9/7/06: Progress, I think

[davidlevine]

Took the train to work today, determined to push through and finish work on the novella. Wrote a new 670-word scene, second from the end, intended to address a couple of problems with the climax and anticlimax. Not sure whether it works, or whether it's just a huge steaming redundant infodump. And sappy. I'll sleep on it. Maybe I'm done, maybe not. If not, I will be soon.

Also, I've been invited to appear on a panel discussion at the Portland PerlMongers meeting next Wednesday: "A hacker, a machinist, and a writer discuss the question of Craftsmanship." Sounds like the lead-in to a joke; should be fun. Follow the link for more information.

Comments

[kvaadk.livejournal.com]

"Wrote a new 670-word scene, second from the end, intended to address a couple of problems with the climax and anticlimax. Not sure whether it works, or whether it's just a huge steaming redundant infodump. And sappy."

Well, I know that's completely wrong. You forget, you're a Hugo winner now. A literary superhero with unerring narrative instincts. No more of this writer struggling with his craft nonsense, agonizing over every uncooperative phrase for you. You've got the touch!

Unless....
You're saying that never goes away?
Darn. Well, what am I working towards, then?


(Oh, and let me add my congratulations on the Hugo. You do good work.)

[davidlevine]

No, it never goes away. No amount of external validation is sufficient to overcome this writer's fundamental sense of self-doubt (and I know I am not alone, because I read matociquala and truepenny). And I still get rejections (none since winning the Hugo, yet, but it's only been a week...).

So what are you working towards? Well, publication, awards, and other forms of external validation bring satisfaction, pleasure, and money. And there's plenty of internal validation to go along with the angst -- times when you're in the flow and/or you look at your own work and realize it's good (and the external validation lets you know you're not just fooling yourself when you get that feeling).