Arose late this morning. Copy of 'The Writer' came yesterday, so I stayed up. Sure, we already know what the articles will say. How do we cope with what we already know? No magic pill. Hate to say it, but seems HW (It's difficult just saying the words), but hard work is the only answer. Question is: Is an hour with the magazine, more productive than an hour pouring over rewrites?
Does reading how other authors cope, inspire us? We all know the rules: (Use the active voice, omit needless words, revise and rewrite). Is this an hour of motivation? A need refueling? Our anti-depression medicine?
Well, I read it cover to cover. Tells you where I stand. I'm not alone, others struggle just like me. I'm not alone with my procrastination, with my computer that won't comply, with my too complicated plots. Hell, if they can do it...!
One article stood out. 'What a Character.' Explains how Charles Dickens developed such memorable characters. We remember his characters by how they reacted to their environment. Again one of our rules: 'Show don't tell.' After reading it, I'll be thinking show, show, show, all day today with my rewrites.
The article is worth the price. I write action and dialogue, with minimal description, to move my story. The reader will know what my character is thinking through words and action. Readers skip most lengthy description anyway, but not dialogue. Faster for the reader, and more interesting. What do you think? Any comments? Any other good magazines out there?
Thanks for reading. Gotta get to my rewrites! Until tomorrow,
Cornelius Butterfield
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