Forget About Reaching The Top

About a decade, I listened to part of a TED talk someone shared with me.

The speaker was an author (can't recall her name), who'd found success (can't recall with what) and was speaking on that topic (sort of).

But her point was absolutely memorable. And it's something to ponder, especially if you've set any goals in your life.

By the way, it's good to set goals. Keep doing it.

However, she said that we spend so much focusing on the top of the mountain when most of our time is actually spent climbing that mountain - and then climbing back down.

Most of us don't mind the climb up if we feel the goal is attainable. We strive and push for the prize.

Yet the view at the top, however breathtaking and spectacular it must be, lasts for a short time. We then must descend the mountain.

And she said we forget to prepare for that descent.

In fact, for anyone who has outshone someone else (or even outshone yourself) must keep in mind someone else (sooner than you can possibly realize) will be faster, smarter, more succinct, etc.

We will spend most of our time in life on the journey up or the journey down.

We should strive, yes.

Nevertheless, we should also know where most of life happens.

The view there is pretty good, too.

Illustration by Christopher Gleason for "Staked!"

Dialogue is Essential

“I’ve never seen, heard, nor smelled an issue that was so dangerous it couldn’t be talked about. Hell yes, I’m for debating anything!”


That is one of the quotes from one of my (and my family's) favorite movies: "1776."

And if anything summed up our family motto, this quote would do it.

Probably nothing got under my children's stepfather's skin more than their tendency to debate just about everything.

But if you're a person giving feedback to someone's writing, back and forth conversation (and a bit of debate) is essential.

Only then can you understand what the writer is trying to convey and how the writer is trying to convey it.

Don't be the "expert" who feels a story can only by told "this way" or "that way" or must have "these elements" or (horrors!) should not be written at all.

Be the person who can offer useful feedback so the writer can writer his/her/it best story possible.

And if you're the writer, be open but don't blindly accept the criticism of any beta reader/editor who is not also open to healthy debate - or at the very least, your questions about the critique.

One member of WriteOn Joliet wrote a good post about this topic.

It's called "Workshop Warnings" and you can read it here:

http://www.writingandtheprocess.com/2020/03/workshop-warnings.html?fbclid=IwAR2T3EFNF8fCJJrskExxav1K58rnw8BG5r4NrKB4_gjklFkpOicqPIaIZCU

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

The Best Writing Advice Ever

I found this in my "drafts" section. I wrote this on Sept. 14, 2015.

I no longer recall what prompted me to write it, or where I was heading with it. But the advice, as written, is solid, it stands. And I still follow it.

So here ya go!


You've heard it say that most writing is rewriting, and it is true.

Second to writing is learning about writing. Keep learning and relearning.

Learn how to construct a great first chapter, scene, characters, plot. Learn about development, point of view, perspective, world-building, avoidance of cliches.

Even when you learn, you forget. Relearn it again. Learn something new.

And then write again, And write something new.

And if you can't write something new, write something old, but write it differently.

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

Sometimes the Best Writing Advice is Still...

...simply to write.

We spend so much time trying to get it write, we paralyze the process of moving words from brain to page.

Or when the words don't flow, we revert to creative procrastination or time-wasting distraction.

So just write.

A word.

A character's name.

A phrase.

A snippet of dialogue.

Starting in the middle or the end.

Or sometimes, as I did once for a "Kellen" chapter in Before the Blood, I started the character walking down a path, uncertain where he'd wind up. (I was determined not to lose a full Saturday of writing possibilities to a sluggish muse. And the technique worked).

And speaking of writing, I'm off to do the same.

Happy Tuesday, vampire fans! :)