The trick is finding that balance point between "well polished" and "pining for the fjords."
Classic. Thanks.
The trick is finding that balance point between "well polished" and "pining for the fjords."
How could you tell?
caw
I also write computer software. I'm still proud of things I wrote fifteen and twenty years ago. I consider my work to be much more than just production pieces for sale. If I see a writer saying stuff likeDo you think a bicycle maker thinks of their product as something more than a production piece for sale? They like the product they produce, or they wouldn't produce it.
then I see a grim, Gradgrindian salesman who not only apparently has no pride in their work, but laughs at those who do. That's not only contempt for other writers who believe in the value of literature, but contempt for the readers who believe likewise.That's the way I see it. Some writers get uber attached to the product of their labor.
I can only laugh when I see someone say. "It's my baby."
No.Does that mean you buy lots and lots of books from vanity publishers?
I've read hundreds of interviews of professional writers over the years, and I've never seen one talk about their work in such a cynical manner. If they genuinely don't care about their work once it gets published, they have the common sense not to say it in public.Because at some point, the author needs to think of their work this way in order to meet deadlines, do the edits and copyedits and promote their work through signings, websites, social networking and so on. You can do it for the love of your work, but if you don't work with the publisher on a professional basis, your career will dissolve pretty quickly.
... then I see a grim, Gradgrindian salesman who not only apparently has no pride in their work, but laughs at those who do.
Sure, if someone said "I wrote that piece because my kid needed to go to the dentist" you'd be clued in, but otherwise, it'd be impossible to tell.
All the fun, as far as I'm concerned. This applies to most things in life, actually. The goal is usually a let-down, getting to the goal is what's interesting.
I've been stressing over dialogue. Specifically tags, said words, and actions in dialogue. I've gotten the impression that:
Fred frowned. "You clearly don't understand me." =BEST
"You clearly don't understand me," Fred said, frowning. =BETTER
"You clearly don't understand me," Fred growled. =GOOD
"You clearly don't understand me," Fred growled angrily. =BAD
Overall I'm rather confused. I naturally use a fair amount of said words when I write, but I've been told they are something to avoid. I try to work actions, or the indication of emotion through action into my dialogue, but I never know if it's right.
I've tried looking at books I like to see how they do it, but then I just end up sounding like them. The reason I bring this us is because I honestly don't know if how I naturally do it works or not.
Are there "rules" for this sort of thing, or am I stressing over nothing?
Girl Genius, a web-comic mentioned above, won a Hugo last night.