Thursday, November 8, 2012

Dangerous business



"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." ~ LotR, Bilbo


Writing a book is an adventure. But more importantly, it is your adventure. Each and every book in the world holds bits and pieces of its' author. It is the soul, the child, and masterpiece, of all they want to accomplish. Nobody ever started a book for no reason.

Pinned ImageBooks tell a lot about an author. They define the struggles, the aches and pains, the turmoil, in one person's heart. It glimpses the passions, desires, and longings that surround them. Pictures of rosie sunsets come on days when moods are high with excitement. Thunderstorms roll over the horizon of your world when days are gloomy and tears are hiding behind quivering eyelashes. This is not something a reader can know about. It is something only a fellow writer can feel and explain.

I know one thing is true for me. Every mood I am in sets the course for what I am writing. If I am angry, I write an angry scene. If I am excited, energy all round! If I am in pain, my poor character can expect a wound. This is not something I do just because it relieves me. I do it because, when I am mad, I can make sense of anger. When I am excited, my joy leaps to the skies. When I am hurting, I can describe the pain. Writing what you feel about something is a way to not only make it real, but make it alive.





Your own books are not the only ones that will speak to what you feel and write. The kind of books you read, the kind of books you like, are going to define your writing. They will shape and influence your style. And they will master the ideas and adventures that fly through your imagination.

I don't think anyone can claim to be a writer and not love to read books, to sit with them, to loose yourself inside them. Books are the end work of all we are trying to accomplish. If you cannot appreciate what another writer has completed, how can you except to find others to value yours.

I think it is good to surround yourself with an eclectic mixture of books, both for the development of your mind and your writing.

Find books with great plot structure. Find books with solid, flesh and blood characters. Find books with great dialogue, intriguing twists, and fantastic adventures. Find books that are different, books that are touching, books that are creative. Don't just read fantasy. Don't just read historical. Don't just read point-of-fact, news, or inspirational. Take every book for its own merit.

This was a bit of a rambling post, but I think it more or less spilled out what I wanted to say. *_*


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11 comments:

  1. I really liked this post. No, REALLY. I don't know, it just *clicked* with me or something.

    I'm a little different when I write, though. I don't write how I feel, I end up feeling how I write. If I'm up to an energetic scene, I'm usually pounding around the house. If I'm killing off characters (which happens more then I should admit) I'm a little withdrawn.

    Anyway. I LIKED this post. I don't think you should excuse yourself for *rambling*. It wasn't!!

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    1. Aw, thank you Cait!!! I'm so glad!

      That makes a lot of sense. And I think I do that too, sometimes. I have just found for myself, it is easier to write what is going on inside me.

      Hehe, ok. :D Thank you!

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  2. Lovely post! I think it says everything it needs to, and it's impossible to do that without a little bit of ramble ;)

    I'm not a big emotional girl when I write - I tend to channel memories of emotions into certain passages to fuel them, or if i'm in a certain mood I'll push that onto the bit I need, rather than just letting it make a mess of something else. But I'm a control freak, sooooooo :P

    Fantastic stuff there!

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    1. Aw... channeling emotions! I like that! It has a hint of the mysterious to it.

      LOL!!!! Thank you!!!

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  3. I loove this and Lord of the Rings:)

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  4. A lovely summary of the heart of writing ... recording life on paper for our characters. And enjoying a good book where characters become real - my favorite hobby. :) Visiting from WOE.

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    1. Thank you for dropping by!!!
      Yes, two wonderful things....ahhhh... :D

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  5. Wise words. I'm so glad I decided to stop by from WOE. You've expressed so much here that I can relate to. The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings may be my favorite books ever. I've read all of them four times and never saw the movies because I already had that world so etched into my imagination that I didn't want that spoiled by anyone else's interpretation.

    Today I wrote a short piece on "Characters" that you might find interesting. So nice to make your acquaintance.

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    1. Thanks! I'm honored! Yes, they are simply incredible! But, I would say, the movies are worth the watch. There are lots of things left out, but they are still masterfully done!

      I'm going to go look at that! You are welcome to join this sight if you are interested! Would love to hear your comments! :D

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  6. Exactly! "Let your writing voice be heard, not changed by some critic. ;) "

    You are very wise! :)

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