quick sumthin
October 13, 2009Terry Jones on Douglas Adams
Douglas’s writer’s block, I believe, was not because he was short of ideas.
It was because he set himself such a high bar for writing that he was
forever failing to clear it. He approached prose as if it were poetry, in
which every word counts, every phrase must bring together a new and
original combination of ideas, and every sentence must justify its place in
the book by achieving some sort of surprise or revelation.
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I like this…it can be such a struggle when you know how good something you are writing can be, but it’s just not happening.
I’ve always had mixed feelings on writer’s block.
When I don’t write, it really comes down to me making up excuses: I’m not writing to my abilities today, I don’t feel good, I’d rather be giving myself papercuts.
At the same time, there are times that writing is hard. For me, most times I write, it’s not easy.
But when I resolve to put my ass in a chair and give myself only two options — write, or do nothing — I usually write.
What I write may be terrible, but at least I put something down that I can fix and push to the point where every word counts.
If I didn’t allow myself to get things out at times, I don’t think I’d ever write.
[Man, what I wouldn't give to have those days when everything flows and comes out perfect be the norm.]
for me this quote is more personal. i write every sentence like that, whether it turns out that way or not.
Yeah, the quote is perfect for you. It shows in your writing…I’m sure it’s one of the many reasons Mark and I sometimes want to kill you. The way you build on things; the way you reveal things…there are times I’m beyond amazed.
Behind great stories with great characters is a structure that leaves me fascinated. Even in the stories that may not hit the mark, that structure is there.
If I could figure out half of what you do behind the scenes, my writing wouldn’t fly apart like it sometimes does.
This quote is definitely so you!