Man, do I agree with this: "An athlete or a musician only gets better through the drudgery of practice. A writer is no different"
A lot of would-be writers think they need inspiration to write. In fact, inspiration comes from writing, not the other way around. Put something on the page - even if it's total crap - and you've got some raw material to work with! Something you can shape and mold. Maybe, one day, it will actually be good.
It's like any kind of work. If your boss says: "Why aren't you doing your job?" and you respond: "I'm waiting for inspiration!" how long do you think you'll have that job?
But there are cases where a writer's best work is their first or at least among their early writing, and their first forays into what was published is either equal to their later works or often they can never repeat the same success. There is no question, however, you need to be dedicated to make it work.
It's rare that I agree with someone so wholeheartedly on the purpose of writing. Perhaps it c9mes with age and maturity but you are right that it is the work, itself, that has meaning. I look forward to purchasing your Colossus
I look forward to reading it. And totally agree that a protagonist needn't be likeable. Hell, I really enjoy books with unlikeable and often unreliable protags/narrators.
I appreciate the homage to William Gaddis in this book's pseudo-classical title, irreverent depiction of the virtues of the cloth, and, of course, the cover. Considering a preorder.
Man, do I agree with this: "An athlete or a musician only gets better through the drudgery of practice. A writer is no different"
A lot of would-be writers think they need inspiration to write. In fact, inspiration comes from writing, not the other way around. Put something on the page - even if it's total crap - and you've got some raw material to work with! Something you can shape and mold. Maybe, one day, it will actually be good.
It's like any kind of work. If your boss says: "Why aren't you doing your job?" and you respond: "I'm waiting for inspiration!" how long do you think you'll have that job?
But there are cases where a writer's best work is their first or at least among their early writing, and their first forays into what was published is either equal to their later works or often they can never repeat the same success. There is no question, however, you need to be dedicated to make it work.
It's rare that I agree with someone so wholeheartedly on the purpose of writing. Perhaps it c9mes with age and maturity but you are right that it is the work, itself, that has meaning. I look forward to purchasing your Colossus
Good luck and mazel tov.
i still need to read "glass century" i've got a copy
"Swaggering Jews of the midcentury." Good one. Congrats!
Do we need to read Glass Century first??? Im so excited after reading this!
No, you don't have to
I look forward to reading it. And totally agree that a protagonist needn't be likeable. Hell, I really enjoy books with unlikeable and often unreliable protags/narrators.
So looking forward to this after reading the Glass Century which was the best novel I read over the past year.
Sounds great, Ross!
I appreciate the homage to William Gaddis in this book's pseudo-classical title, irreverent depiction of the virtues of the cloth, and, of course, the cover. Considering a preorder.