Comments on: Welcome Poets & Writers

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Fri, 14 May 2010 18:34:17 +0000

I’m attempting to write romance — for cash hopefully. But there are a heap of boundaries I worry about crossing, especially because I am a dude writing under a female name, so I pussy-foot around what I think is appropriate for an audience of women. The best material however, seems to come from the most vile and audacious plot and character twists, largely because I previously underestimated what conservatively minded women like to read in private. Once that fearless kind of flexibility begins to develop, the genre cuts much deeper than you ever imagined such trash was capable of.

By: betsydornbusch

betsydornbusch — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:36:13 +0000

Throwing out your first ten ideas is scary stuff. I think if you give yourself permission to work them over, realize how they won’t do, and then keep thinking, then you can find the prize. And silliness helps. In my writers group we have an old theater major and he does stuff in voices. Cracks us up and we always seem to be able to move on well from there.

By: Lars

Lars — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:25:34 +0000

I have seen this happen as well in brainstorming sessions. Not necessarily nasty stuff, but definitely silly, jokey, nonsensical, etc. It happens when people have had so many of their names/ideas/concepts rejected that they finally say “F— it… as long as I’m coming up with losers I may as well have some fun.” And then you have to make that choice to “cash in” (love that usage, btw) and go with what you have or keep pushing along. Often you have to get to the f-it point before you can really start thinking flexibly.