the secret to writing a novel

[pianistimo]

ok.  this is from storytellersunplugged.  they suggest writing five pages a day.  about anything.  two in the morning - two at night - and one sometime or other.  this fellow says he has written a lot of novels and that is how to get them finished in a decent amount of time. 

[rach n bach]

You sure it isn't having a 5 digit post count on a forum?

 

[Bob]

I've heard the same idea about composing.

Sometimes when I'm writing papers, I just get "dried up" for ideas.  I get sick of writing and write at a lower level just to get the job done.  I don't think that's productive either.

But generally, I agree.  It's a writing "routine" like practicing.

[lau]

  this talks about writing novels, it might encourage you.

[ahinton]

You sure it isn't having a 5 digit post count on a forum?

 

Nice try, but I don't think that it is, you know; after all, it's not exactly a "secret", is it?(!)...

Best,

Alistair

[rach n bach]

Very true my dear sir, it is something more along the lines of an open secret.

RnB

[pianistimo]

ok.  maybe people know about the idea - but they don't follow through.  the thing is - i can't seem to do this with piano, or writing, or anything else these days.  i've been sort of distracted.  like my cell phone has something to do with scrambling my brain.  i blame it all on my cell phone.

[wishful thinker]

my cell phone has something to do with scrambling my brain.  i blame it all on my cell phone.

 

[ahinton]

ok.  maybe people know about the idea - but they don't follow through.  the thing is - i can't seem to do this with piano, or writing, or anything else these days.  i've been sort of distracted.  like my cell phone has something to do with scrambling my brain.  i blame it all on my cell phone.

Into how many chapters is your two-volume cell phone divided?

Best,

Alistair

[pianistimo]

actually, alistair, i usually only use it for emergencies.  i have a lot of them.

[ahinton]

actually, alistair, i usually only use it for emergencies.  i have a lot of them.

A lot of what? Emergencies or cell phones? Actually, Susan, my remark was intended to convey that I'd never heard of the Bible being called a "cell phone" before (please revisit the lst few posts to figure that one out if necessary and if you haven't done so already)...

Best,

Alistair

[pianistimo]

you COULD make that analogy - because every prayer is like a cell phone call - and some are emergencies.  but, on the whole - i would say that prayer usually makes my mind more settled than cell phone useage.  did you know that some cell phones now have the power to also be storm trackers?  that is because they are highly sensitive to electrical charges.  one could actually be a storm chaser and keep trying to stay in range of the mass confusion it causes the cell phone.  *wonders what this would do to a person's brain.

[ahinton]

you COULD make that analogy - because every prayer is like a cell phone call - and some are emergencies.

But I didn't, preferring instead to leave it to you to do it, as you have now not unpredictably done. That said, if every prayer is like a cell phone call, (a) there's no point in praying if your cell phone battery's flat or if the phone's out of signal range, even if you might otherwise wish or need to do so and (b) I cannot quite imagine God interrupting your efforts with the words "hey - you're breaking up"...

but, on the whole - i would say that prayer usually makes my mind more settled than cell phone useage.

Then pray away...

did you know that some cell phones now have the power to also be storm trackers?  that is because they are highly sensitive to electrical charges.  one could actually be a storm chaser and keep trying to stay in range of the mass confusion it causes the cell phone.  *wonders what this would do to a person's brain.

...or what it might already have done thereto, in some cases, perhaps...

Best,

Alistair

[Etude]

  this talks about writing novels, it might encourage you.

I wondered how long before this was posted.