Writing Secrets of the Pros

This weekend I attended Norwescon.  It’s quite different from comic cons.  While there is a dealer’s room, it’s far more modest than a comic con this size.  It’s not the point of these things.

Costumes are everywhere – it’s a major SF fandom subculture.

My favorites: a renaissance faire lady whose dog wore actual chain mail.  And the young Jedi (?) who had Jar-Jar Binks’s dripping head on a pike.

What draws me, besides some great SF illustrators, are the writer’s panels.  There’s nothing like smart writers talking about their craft, and their struggles (which I certainly share) with blockage, finding time, being focused.  Misery not only loves company but everybody has tips to offer.

Some stuck with me:

One was James Glass’s habit of keeping story outlines on 3 x 5 cards (naturally, they’re terse) until they’ve ripened enough to write.  I keep fat files of story ideas, but I seldom have occasion take them out of the cabinet to be inspired.  Chances are they will remain unwritten forever.

A card file by my computer?  Heck, I’d finger through that every time I was waiting for a task bar to fill.  Ten times a day.

Another:   accept the fact that you don’t get into a flow state for a half hour or so writing.  Just push through that all-I-write-is-wrong period.  It’s as unavoidable as driving to work is for most people.

Another:  Keep a “things to look up later” list on a scratch pad by your keyboard.  Breaking the flow to do research is like leaving the road to pick flowers in quicksand.

Comments

[Adam Burton]

Hi, Paul!

Good to see a new post! Glad to read that you had a good time, as well. Are there any more cons you plan on attending this year?

[ron harris]

I haven't been to a convention for so long, I wouldn't know what to do with one. Guess I'll have to find out when I go to San Diego this year to help out Tony Raiola. I planned to go incognito, then realized it's been long enough no one will recognize me anyway.

Remember the 25c bin?

[Connor]

I'd love to get you to sign a comic at the convention, if you let us know where you'll be within an hour window, I am sure I will make some time to get there, any day, any time.

Thanks!