Sterling Terrell

smart ideas from books

  • Home
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • My CV
    • Series
  • Newsletter
  • Books
  • Advertising
  • Tools
You are here: Home / Potpourri / Writers Work

Writers Work

Writers Work

Writers work to create something out of thin air.

I feel like this applies more to fiction, than it does to nonfiction though.

Nonfiction is typically more systematically done. 

I mean, you don’t start from zero.

You start with an idea that becomes an outline and slowly research is done so the holes can be filled in.

On nonfiction, Ryan Holiday has a fantastic post on how to write a book.

Fiction writing is a little bit more like jazz though.

Some fiction writers are structured, sure, but many start with only a theme and simply make it up as they go along.

Crazy how writers conjure new worlds out of a blank page.

And all they needed was a room and a little money.

We writers spend our days making something out of nothing. There is the blank page (or screen) and then there is the fraught and magical process of putting words down on that page. There is no shape, no blueprint until one emerges from the page, as if through a mist. Is it a mirage? Is it real? We can’t know. And so we need a sense of structure around us. These four walls. This cup. The wheels of the train beneath us. This borrowed room. The weight of this particular pen. Whatever it is that makes us feel secure in our physical space allows us to make the leap, hoping that the page will catch us.

-Dani Shapiro, Still Writing

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: PotpourriTagged With: #Art, #Writing

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Privacy Policy

Connect

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Free Weekly Newsletter:

Search

Recent Posts

  • The Study Of Meaning Is Incomplete Without This
  • How To Date Without Social Media
  • Is Now A Family Of Two
  • The Week In Review – 262
  • Random Thoughts – 285
  • What Makes Human Life Meaningful?
  • How To Raise Literary Kids
  • The Look Of A Wes Anderson Movie
  • A Blanket And Quiet Spot
  • When One Spouse Is More Religious
  • The Three Virtues Of A Programmer
  • It’s Broken In Production
  • This Sounds Like Home
  • Don’t Kill Your Darlings?
  • This Wisdom, Power, And Love
  • You Can Move To Save
  • Random Thoughts – 284
  • But I Am At Work Somehow
  • The Week In Review – 261
  • Turning Pro, By: Steven Pressfield and Shawn Coyne
  • COVID Vaccine
  • Leaving For College Feels Like This?
  • The Warren Buffett Investing Strategy
  • Coffee And Grumpy Day For You
  • When A Summer Camp Counselor Has The Day Off

Top Posts & Pages

  • The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
    The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
  • Wonder Park Pi Song (Watch It Stick In Your Head)
    Wonder Park Pi Song (Watch It Stick In Your Head)
  • 31 Persuasion Tips That I Learned From Scott Adams
    31 Persuasion Tips That I Learned From Scott Adams
  • 7 Things I Learned While Living In Saudi Arabia
    7 Things I Learned While Living In Saudi Arabia
  • Six Hours One Friday, By: Max Lucado
    Six Hours One Friday, By: Max Lucado
  • Turning Pro, By: Steven Pressfield and Shawn Coyne
    Turning Pro, By: Steven Pressfield and Shawn Coyne
  • What Makes Human Life Meaningful?
    What Makes Human Life Meaningful?
  • Instabooks 30
    Instabooks 30
  • How To Date Without Social Media
    How To Date Without Social Media
  • Writer Paul Sullivan Does His Shortest Interview Ever
    Writer Paul Sullivan Does His Shortest Interview Ever

Copyright © 2021 · Generate Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in