24 Comments

This is beautiful! And I believe it is true - we fear the blank paper, but we enjoy filling it as soon as we get started.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you! When creativity strikes, the flow is not a problem, IMO.

Editing is the real struggle.

Expand full comment
Sep 26·edited Sep 26Liked by René Volpi

It probably varies between writers - personally, I most often feel creative and can create a lot in a short time, but not always about the topic that was the plan. The trick then is to just start somewhere else, getting into the mood, and then I can change the topic.

About editing, well, it can be tough. Sometimes, I wonder who wrote it when editing, even though I know that it was me :) Sometimes, there are spelling errors and even logical errors that I wasn't aware of when writing it. But I find that I see the problems easily if I just sleep on it - get away from the text for a while and then read it again.

Nevertheless, we all have our demons. We do not all have the same, though. From craddle to toomb of the writing process, we'll each see exactly ours in the eyes a few times. But we are stronger than them: they have narrow minds, we think broader, we can win - we will win.

The most creative lacks structure. The must structured lacks creativity. The best at spelling and grammar lacks variation, and so on. The end result, however, is our personal style. The style that will be recognized by our (hopefully to come) dedicated audience :)

Expand full comment
author
Sep 26·edited Sep 26Author

I appreciate your insight on the subject. Writing/blogging on Substack is a different beast than a publishing house. And self-publishing has more cons than pros, but a decent publisher will assuredly require a perfect draft. That's when our situation gets hairy. It's a catch 22. If we are financially challenged, we can't afford an editor. If we present the draft copy without one, we usually aren't taken seriously.

Expand full comment
Sep 27Liked by René Volpi

I hate editing🤔💜

Expand full comment

Beautifully written! I can definitely relate to "I worry that no one will want to read what I've written." I'm on my tenth novel and I still feel like a fraud, regardless of winning awards and receiving praise for my books. I don't think writers ever get over that feeling.

Expand full comment
author

Much appreciated, thank you!

Your comment makes a good point. In the same vein, overconfident writers tend to suffer horribly. Their expectations are always over the top.

Expand full comment
Sep 26Liked by René Volpi

Your writing is so eloquent & picturesque!

Expand full comment
author

Thank you! It's hard to write left-handed after the stroke in May.

Expand full comment

Wow; so sorry to read about your stroke. I was not aware. I hope that you are on your way to recovery, with physio and whatever it takes.

Animal therapy with Arya helped me; I am serious. He made me laugh, which quickened my healing.

I had to write with my left hand when i dislocated my right shoulder and fractured my arm in 2019. It was not easy. But eventually I regained almost full use of my right arm and hand. But I can't play tennis, a disappointment.

Expand full comment
author

It's all good! We take so much for granted in this life of ours. Glad to hear you bounced back, thou. 🙏

Expand full comment
Sep 26Liked by René Volpi

Hope you are well on your way to a complete recovery! 🙏

Expand full comment
author

Thank you, Lia. Me too! ❤️

Expand full comment

Very sorry to hear this, i hope you are recovering well 🤔💜☮️

Expand full comment
author

Thank you, Deni! I'm walking, so that's a plus. My right hand (dominant) is still weak, so that's a minus. But I'm getting stronger everyday. 🙏✌️

Expand full comment
Sep 27Liked by René Volpi

Wishing you all the very best🤗💙☮️

Expand full comment
author

🙌❤️

Expand full comment

I do not know exactly what I will say when I sit down at the keyboard, but once I start writing words, more words follow. When I was younger, the words flowed faster than I could write. It was hard to keep up; it was so kinetic. Now, the words come at a comfortable pace. I rarely finish an article or essay in one sitting. It involves many sittings, including the editing of additions and deletions.

Expand full comment

A thought? A dream? Something you heard in a conversation? It takes maybe only one word to start the thought process. Writers are a breed that dances to a different drum beat.

Expand full comment
author

Yes; an idea, a prompt, a challenge or a contest. And the ability to make it something outstanding.

Expand full comment
Sep 27Liked by René Volpi

Great article, a keeper. Maybe if I was a good writer I would have realized this. As it is, I'll archive it so I can refer to it from time to time. Thank you!

Expand full comment
author

YVW!

Expand full comment
Sep 27Liked by René Volpi

Beautifully expressed. So happy you are writing again. Sending healing love and look forward to the next brilliant insight you share with us. You are a remarkable man! Xo

Expand full comment
author

Thank you, Gypsy princess! Much love to you! ❤️🤗❤️

Expand full comment