The idea that writing is a craft has been lost by many so-called authors I think. I find authors who just let things grow organically without a tight plot to be mediocre usually. Unless the author is absolutely brilliant, a one in a million type, you'll get the sort of stories that meander around and are less true to the characters than these who began with a plan, imo.
I'm sorry if this offends some budding authors here but writing, like anything artistic, is a craft. You have to plan and work at it - you have to practice, plot, and hone your stories - not just stream of consciousness spew out some cool ideas.
I look at it this way - Da Vinci did sketches, in depth studies, false starts, and reconfiguring of his art and he WAS brilliant. So unless you're better than the masters, you probably need to write by numbers or it's not a craft.
There are probably only 10 authors alive today who could write something great organically. I think the rest is just mediocre filler that may climb up the Best Selling lists. LKH believes she's one of those 10.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2007-10-23 03:23 am (UTC)I'm sorry if this offends some budding authors here but writing, like anything artistic, is a craft. You have to plan and work at it - you have to practice, plot, and hone your stories - not just stream of consciousness spew out some cool ideas.
I look at it this way - Da Vinci did sketches, in depth studies, false starts, and reconfiguring of his art and he WAS brilliant. So unless you're better than the masters, you probably need to write by numbers or it's not a craft.
There are probably only 10 authors alive today who could write something great organically. I think the rest is just mediocre filler that may climb up the Best Selling lists. LKH believes she's one of those 10.