Chuck (Mr. Palahniuk), would you say it’s better to regiment oneself into a work ethic, a schedule of writing so many hours or so many words per day, or to write however much whenever you feel like it? I personally find difficultly in applying self-discipline and keeping to a work schedule, but I find that whenever I do get around to wri…
Chuck (Mr. Palahniuk), would you say it’s better to regiment oneself into a work ethic, a schedule of writing so many hours or so many words per day, or to write however much whenever you feel like it? I personally find difficultly in applying self-discipline and keeping to a work schedule, but I find that whenever I do get around to writing the time flies by and I practically have to pry myself away from whatever it is I’m working on. I ask this because I think in regards to this post with (the terrifying) concept of dwindling creative talent, the choice of choosing to work by discipline v when inspiration/motivation strikes takes on a new, kind of daunting aspect. Also, can’t wait to start reading your latest novel. If I’m not shocked and appalled by the content of your work, I’m going to shocked and appalled that I wasn’t shocked and appalled.
I remember a quote by CP that said (paraphrased): do you go to the toilet when you don’t need to shit? However I do recognize myself in this question. If I don’t create time for writing (schedule it), other stuff takes that time. And just forget to shit altogether.
Chuck’s (paraphrased) saying makes sense. I think sometimes it might just be best to sit down and write to see what comes of it. Maybe you find that you’ve achieved some “salvageable shit”, maybe not. But all the same, I think one might derive some satisfaction from the act of just committing to writing something. Also, continuing with the theme of paraphrasing writers and their advice, Ray Bradbury said: “If you write one short story a week, you’ll find that you’ll have a lot of short stories by the end of the year. And one of them is bound to be good.”
Yes and I do think that ‘forcing’ yourself to write (to schedule it), it triggers your brain to subconsciously keep writing when you are not. It triggers thoughts when you are taking a shower or when you are driving. These scheduled sessions keep the writing part of the brain active, somehow, maybe.
At Freightliner I worked with a technical artist who never wasn't an artist. Even on the bus to work she sketched studies of how the light struck objects. Every night she incorporated her daily insights into one painting or another. A gallery in Colorado accepted her work, and in a couple years she couldn't meet the demand for her paintings. She quit her day job, very quietly. I was enormously impressed to see her drive and steady progress. Her names escapes me, but her influence is part of me now.
In short, you must live as a writer/artist/musician all the time. Trent Reznor once told me about lying on his kitchen floor listening to the compressor of his refrigerator, trying to incorporate that unlikely sound into a piece of music.
Chuck (Mr. Palahniuk), would you say it’s better to regiment oneself into a work ethic, a schedule of writing so many hours or so many words per day, or to write however much whenever you feel like it? I personally find difficultly in applying self-discipline and keeping to a work schedule, but I find that whenever I do get around to writing the time flies by and I practically have to pry myself away from whatever it is I’m working on. I ask this because I think in regards to this post with (the terrifying) concept of dwindling creative talent, the choice of choosing to work by discipline v when inspiration/motivation strikes takes on a new, kind of daunting aspect. Also, can’t wait to start reading your latest novel. If I’m not shocked and appalled by the content of your work, I’m going to shocked and appalled that I wasn’t shocked and appalled.
I remember a quote by CP that said (paraphrased): do you go to the toilet when you don’t need to shit? However I do recognize myself in this question. If I don’t create time for writing (schedule it), other stuff takes that time. And just forget to shit altogether.
Chuck’s (paraphrased) saying makes sense. I think sometimes it might just be best to sit down and write to see what comes of it. Maybe you find that you’ve achieved some “salvageable shit”, maybe not. But all the same, I think one might derive some satisfaction from the act of just committing to writing something. Also, continuing with the theme of paraphrasing writers and their advice, Ray Bradbury said: “If you write one short story a week, you’ll find that you’ll have a lot of short stories by the end of the year. And one of them is bound to be good.”
Yes and I do think that ‘forcing’ yourself to write (to schedule it), it triggers your brain to subconsciously keep writing when you are not. It triggers thoughts when you are taking a shower or when you are driving. These scheduled sessions keep the writing part of the brain active, somehow, maybe.
At Freightliner I worked with a technical artist who never wasn't an artist. Even on the bus to work she sketched studies of how the light struck objects. Every night she incorporated her daily insights into one painting or another. A gallery in Colorado accepted her work, and in a couple years she couldn't meet the demand for her paintings. She quit her day job, very quietly. I was enormously impressed to see her drive and steady progress. Her names escapes me, but her influence is part of me now.
In short, you must live as a writer/artist/musician all the time. Trent Reznor once told me about lying on his kitchen floor listening to the compressor of his refrigerator, trying to incorporate that unlikely sound into a piece of music.
This is great!
Amazing!!