Comments on: The Maybe Flower - What Maybe Does to Your Writing

By: Jamie Grove

Jamie Grove — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:44:43 +0000

@ABE Fear of success is my biggie, so I with you on being afraid to finish your work. You should definitely check out Ralph Keyes Courage to Write. The book addresses many different writing fears and offers great support and advice for kicking. P.S. Welcome back!

@Charlie Thanks! P.S. Great shot of the Corona Portable Model #3 on your site!!!

By: Charlie

Charlie — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:54:54 +0000

Your imagery surrounding the Maybe Flower is now plastered over my desktop as an inspiration (to finish what I start before moving on). I’ve been unwittingly growing Maybe Flowers for ages, as they’re so pretty to look at. Oh, and double well done for getting the word ‘bricolage’ in. Marvellous.

Charlie

By: A. B. England @ Tekaran Lady

A. B. England @ Tekaran Lady — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:41:50 +0000

Interesting concept, Jamie. Come to think of it, I can see where a field or two of "maybe flowers" are what has kept me working on the same blasted novel for more than a decade. It started out with fears about my writing talent, and now I think I'm kind of afraid of finishing it, odd as it sounds. A. B. England @ Tekaran Lady's last blog post..Returning from Maternity Leave

By: Jamie Grove

Jamie Grove — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:14:43 +0000

@Lady O Trout Oh, I don’t think that blogging is the best way to write a book. Blogging is the best way to write a blog, but that doesn’t mean that the practice of blogging won’t help you. In fact, by blogging and reaching out to the community of writers you may very well find your voice. Just make sure that you keep your eye on the goal and don’t let your blogging distract you from your goal.

That’s sort of the heart of this piece. Focus and don’t let the Maybe Flowers take root in the garden of your mind.

Of course, if this fails, just sit down at the keyboard and write. Then come back the next day and the next and the next… In fact, this is the only reliable method I have discovered. It works every time.

As for the universal question of what to write, perhaps a better question is what’s keeping you from having something to write about? Are you hiding something under the covers? Is there something you are terrified of, but in fact are desperately wanting to put down on paper?

Write about the thing that turns you inside out. If your hands aren’t shaking, then dig deeper.

Trust me. Once you’ve written the words that hit you that hard, you won’t have any trouble at all finding things to write about. Everything else will be easy.

Thanks for stopping in, Kelly. From your sites, it looks like you are writing a lot already. I hope this helps.

By: Lady O Trout

Lady O Trout — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:46:24 +0000

I dont know where to start. Is blogging the best way? I have friends that just say write anything, but what is “anything?”

By: Jamie Grove

Jamie Grove — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:34:28 +0000

@Karen Best of luck! I’ll check in on your gardening exercises.

@WriterDad I just read a bit about setting ideas aside in Orson Scott Card’s How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy. This is a great book even if you aren’t into that genre. Card’s advice on learning to spot the right time for a story is excellent. Thanks for commenting!

By: Writer Dad

Writer Dad — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:52:10 +0000

So true. I have one novel that I've been picking the bones of every day for a year, and three others I've started because maybe that one isn't the one. Writer Dad's last blog post..Batman Left My Wife Lying Broken on the Floor

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:23:08 +0000

My Maybe Flower has grown into a jungle that requires a machete to chop through it. Thanks to you, I’m strapping on my wading boots, grabbing the machete and heading in – if I’m not back soon, send the rescue squad!

By: I’ve Just Been Nailed « Inept Writer

I’ve Just Been Nailed « Inept Writer — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:08:51 +0000

[...] How Not To Write has a post that pretty much nails me to the wall. [...]

By: Deb

Deb — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:58:58 +0000

Okay Jamie, it’s up; and it’s still Friday.

And a big thumbs-up on what Wendi said. “Defenders of the written word.” I have to share that with my NaNo buddies. Most of them are into fantasy and gaming and they will be all over that. Hey maybe we’ve found a candidate for our motto this year.

Deb’s last blog post..Not finished, or just never started