Sunday, January 10, 2010

Painless Writing

What is painless writing? What is painful writing?

Painless writing is when the words flow from your mind onto the paper and keyboard.

Painful writing is when you pour your heart and soul into your work, only to get it rejected. Or worse yet, after months of waiting, not even receiving a reply.

Painless writing is writing for free, because you love to write.

Painful writing is writing for free, while spending money for books of the craft, conferences, contests, reams of paper and writing classes.

Painless writing is the wonderful, encouraging and understanding writing friends you meet.

Painful writing is when family and friends just don't understand. They don't understand the work and time involved, they don't understand that writing for children isn't easy, they don't understand what an accomplishment it is to get published (no matter how small the publication) or they don't understand how hard it is to get your story picked out of a huge slush pile of stories.

What is the purpose of this article? It is to say that writers need to be tough and persevere the times of painful writing until the painless writing overcomes and our goals are met.

And also to show you a book I purchased at the WVUP Bookstore when we went there on Wednesday to buy my son's college books for next semester. It was only 9.99, so I bought it. They also had books titled Painless Grammar and Painless Vocabulary.

It is filled with writing challenges called Brain Ticklers, examples, tips and web site addresses for further information on topics in the book. It takes you here . . . click on writing advice for lots of helpful information. Plus there are many more site addresses where you can go for helpful information.

To help your writing to be a little less painful, go here for character traits and go here for descriptive words.

Of course, the most important thing of all is writing the story everyone is wanting to read, the story that hasn't been written yet and the story all the publishers are looking for. So, write down your list of goals and write, write and write.



What is your definition of painful or painless writing?

9 comments:

  1. Janet,

    The road to publication is filled with ruts and full of bumps. You get published, you get rejections, you get no replies. Sometimes a rejection is just on the whim of an editor because he/she is having a bad day or has an appointment after work. That is painful to know that even editors don't value your work enough to take it seriously. Painless would be when they jot a short note giving you a tip or two.

    Even though it was -7F today, it was a beautiful winter day. When you live in our part of the world, you can't let the cold stop you or you wouldn't go out from November until April. However, if there had been a brisk wind, I would have stayed home.

    Take care and please keep in touch.
    Blessings,
    Mary

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  2. Janet,
    Thanks for sharing the book with us. Sounds like it has a lot of great ideas.
    Yes, writing can be very painful especially with the rejections, but it's worth it when we get accepted. So we just have to keep on keeping on and wade through the rejections and keep hope in our hearts that a better day is coming.

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  3. Sounds like a book I'd like to read.
    I've never written a book, although I've been told I should. I just don't know that I have enough to say to fill the pages of a book.
    Right now I have to write an essay for my school homework and I'm not so sure I have 300 words to say about me.

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  4. Great article, Janet. I loved your comparisons - they hit home in so many ways.

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  5. I'm trying to figure out from this post if you've recently received a rejection? I've been waiting on pins and needles for your news.
    I love the new look of your blog. How did you make the background?

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  6. Janet,
    Thanks for the article and the link. Most of us get rejected more than we get accepted, but that one acceptance validates our choice to be writers. It makes it all worthwhile, but just for a minute or two, until the next rejection.

    Also, thanks for stopping by my blog. Hope to see you there again.

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  7. Janet,
    I just wanted to visit you blog again and hope you're getting a lot of writing done during this cold weather and snow. I like your header very much. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  8. Painless writing is when I'm in the zone and the words flow, then, when I read it a few days later and it sounds just the way I wanted it to sound.

    That's painless writing for me.

    Blessings,
    Jean
    http://www.jeanmatthewhallwords.blogspot.com

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  9. I think painful writing for me is when I have to force myself to write because I know that is what a writer has to do on some days. I always feel better after painful writing, isn't that strange? :)

    Margo Dill
    http://margodill.com/blog/

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Thank you for your comments. I love comments!