Do Spies Tell You How They Spy?

Of course not. They just do it. And the good ones do it so well, those in the underground talk about their feats.

I have been asked numerous times, especially lately, why I don't write about my writing so much. After all, this is a blog to promote myself as writer too.

I do promote myself, really, but not quite in the same way as other writers do. I really don't enjoy reading blogs that go on and on about one's own writing. For one, it's not me; I don't like talking about my characters, or how many pages I wrote, or what problems this scene is giving me, or how much I love writing. I really just enjoy the creative process while I'm doing it and not think or analyze it overly much. Take writing this blog, for example. I see it as a relaxation, as well as a promotional, tool. If I start writing about writing my writing, or telling writers how to write, or what to think of their writing, or which writing article to read, it becomes work in my head. Besides, there are thousands of writing blogs out there to help or teach or analyze, right?

Don't get me wrong. I like talking about my life as an author ;-)...it's still so new to me and definitely awe-inspiring when I get to stand close to goddesses like Linda Howard (La Linda, I call her) and stare adoringly. Now, that woman can talk about writing to me any time and I will take notes. She knows. She has written so many different genres and styles. But what does Gennita Low know that she can impart on anyone? Certainly nothing that a hundred writers hadn't told you in their blogs! You know--write your own story, write everyday, submit, enter contests, go to conferences, promote, promote, promote.... ZZZzzzzzzZzzZZzz.

Now, roofing is another matter entirely, heh. I have LOTS of interesting things to tell you about it but unfortunately, I don't think many of you want to get on a roof that desperately. LOL.

All I can tell you about my writing is that I don't plot. I just sit down, take a deep breath, and go with the flow. I'm always pleasantly surprised that words come together (and in English!) and they make sense, LOL. That's all I do. So if I write about my writing process in my blog, you'll quickly be one bored reader! By the way, I want to kill those authors that report that they wrote 15-20 pages that day and they are sooooo disappointed at that effort. Gah.

I also don't like to teach writing. Topics like Point of View, or character conflict, or why I think this is a great paragraph or that isn't just don't change any writers' minds about their own way of writing. They write by practicing to write, just as I did, and no matter how much I tell them they did great or how many times I point out how a certain element didn't work (to me), it's not going to change them unless they keep writing.

I can only show by example. And I can only teach the tools that are needed to walk that lonely path of writing. No, it's not about point of view or conflict. No, it's not about letting judges read your stuff and looking at their critiques. No, it's definitely not about reading a hundred blogs telling you how they did it. A writer's journey comes from within and you have to make the commitment to a goal, whether it's finishing that one story or just writing because you want to tell the world your stories. Believe me, there's a difference.

The tools I'm talking about are from your daily lives. I'm a roofer and this career path has taught me quite a few lessons and given me a few tools that most people don't have. I won't even name them because I'm hoping you, as the reader, can tell from my past posts. If you can't, then I, as a writer, haven't done my job, and so should be spanked with a wet noodle and sent to bed without supper.

Think about the tools you've learned from your job and daily lives. Use them for your goal, be it writing or buying a house. A dream is a dream, my friends. Don't let a thousand bloggers give you analysis-paralysis.

What are your key tools?

P/S Removed comments are spam, in case you're wondering why there are administrator-removed entries. May the fleas from a thousand camels infest these blog spammers' armpits and other body parts.

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