Munday - How To Write?
1. Do you read writing advice/ how to books? How often? Why or why not?
On occasion -- I've got a couple on my bookshelf, and there's one I've got to read this semester for my Creative Writing class. I sometimes like to see how other people approach writing, and you can get ideas from the examples they use to illustrate their techniques. Plus sometimes it's just fun. (Yes, I am weird like that -- I also enjoy reading game strategy guides strictly on their own merits. Dead serious.)
2. How useful do you think writing advice books are to writers, in general? To you, specifically?
It really depends on the writer, I think. Since not everybody processes information the same way, the books might not be a lot of help if you don't think in the same manner as the author. As for me specifically, they've helped a bit. Mostly in helping me do some worldbuilding and working when I'm most creative.
3. Have you learned any exercises from a writing advice book that you'd like to share with us?
Not really any exercises, but my new habit of trying to write in the morning (or at least before/around lunchtime) was suggested by a writing book. Well, sort of -- the author's idea was to write the instant you get up in the morning. I'm just not awake enough to do that.
4. What writing advice books do you think we should check out?
Well, the ones on my bookshelf are How To Write Science Fiction & Fantasy by Orson Scott Card and Writing On Both Sides of the Brain by Klauser. They're both pretty interesting.
5. If you could write a writing advice book, what wisdom would it contain?
"Do what works best for you. Write when you feel most creative -- morning, afternoon, evening, night. Don't feel obliged to start at the beginning if the beginning's not coming. First drafts can be cobbled together from disparate bits. Take a private moment and act out a scene that you're having trouble with -- that helps me!" (Seriously, it does. I actually spend a good portion of my creative process walking around and talking to myself. I suppose that makes me something of a kinetic writer.)
On occasion -- I've got a couple on my bookshelf, and there's one I've got to read this semester for my Creative Writing class. I sometimes like to see how other people approach writing, and you can get ideas from the examples they use to illustrate their techniques. Plus sometimes it's just fun. (Yes, I am weird like that -- I also enjoy reading game strategy guides strictly on their own merits. Dead serious.)
2. How useful do you think writing advice books are to writers, in general? To you, specifically?
It really depends on the writer, I think. Since not everybody processes information the same way, the books might not be a lot of help if you don't think in the same manner as the author. As for me specifically, they've helped a bit. Mostly in helping me do some worldbuilding and working when I'm most creative.
3. Have you learned any exercises from a writing advice book that you'd like to share with us?
Not really any exercises, but my new habit of trying to write in the morning (or at least before/around lunchtime) was suggested by a writing book. Well, sort of -- the author's idea was to write the instant you get up in the morning. I'm just not awake enough to do that.
4. What writing advice books do you think we should check out?
Well, the ones on my bookshelf are How To Write Science Fiction & Fantasy by Orson Scott Card and Writing On Both Sides of the Brain by Klauser. They're both pretty interesting.
5. If you could write a writing advice book, what wisdom would it contain?
"Do what works best for you. Write when you feel most creative -- morning, afternoon, evening, night. Don't feel obliged to start at the beginning if the beginning's not coming. First drafts can be cobbled together from disparate bits. Take a private moment and act out a scene that you're having trouble with -- that helps me!" (Seriously, it does. I actually spend a good portion of my creative process walking around and talking to myself. I suppose that makes me something of a kinetic writer.)