
I'm not sure change of place does it for me. I just spent two weeks in a sunny climate and my productivity took a sharp dip! Although, I'll relocate to a different place for 6 weeks this summer (running away from the Texas heat), like we always do, and from experience those weeks are good. I tend to work on something else than what keeps me occupied at home - a new project, a final editing on something that has been waiting for me for months. New place, new project seems to be the key.
We all need breaks from time to time for renewing ourselves. Holidays mean a break from the everyday things we do, so your two weeks in a sunny place without being productive sound reasonable. Don't forget, you'll have absorbed a lot of impressions while away and they may turn up in a future writing project. It does sound like your longer break away works well for you.
Yes -- the beach can be distracting, that's for sure! We're in the middle of our third storm in a week, and I'm tired of snowblowing. Crashing in a cabana bar for a week sounds perfect...
And yeah, there seems to be something about starting a new project in a new place, isn't there? New environment, new vibe, new writing...
I'm out doing errands on another snowy morning. Feeling rather bedraggled, I've taken a break in a coffee shop with wifi. Yesterday, I sent a creative nonfiction piece to someone I know who has excellent editing skills. I read her comments and considered some other things I noticed. I'll be making some changes when I go home. You might be onto something, Graham. Thanks for this.
I have not thought about changing venues and I will definitely give it a try to see if it makes any difference. I do know that the draft I review with my first early morning coffee, does not present the same as when I read it late in the evening. It seems that morning writing gathers and adds words, while night writing is the time to delete them, to cull the unnecessary. And, secondly, I read all my work aloud to see how the words feel on the tongue and I record my drafts to hear which words are stumbled over and which form "melodies". This aural/oral testing is especially crucial for creating natural dialog. Thank you, Graham, for encouraging me to think about these processes.
Mary mentioned reading out loud -- a tip I've heard about but haven't really tried to much. I might have to put that one on the list.
Isn't it interesting though, the ebb and flow of your writing process? Creative in the morning, analytical at night. That's a helpful talent to have, I would imagine!
Actually, the editing is my favorite part of the process — finding the exact right word and sentence structure, and most of all, determining what to delete. I find the thing I delete most is my last paragraph. In my career, I wrote a lot of journal articles and academic papers, all of which call for a “conclusion”. I have to remind myself all the time - no conclusion, no summary necessary in fiction! Fiction readers come to their own conclusions.
You and Andy Summers may be on to something. My usual routine is to write at my desk listening to music. My editing environment changes depending on the season: colder weather will find me on my bed. Warmer weather will find me in the front porch or on the deck. But editing is done without music because I read my WIP out loud, My ears as well as my eyes are put to work.
Isn't that interesting? My natural inclination has always been to read where I write. I never even thought about it. When I was doing the last edits on my first novel, I did print the whole thing out. However at the time, I didn't make the connection between printing a copy and changing the context. Such an interesting dynamic when you see it.
I'm not sure change of place does it for me. I just spent two weeks in a sunny climate and my productivity took a sharp dip! Although, I'll relocate to a different place for 6 weeks this summer (running away from the Texas heat), like we always do, and from experience those weeks are good. I tend to work on something else than what keeps me occupied at home - a new project, a final editing on something that has been waiting for me for months. New place, new project seems to be the key.
We all need breaks from time to time for renewing ourselves. Holidays mean a break from the everyday things we do, so your two weeks in a sunny place without being productive sound reasonable. Don't forget, you'll have absorbed a lot of impressions while away and they may turn up in a future writing project. It does sound like your longer break away works well for you.
Yes -- the beach can be distracting, that's for sure! We're in the middle of our third storm in a week, and I'm tired of snowblowing. Crashing in a cabana bar for a week sounds perfect...
And yeah, there seems to be something about starting a new project in a new place, isn't there? New environment, new vibe, new writing...
I'm out doing errands on another snowy morning. Feeling rather bedraggled, I've taken a break in a coffee shop with wifi. Yesterday, I sent a creative nonfiction piece to someone I know who has excellent editing skills. I read her comments and considered some other things I noticed. I'll be making some changes when I go home. You might be onto something, Graham. Thanks for this.
That's great to hear, Jenny! Glad it was helpful. I find it gives a whole new perspective on perspectives... lol
I have not thought about changing venues and I will definitely give it a try to see if it makes any difference. I do know that the draft I review with my first early morning coffee, does not present the same as when I read it late in the evening. It seems that morning writing gathers and adds words, while night writing is the time to delete them, to cull the unnecessary. And, secondly, I read all my work aloud to see how the words feel on the tongue and I record my drafts to hear which words are stumbled over and which form "melodies". This aural/oral testing is especially crucial for creating natural dialog. Thank you, Graham, for encouraging me to think about these processes.
Like you, Sharron, I read my work aloud, well actually I do more whispering and muttering. I don't record.
👍🏻🩷
Mary mentioned reading out loud -- a tip I've heard about but haven't really tried to much. I might have to put that one on the list.
Isn't it interesting though, the ebb and flow of your writing process? Creative in the morning, analytical at night. That's a helpful talent to have, I would imagine!
Actually, the editing is my favorite part of the process — finding the exact right word and sentence structure, and most of all, determining what to delete. I find the thing I delete most is my last paragraph. In my career, I wrote a lot of journal articles and academic papers, all of which call for a “conclusion”. I have to remind myself all the time - no conclusion, no summary necessary in fiction! Fiction readers come to their own conclusions.
You and Andy Summers may be on to something. My usual routine is to write at my desk listening to music. My editing environment changes depending on the season: colder weather will find me on my bed. Warmer weather will find me in the front porch or on the deck. But editing is done without music because I read my WIP out loud, My ears as well as my eyes are put to work.
I read mine too, Mary.
Isn't that interesting? My natural inclination has always been to read where I write. I never even thought about it. When I was doing the last edits on my first novel, I did print the whole thing out. However at the time, I didn't make the connection between printing a copy and changing the context. Such an interesting dynamic when you see it.
And yes - reading out loud is a good one, too!