Recently I began compiling all of my ‘On Writing’ posts into a singular file and processing them through Chat GPT to find ‘themes’. The goal here is to take another step towards writing my book on writing. No, I’m not successful enough to sell it. That doesn’t meant that I won’t try. There is a robust book economy out there on amazon that might earn me fifteen or twenty bucks for getting my thoughts together. Once I can get it all organized and laid out, I think there is enough there to start to build on those core ideas and posts to develop what I am ultimately after: A foundational guide on developing a writing life. This guide is probably going to have levels/sequels. I don’t think there is one writing life. I think it is modular and based on the time you have to devote to that sort of life. I don’t work at the level of King and I have still produced multiple novels, novelettes and novellas. I’ve even sold a few of them. So, it works for me. I think it can work for others.
I have a structure in mind of how to design/create these. Based on the feedback showing me what I most often talk about, it isn’t how to write but when and how often. That truism ought to be further explored over the next year as I develop this alongside the other five or six projects I have on my mind. In fact, today is largely about getting a schedule and putting in the time to develop a sense of when X, Y, Z, etc are going to be done, so I can ride the backtrail of that expectation to this singular point of origin, learning how these things are developed along the way.
If I can teach myself how to do it effectively, I can teach someone else. I know this, because I am a stubborn SOB who is often too smart for his own good. By smart I mean sly and contrarian. Just like my six shit-ass kids.
Some Thoughts:
- Learning about the foundations of the writing craft reminds me that I don’t really want to learn about someone else’s foundations. I am not entirely clear on how that will help me at this point. Thirty years ago, sure. I’ve walked too far down the path to not have a solid starting point leading to my ultimate writing destination.
- Two weeks of High School football left. @whee! I’m looking forward to it being in the past for now and for my kid to finally get a car so he can drive himself next season. It’s part of growing up. It is also part of not wearing me down.