"You don't start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it's good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That's why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence." Octavia Butler
Isn't that the truth?
And if you don't know Octavia Butler? I highly recommend "Wild Seed."
Fantastic book, a little dark- just the way I like it.
Keep on writing my dears, keep on writing!
Great quote! So sad, but so true!
ReplyDeleteHeh, I love this :-)
ReplyDeleteLove this. Needed to hear this. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAWESOME! Totally words of wisdom!
ReplyDeleteUrgh. What I want to know is - when does my crap cross the line into "good stuff?" And how will I know when it happens?
ReplyDelete@LeighAnn- I have no idea... but knowing that it gets better if we keep at it makes me feel better.
ReplyDelete@Cristina - LOL. I just wish he had a time frame. With a chart. Like, "Years 1-3: Don't even dare to query, you fool!" :)
ReplyDeleteDoes this go with that old saying, "My crap don't sink"? Ha! Hopefully I'll write good stuff someday. : )
ReplyDeleteGreat quote and very true!
ReplyDelete@Leigh Ann- I told my husband the other day that i wasn't even going to try to publish my WIP... the way I look at it is.. it' my first attempt, as much as I love my story, I have no skills, it won't be good enough... so this is a learning piece.
ReplyDeletewhen I finally get a book published.. I want it to be so good that readers will say, wow that was amazing, I just have to read her next story, NOT eh, that was alright and not care if I ever publish something else.
My first attempt at a novel? won't be that book.... but I will give it my all so the next one is even better
so, so much work ahead of me
Well...that's one way to cope, I suppose!
ReplyDeleteFor me, the writing is a survival tactic - the way that I attempt to find some joy amidst (surprise!) some pretty crushing depression. I think that *knowing* my book won't go anywhere would defeat the purpose. I'm choosing to believe this second one is THE ONE, even though it looks like the first is going in the drawer.
(You know I adore you, right? Right.)
I know I love my stories too much sometimes. But, with TGT I can't help think this is the one. And, I will try to make it the one, until a bunch of people tell it's not. I have a lot of other ideas in my head, and TGT has taught me a lot.
ReplyDeleteWell, that's the darn truth! It's funny how often I think my crap is good and then later I see how lamesauce it is.
ReplyDelete