scalzi on writing

John Scalzi has earned a spot on my very short list of Authors I Love And Will Read Anything They Ever Write Because They Rule. He's also earned a spot on my even shorter list of People I'd Really Like To Have A Beer With Because I Respect Them So Much.

Not only is John a brilliant writer (witness Old Man's War and The Android's Dream, both which deserve full reviews from me at a point in the near future) but he is an accessible writer, who clearly loves his craft, and is willing to share advice and discuss ideas with his readers. In fact, I've linked to his before, when he wrote Writing Tips for Non-Writers Who Don't Want To Work at Writing.

If you're a writer, or just want to understand some of the creative process for writers, check out John's advice for newbie writers, and how long should you write each day. As I said last time I linked to him, John takes what could be boring and dry HOWTOs, and makes them interesting and informative.

Comments

[justme]

If his blog is any indication, he's also utterly mad.

In a good way.

Thanks for introducing him to us.

[Marc Costanzo]

Wil,
I know this is probably not the correct place to ask this, however, I was unable to find where to email you. Thus I am asking my question here. Are you planning on commenting about any of the films being presented at the Sundance Film Festival. I would especially like to here your thoughts on Chicago 10. It clearly coincides with the need for the majority of Americans who oppose the War, but support our troops to speak out and take action to bring home our heros. Thanks and keep up the great writing. My day is not complete until I have taken the time to read your blog.

Marc Costanzo
Tampa, FL

[kblue]

So true. I've been reading Scalzi's blog for several months now, and I like how clever and interesting he is. I must admit I haven't read much more than a paragraph of any of his books *yet*, but it's on my list of things to do. He is a very accessible writer. His blog contains a confident mix of fun silliness, and craft-related content.

[DPoem]

Yeah. Scalzi's been a huge influence on me and my writing. In fact, he's the one who inadvertently reminded me just why I wanted to be an author in the first place (I got kind of sidetracked in life for a while there); and, more importantly, he's shown me that it's okay for an author to have FUN with their work. He's one of the very few authors I can easily picture just laughing themselves silly while they are writing. And, thankfully, that shows in his work.

The guy's a genuine asset and a great resource to anyone thinking about sitting down and writing a novel.

[Bev]

Hey Wil,

I'm just starting to write and I know it sucks. I really appreciated this article. It was informative.

Thanks for the lesson.

[jamenta]

I recently came across a book on writing called "From Where You Dream" The Process of Writing Fiction, by Robert Olen Butler. Wow - its an amazing book. Here are some quotes from it:

"The crucial awareness you must keep is this: do not will the work." p28

"Rewriting is redreaming. Rewriting is redreaming till it all thrums" p38

"Desire is the driving force behind plot." p42

"The enduring artists are ravenous for life, ravenous for experience." p119

"Your ambition as an artist is to give voice to the deep, inchoate vision of the world that resides dynamically in your unconscious." p124

"The primary point of contact for the reader is going to be an emotional one - " p14

[lunarangel01]

Thanks for directing my attention toward this Wil. He is a freaking hilarious writer. It's all so true!

[Tim]

"The primary point of contact for the reader is going to be an emotional one."

Gee, could this be why Wil's writing works?

[jamenta]

"Gee, could this be why Wil's writing works?"

How often you go to see a highly praised film, or start reading a highly hyped book, and discover little emotional resonance?

Maybe it's just what we value as a culture, less emotion - more intellect. A bunch of automotons working 40 hours a week for what? Plain survival?

I'll take a good emotion (or a pair of juggs) any day over some dry intellectual excercise.

[Tim]

Amen.

[claire]

Thanks for the links, Wil. I've been reading Jane Espenson's blog on spec scripts, so it'll be cool to check out what another type of writer has to say about writing.

[Mr. Lizard]

What a coincidence, Wil - casue you're already on my list of People I'd Really Like To Have A Beer With. You, Neil Gaiman, "The Guy Who Plays Grissom on CSI", and (believe it or not) Jerry Lewis (who'd probably be happy to wear the clown sweater for a while.)

[Drev]

George R. R. Martin, author of the A Song of Ice and Fire series is very accessible, also. He keeps a website, but he also keeps a blog on Live Journal where he keeps his readers updated with everything from his latest book to the renovations on his house.

I have great respect for him because of that, and I have great respect for any well-known 'celebrity' who keeps in touch with his/her fanbase (present company included).