One of the reasons we love other cultures is because they're different than ours. And we need MORE of that. Less "we're all one" and more "wow - look at you and look at me, how different we are" and embrace that. My strong opinion.
Ryno??? I loved Ryne Sandberg and was a huge Cubs fan, particularly in the late 80s. My favorite baseball game of ALL TIME was against (I think) the Pirates. Not 100% on the team, but it was a home game in Chicago. It went sooooooo long. Many extra innings. Doug Dascenzo actually pitched at the end (he'd played, like, every position - the weirdest game)...and they WON! I still tease my husband that Doug Dascenzo is my favorite baseball player. It was thrilling.
I am SO GLAD you discussed the "third arm" issue. I get flack from some folks that I do too much research and am too meticulous about things that don't matter. BUT... in my defense ...when I write fictional characters is a real world, in real place? Someone, somewhere is not only going to notice if I change up a car from to another w/out explanation, inevitably, someone is going to say "Hey - there was never 'xyz' here..." or, "Hey! You wrote that the police lights were red and blue! Our city's cop cars have blue and white lights!" Details matter - especially to those who live "where" my characters live. And so, yes, I know that if I mention a payphone in Key Biscayne, it not only existed, but it was there at the time the scene is set in. I'm that way about the weather, too. Again - overboard? Or will someone for some reason happen to know for a fact that on February 25, 1991, there was indeed a bad storm (a bit unseasonal for the area)? One never knows. And it was, in my case, a memorable scene (Farin on the balcony) that I needed to get right - for me and for my readers. Anyway, that's a big thing for me and you mentioned it.
I agree and disagree about the revisions process, and M.G.'s take on that whole thing. I'll leave that there. I also disagree that "no one" works "that hard" all the time. Arguably, some work more than they maybe "should" since there is merit to stepping away or whatever, but there seemed to be a lot of assumptions and accusations of insincerity. That could just be M.G.'s personal philosophy or opinion, but the sort of "truth statement" that things are absolutely "this" way or "that" way or it's disingenuous didn't compel me. Sorry about that. There are all manner of folks who have all manner of personal ways of doing things. So, I'll stop that there.
What I do agree with is the mindset. I agree and M.G. really emphasized that being a writer is different than selling. I so, so, so struggle with that. I keep hitting my head against the wall because "knowing" there is a different mindset to sell vs. create, it's very difficult to embrace it and go with it. And the more I learn, the more I want to retreat into writing again. It feels farther and farther away (writing). It's so hard.
Great to hear all the perspectives of those actually in AMMO. I hope my own mindset can effectively switch. It's interesting that so many (as in, "I'm not the only one") struggle with something that seems to offer real success.
So much to love in your comments here. My favorite Cubs game, excepting the WS clencher of 2016, was the Kerry Wood 20k game. By sheer fate, I watched every pitch in disbelief. As a boy living in Colorado without cable, seeing a Cubs game was a rarity, but my dad and visited his friend Tony that day, and Tony had WGN. We ate wings and drank Mountain Dew as Wood baffled the Killer Bees.
I love your perspective in difference. It perfectly suits my own. There was a time when DC Talk had this song about being color blind, and I think earlier Michael W. Smith did his take on color blind too. I knew then, as I do now, that something was wrong with that perspective. The real question is why we can't be color embracing. Foreign culture fascinates me, and I wish it wasn't verboten to celebrate that. With that in mind, there is a kind of romanticism about mystery that can be destructive. But just knowing that is likely enough to prevent you from falling victim to it.
I had many of the same thoughts about rewriting, working hard, and drafting as you did. I am in the process of loosening my grip on perfection, but more because I'm uncertain that so many rewrites improve a work. Scholars complain that Blood Meridian was underedited, yet from the other side of their mouths they call it the greatest novel ever written. Sometimes it's best to publish and move forward. I'm more of a reviser still than perhaps is best, but it is a matter of taste.
Also, I am working to separate myself from the identity of hard work as the highest ethic. But that doesn't mean I don't work hard. I'm still typically the first one logging hours, and the last one to call it quits. I enjoy being busy, and my impatience tends to drive me to work a dozen or more hours daily. Really, the big distinguisher of my day is when it's late enough to open a beer. And it is true that one of my goals is to play and not feel ashamed. That stems from my choice of profession. No one outside of Ash sees what I do, and most of my family and friends think, "Oh, he's a writer and a podcaster. Well I have a real job, and one day he'll have to wake up and go back to the real world too."
Yes, I might have to get a W-2 again sometime. I pray not. But my employment status says nothing about the validity of being a novelist. This shit is hard work, and it's fun, and it's noble.
Get your ads running ASAP, lady. You'll be shocked at what happens—in the best possible way.
Loved this episode. Great to hear different writers sharing their perspective on what did and didn't work for them at different stages in their development.
The show is very educational and unbiased, with various prospectives. I would say people that listen, and are considering AMMO, should do it.
It has changed my life, and that's no hyperbole. Thanks, Joe.
One of the reasons we love other cultures is because they're different than ours. And we need MORE of that. Less "we're all one" and more "wow - look at you and look at me, how different we are" and embrace that. My strong opinion.
Ryno??? I loved Ryne Sandberg and was a huge Cubs fan, particularly in the late 80s. My favorite baseball game of ALL TIME was against (I think) the Pirates. Not 100% on the team, but it was a home game in Chicago. It went sooooooo long. Many extra innings. Doug Dascenzo actually pitched at the end (he'd played, like, every position - the weirdest game)...and they WON! I still tease my husband that Doug Dascenzo is my favorite baseball player. It was thrilling.
I am SO GLAD you discussed the "third arm" issue. I get flack from some folks that I do too much research and am too meticulous about things that don't matter. BUT... in my defense ...when I write fictional characters is a real world, in real place? Someone, somewhere is not only going to notice if I change up a car from to another w/out explanation, inevitably, someone is going to say "Hey - there was never 'xyz' here..." or, "Hey! You wrote that the police lights were red and blue! Our city's cop cars have blue and white lights!" Details matter - especially to those who live "where" my characters live. And so, yes, I know that if I mention a payphone in Key Biscayne, it not only existed, but it was there at the time the scene is set in. I'm that way about the weather, too. Again - overboard? Or will someone for some reason happen to know for a fact that on February 25, 1991, there was indeed a bad storm (a bit unseasonal for the area)? One never knows. And it was, in my case, a memorable scene (Farin on the balcony) that I needed to get right - for me and for my readers. Anyway, that's a big thing for me and you mentioned it.
I agree and disagree about the revisions process, and M.G.'s take on that whole thing. I'll leave that there. I also disagree that "no one" works "that hard" all the time. Arguably, some work more than they maybe "should" since there is merit to stepping away or whatever, but there seemed to be a lot of assumptions and accusations of insincerity. That could just be M.G.'s personal philosophy or opinion, but the sort of "truth statement" that things are absolutely "this" way or "that" way or it's disingenuous didn't compel me. Sorry about that. There are all manner of folks who have all manner of personal ways of doing things. So, I'll stop that there.
What I do agree with is the mindset. I agree and M.G. really emphasized that being a writer is different than selling. I so, so, so struggle with that. I keep hitting my head against the wall because "knowing" there is a different mindset to sell vs. create, it's very difficult to embrace it and go with it. And the more I learn, the more I want to retreat into writing again. It feels farther and farther away (writing). It's so hard.
Great to hear all the perspectives of those actually in AMMO. I hope my own mindset can effectively switch. It's interesting that so many (as in, "I'm not the only one") struggle with something that seems to offer real success.
Off to watch videos. -\_O_/-
So much to love in your comments here. My favorite Cubs game, excepting the WS clencher of 2016, was the Kerry Wood 20k game. By sheer fate, I watched every pitch in disbelief. As a boy living in Colorado without cable, seeing a Cubs game was a rarity, but my dad and visited his friend Tony that day, and Tony had WGN. We ate wings and drank Mountain Dew as Wood baffled the Killer Bees.
I love your perspective in difference. It perfectly suits my own. There was a time when DC Talk had this song about being color blind, and I think earlier Michael W. Smith did his take on color blind too. I knew then, as I do now, that something was wrong with that perspective. The real question is why we can't be color embracing. Foreign culture fascinates me, and I wish it wasn't verboten to celebrate that. With that in mind, there is a kind of romanticism about mystery that can be destructive. But just knowing that is likely enough to prevent you from falling victim to it.
I had many of the same thoughts about rewriting, working hard, and drafting as you did. I am in the process of loosening my grip on perfection, but more because I'm uncertain that so many rewrites improve a work. Scholars complain that Blood Meridian was underedited, yet from the other side of their mouths they call it the greatest novel ever written. Sometimes it's best to publish and move forward. I'm more of a reviser still than perhaps is best, but it is a matter of taste.
Also, I am working to separate myself from the identity of hard work as the highest ethic. But that doesn't mean I don't work hard. I'm still typically the first one logging hours, and the last one to call it quits. I enjoy being busy, and my impatience tends to drive me to work a dozen or more hours daily. Really, the big distinguisher of my day is when it's late enough to open a beer. And it is true that one of my goals is to play and not feel ashamed. That stems from my choice of profession. No one outside of Ash sees what I do, and most of my family and friends think, "Oh, he's a writer and a podcaster. Well I have a real job, and one day he'll have to wake up and go back to the real world too."
Yes, I might have to get a W-2 again sometime. I pray not. But my employment status says nothing about the validity of being a novelist. This shit is hard work, and it's fun, and it's noble.
Get your ads running ASAP, lady. You'll be shocked at what happens—in the best possible way.
All right, all right. Nag nag nag.
Loved this episode. Great to hear different writers sharing their perspective on what did and didn't work for them at different stages in their development.