Saturday, October 16, 2010

Tip #3 to be traditionally published: Be playful

I suggest you stop thinking of these tips of mine as work and start having fun with your writing. 

First, dress the way you would for a reading, featuring only you in front of the literati of New York society, all of whom have paid $250 each to see and hear you read.  Have fun preparing for this.  Pick out just the right outfit from things you already have, make yourself recklessly handsome, startlingly beautiful, with whatever you think will make you stand out as the world's greatest writer.  Some writers will wear virtually nothing draped cunningly over their female bodies and a huge thick sweater buttoned in the middle.  Some will try to decide between the bookish look and the elegant.  Whatever your idea is of the perfect appearance for this all-important reading, make it yours.  Men, wear your five pounds of 24k gold chain, or a cashmere scarf or the perfect tie -  loosened or not; decide on your sock colour and pattern, decide whether you want to look a tiny bit unscrubbed, whether you'll wear your trousers rolled, and what about hair gel?  A key-tag for a Mercedes from the dollar store could fall out of your pocket as you open your briefcase... or not.  Maybe no briefcase?  A folder?  A stack of dog-eared papers?  Make this role yours.  Women, you're already just fine at choosing the role for the occasion.  The big question is, boots to the knees, sensible pumps, stilettos or birkenstocks?   Answer that, and all the rest will follow.

Become the much more important and much better writer than any of the writers you've been reading in the anthology or the magazine.

Think yourself into the role, and you will be surprised at your own writing.

Attitude changes how you write.  A desperate attitude comes through into your writing.  So, if you are desperate, let go of your desperation.  Be more casual. Let loose a bit.

Do not think,  "I'm doing this stupid workshop to get published, I'm desperate to get published, I know I'm not as bad as lots of the writers/illustrators I see out there, so really all I have to do is follow a magical formula which they know and I don't, and then I'll get published."

No. 

Think, instead, "I'm taking this workshop to have fun with words and with other writers and just to have fun, period.  I'm already better than 90% of the writers I read, I know that, so maybe the reason I'm not published traditionally yet is that I've just been a bit too serious with my writing till now.  From now on, I will work in order to have fun."

Yes.  Work to have fun.  I know from personal experience that *that is the magic formula to get published traditionally. 
 
You might think it's just pretending, so it won't work.  Wrong.  What this is, is a way to enter into your own inner self who is already a perfect writer, and to write your way back out of your inner self, bringing the words of your work of art with you.

9 Comments:

At 18 October, 2010 , Blogger Retta said...

I think the Principles you are sharing here work for any creative endeavor.

I know for me, after I spread my colorful "stuff" about my workspace and don my favorite paint-stained apron, my attitude DOES change. I am "in the mood". It seems to bring out the playful and adventurous side. Playing with the "what ifs"... and sometimes being delighted with what happens next.

Loretta
=^..^=

 
At 04 June, 2015 , Blogger Unknown said...

20150605meiqing
jordan retro 3
abercrombie outlet
louis vuitton
coach factory outlet
ralph lauren uk
www.louisvuitton.com
cheap oakley sunglasses
coach factorty outlet
jordan concord 11s
mont blanc
hollister
true religion sale
louis vuitton outlet
cheap lululemon
coach outlet
oakley sunglasses
abercrombie
chanel handbags
cheap toms
ralph lauren outlet
hermes birkin
louis vuitton handbags
timberland pro
jordan 13s
louis vuitton outlet
pandora charms
hollister kids
celine outlet
abercrombie
oakley sunglasses wholesale

 
At 18 November, 2015 , Blogger Unknown said...

coach outlet online
air force one shoes
longchamp outlet online
nike free
kobe 9 elite
tory burch shoes
asics
seattle seahawks
mizuno shoes
true religion outlet,true religion jeans,true religion kids,true religion jeans sale,true religion jeans for men,true religion jacket,true religion sale
ray ban
oakley sunglasses
ugg outlet
arizona cardinals
ugg boots
beats by dr dre
coach outlet
hermes belt for men
mlb jerseys wholesale
nike air max 2014
tiffany jewelry
ralph lauren sale
wellensteyn coats
michael kors wallets for women
the north face
pandora outlet
michael kors handbags
moncler jackets
tory burch sandals
lululemon outlet
ray-ban sunglasses
coach outlet store
ddddd1119

 
At 25 November, 2015 , Blogger chenlina said...

chenlina20151125uggs outlet
abercrombie kids
jordan concords
abercrombie kids
ugg outlet
cheap nfl jerseys
hollister co
mont blanc pens
celine outlet
pandora jewelry
coach outlet store online
louboutin pas cher
gucci outlet
hollister co
michael kors uk
cheap oakley sunglasses
louis vuitton handbags
ray ban sunglasses outlet
cheap uggs
adidas uk
christian louboutin outlet
canada goose outlet
michaek kors handbags
louis vuitton
louis vuitton handbags
louis vuitton outlet
air jordans
ugg clearance
louis vuitton
michael kors outlet clearance
kate spade handbags
ray ban sunglasses outlet
louis vuitton handbags
air max uk
louis vuitton
ray ban sunglasses
ugg australia
louis vuitton
pandora outlet
cheap oakley sunglasses
as

 
At 04 December, 2015 , Blogger mmjiaxin said...

herve leger dresses
louis vuitton handbags outlet
coach outlet store
ralph lauren outlet
ray-ban sunglasses
kobe bryants shoes
tiffany and co
karen millen uk
coach outlet online
phone cases
rolex uk
nike free 5
swarovski crystal
louis vuitton handbags outlet
ray ban sunglasses
cheap oakley sunglasses
michael kors canada
nba jerseys
mlb jerseys
michael kors handbags
mm1204

 
At 21 January, 2016 , Blogger 柯云 said...

2016-01-21keyun
christian louboutin shoes
nike air huarache
coach factory outlet online
abercrombie outlet
uggs sale
abercrombie outlet
louis vuitton bags
true religion
michael kors outlet
louis vuitton purses
oakley sunglasses cheap
coach outlet
coach outlet
ugg for women
ray ban outlet store
true religion
ray ban sunglasses
cheap toms
ray ban
pandora jewelry
chanel bags
ugg boots outlet
tods outlet store
michael kors outlet
michael kors outlet sale
nike huarache white
nfl jerseys wholesale
ugg boots sale
pandora charms
cheap ugg boots
christian louboutin shoes
oakley sunglasses
fit flops
p90x
the north face jackets
vans sneakers
adidas superstar shoes
jordan concords
michael kors outlet online
tory burch outlet

 
At 07 May, 2019 , Blogger ahmed said...

الإبقاء على المياه بداخل الخزانات لفترات طويلة طون استعمال تجعل من السهل نمو البكتريا والطحالب الخضراء المائية بشكل سريع أضخم على جدران وأرضيات الصهريج نظراً لركود المياه بهذه المرحلة.
شركة النجوم لخدمات التنظيف
شركة تنظيف خزانات بالرياض
شركة تنظيف بالرياض
شركة تنظيف شقق بالرياض

 
At 26 July, 2019 , Blogger amanda stephanie said...

Thanks for this blog.
Essay Writing Service

 
At 10 May, 2022 , Blogger Explore Country club said...

Thank you quite much for discussing this type of helpful informative article. Golf course

 

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home