I'm looking forward to this! I too am indecisive and overwhelmed by all the possible choices to be made in committing to a story, and I hate conflict. I have three unfinished novels and I'm starting a new one that I hope will get past the vomit draft.
It’s definitely not just you. Commitment is uncomfortable! I was just rereading Jane Smiley’s great essay on revision (“What Stories Teach Their Writers”) and she notes that in her students’ work she constantly sees an urge to avoid conflict, drafts that skip or elide the climax… it’s funny how we all do this but it does make sense psychologically I suppose. Anyway good luck and thanks for being here!
Amy, it’s clear you have a lot of experience and expertise (!) …yet it is perhaps your line about being a Libra that will be what finally tips me into my first attempt ✨ looking forward to flexing my decision-making muscles and learning along with you this month
Thank you, Amy, for offering this. From reading the intro, I get the impression that this may be relevant to a memoir project that's just starting to take shape for me. Would you agree that nonfiction folks can get value out of what you'll be presenting/facilitating? Or should I heed that word "novel" and take the month off (I will never turn down a free month)?
exactly what I need!!!
oh good! Glad you're here.
I'm looking forward to this! I too am indecisive and overwhelmed by all the possible choices to be made in committing to a story, and I hate conflict. I have three unfinished novels and I'm starting a new one that I hope will get past the vomit draft.
It’s definitely not just you. Commitment is uncomfortable! I was just rereading Jane Smiley’s great essay on revision (“What Stories Teach Their Writers”) and she notes that in her students’ work she constantly sees an urge to avoid conflict, drafts that skip or elide the climax… it’s funny how we all do this but it does make sense psychologically I suppose. Anyway good luck and thanks for being here!
Oh, I’m excited for this!
Yay me too!
Amy, it’s clear you have a lot of experience and expertise (!) …yet it is perhaps your line about being a Libra that will be what finally tips me into my first attempt ✨ looking forward to flexing my decision-making muscles and learning along with you this month
Ha! Look I am what I am. And I get that the decision-making part of writing is difficult and uncomfortable, I really do!
I hope this month is creatively fruitful for you ❤️
Yay Amy!!
❤️❤️❤️
Thank you, Amy, for offering this. From reading the intro, I get the impression that this may be relevant to a memoir project that's just starting to take shape for me. Would you agree that nonfiction folks can get value out of what you'll be presenting/facilitating? Or should I heed that word "novel" and take the month off (I will never turn down a free month)?
Oh totally! I think a lot of the same craft elements that go into writing a novel are relevant to putting together a memoir as well.
Marvelous! I'm in. Thanks!
Yay! I hope it’s helpful :)