“And this is how I want you to serve it to me”

This is another posting on the “writing process”. When I am working on the initial brainstorming of an idea to write about I find it is best not to talk about it. It inevitably leads to a conversation I like to call “And this how I want you to serve it to me.” Writing is not like making an order at a fast food joint. I believe it was Stephen King who said that you have to write the first draft with the door closed. The “first draft” conversation with others (especially non writers and people who are not “creative” to begin with) starts becoming argumentative on how their “idea” is the perfect solution to the problem. All I have to do is just write down what is being dictated to me. I am going to let you in on something. I can generate a massive volume of ideas on a writing project. And about 70-80 percent of them I do not use. It is “organic” process for me. It is just not a mechanical process where Tab A goes into Slot B. So I cannot understand why others think their “idea” is automatically going to bat a thousand. It also sets me up for the “assassination” where my ideas are downplayed and ignored. I have learned to translate the code. Examples. When I hear “That’s nice” translates as “I am not interested.” Or “It’s different” means “I don’t get it”. “I haven’t had time to read what you wrote.” is another way to say, “I won’t.” And so on. I think the hardest part of writing is trying to find where the audience is regards to what I have written. It reminds me of the Bugs Bunny cartoon where he is passionately leading the orchestra only to hear the sounds of crickets when he is done. It is a “give and take” process that I have not completely figured out at this time. It is a “balancing act” too. I have to write what I want. But I need some feedback to see what I have written from another perspective. The other part about writing is you cannot tell a person what to create but respond to what has been created. To paraphrase Stephen King the first draft the door is closed but after that it is wide open. I hope the following makes sense. You can’t tell what you want written but you can tell about how what was written worked or not for you. You have to trust the author has something to say and hopefully ends up saying it.

To sum this all up.

I have to accept the writings that I do that “fail” as much as I accept the ones that “succeed.”

I am not sure who said this,” A good writer needs a good bullshit detector.”

And find those willing to test to see if it is working.

Writing is like trying to get out of the corner you painted yourself into.