We've just posted up an interview with the very fabulous John Jarrold, whose credits include editing Ian M Banks, Ray Bradbury and Michael Moorcock, and he has plenty of useful and interesting stuff to say to all writers- a real blend of practical and creative advice. Yummy. So have a look- whether you're sci-fi/fantasy-inclined or not, it's a good read; http://www.writewords.org.uk/interviews/john_jarrold.asp

I'm starting to get tired of hearing people answer "What advice do you have for budding authors" with the line "read and write a lot!".

Is there something more specific I should be reading? Is there any particular writing exercise I should be using? I read the news every day, a few hundred forum posts and weblogs, and occasionally mull over periodic financial results for the company I work for. I also type out a fair number of forum posts, write my own weblog, update some web pages by writing HTML and CSS, write a few macros in Excel visual basic and even the odd shopping list.

Very little of this, I think, adds to my credibility or skill as a writer. I liked the interview, but sometimes I think the advice these interviewees give is a little vague.

In fact, interviewees are quite often specific about what writers should read- ie. the kind of stuff those writers want to write, but we can't expect them to hand-hold is my feeling- they're giving the benefit of their often very wide experience, not prescribing a course of action. And I think the reason all independently harp on about reading is because so many new writers don't- and it shows in their work. I speak as a writer and as someone who teaches creative writing and is ocasionally frustrated by people's lack of reading, so I'm glad, personally, that our interviewees keep reminding us. And the same goes with the message that writers should write- again, it might not apply to you, or to many of us, but a lot of new writers don't write- they talk about writing, and they think about writing, they may even read writing, but ultimately you have to get on and do it....

Anna,

You wrote:

And the same goes with the message that writers should write- again, it might not apply to you, or to many of us, but a lot of new writers don't write- they talk about writing, and they think about writing, they may even read writing, but ultimately you have to get on and do it....

What if that person is going through a period in their life where nothing is happening. Routine, daily schedules. What if everything they write sounds boring, forced, and a waste of paper.
What if they read many books to escape this mundane existence to sharpen their imagination and still have nothing worth telling the rest of the world.

Would you still suggest to get on and do it(write) in this particular case?

I have a friend whose going through this. He needs advice.

No, seriously, you know I'm describing myself.

I realize there is always past experience thatI can look to gain emotion from in my writing. But what if, you just aren't feeling the passion, the emotion at the present time.
Is that when you take a time out from writing and just READ READ READ?

Perhaps my rant wasn't well worded. What I mean is, should I be reading any novels, or particularly sf and fantasy? Should I instead be reading critical reviews of the novels in my area of preference, looking for where others have gone wrong, and where I should fear to tread? Should I use the roadmap of other people's failings as the foundation of my own improvements? Should I be reading pop science magazines, that hint at the future, for me to build on and imaginatise (not a real word)?

Or should I just be 'reading'?

I'll happily read Star Wars novels until I'm blue in the face, but I doubt it will do me any good in terms of improving my (lack of) technique.

Or maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree here...

Silverelli, I sincerely know how you feel, and I take your question seriously, so don't think I'm being flip or giving an pat answer. We've all had dry spells, horrible ones even for some, that can go on for days to years (hopefully not decades, but who knows). There is no way around it -- write anyway.

Throw it away if you really think it's tripe, but write anyway. And read anyway. Even when it hurts; even when you think everything you write is shit and everything you read confirms that you aren't ever going to write that well if you live to be a thousands... a really annoying (but ultimately correct) writing teacher told me over a decade ago, a writer is someone who writes. Whether you get published or not, is another kettle of fish, another battle to be fought, but you've got to be true to the basics of what you do. You have a craft, and you must exercise it, especially on those days when you do not want to. Especially on those days.

Signed,

One Who is Now So Burned Out Her Eye Could Explode But Her Heart Threatens to Beat Them To It Smith

<Added>

Excuse the typos from hell. Off to practice what I preach...

Thanks for that, Smith.

I just checked out your website and saw the semi-mock biography. That is hilarious.

"Alone in the big city, she began to feel something was missing from her social life."
(Cue the Cartoon You in the middle of an empty nightclub). Very funny.

Don't worry, Playboy isn't all that anyway.

Thanks for the support, Silv -- Hugh Hefner did say something along the lines of "have you tried Home & Gardens" but I haven't had time yet to look into it... I let you know...

Adam, as you know, I thought A Glimpse of Didi was fabulous. Can't you just do a little method acting to get yourself back in to the frame of mind you had when you wrote that? If you do, I'm sure you'll get equally strong results.

Smith (or is it Stephanie?), I took a look at your website too and love your cartoon biog.

Also, back to the original theme of this thread, I'm sure JJ has vast amounts of wisdom to share with all of us WW neophytes, so welcome to the club, sir!

Adele.

Again, thanks all for this. Let me go through your thoughts and come back to you tomorrow. But understand - I'm not going to be entirely prescriptive. I expect you all to have the imagination and gumption to extrapolate from general comments in ways that suit you individually. Nothing specific I say will suit every one of you!

JJ

John has posted up a list of FAQ's and here's the link:
http://www.sff.net/people/john-jarrold/about.html

INSANE BARTENDER
I think you should read in all areas – intelligent fiction and non-fiction. You’ve already picked up on the fact that reading STAR WARS novels all the time would be something of a mistake... I remember Roger Zelazny saying in an interview that, when he was writing his first novel, THIS IMMORTAL, he held Aldous Huxley in the back of his head, because Huxley was particularly good at writing about large, disparate groups of people at novel-length, which Zelazny was doing for the first time. Everything feeds into everything else, sooner or later. I could see someone who writes epic fantasy wanting to read the best authors in the genre – George R R Martin and Guy Gavriel Kay, for instance – but I could also see that Solzhenitsyn’s AUGUST 1914, THE ILIAD and non-fiction books about the Hundred Years War might be useful reading.

SILVERELLI

SKEETR is right. To be a writer you have to write. There’s no easy way through a tough time (I attempted to write through the 70s and early 80s – I remember the huge depressions and many other symptoms). Everyone will find their own way, so I can’t give you a magic wand. But yes, do read in lots of areas and something may trigger you.

Thanks fot that JJ. (Can I call you JJ?)

Please do - it's been my nickname since I was a kid, except when I worked in libraries, and people called me 'JTL' - John the Library'...deary, deary me...

Cheers.