Thursday, February 19, 2009

Who Are You?

Page-a-Day WC - 361 words

There are two distinct ways to approach writing: plotting or write by the seat of your pants. I’ve always been the one to come up with an idea and just write. Let the story flow where it’s going to go. Change what needs to be changed later. The problem with this method is the details. Readers will call you on the smallest inaccurate details.

I know when I’m reading a book and I see something wrong. Whether it be spelling or grammatical error, it doesn’t matter. I still ask myself “How could they have missed this” each time. But it’s easy to read something over and over and still miss the same thing. That’s where critique partners and writing groups come in.

I have yet to find the right person I can rely on. When it comes to my own writing, I’m insecure. I never feel it’s good enough. I need someone else to read it and give me that brutal honesty. I don’t think a writer can live without brutal honesty. Unfortunately, my quest has been unsuccessful. This has caused me to shift in to more of a plotter. Plotting has added some security, but hasn’t eliminated the search for the right critique partner.

Who are you? A plotter or a write-by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer? Do you feel your method helps or hinders your craft?

Repost from Write Anything

0 comments: