🚀 Want to WRITE better? Join my free writing school: www.skool.com/writeconscious 📚 Book club, daily podcasts, and my writing: writeconscious.substack.com 📖 Read my guide to Haruki Murakami here (free): writeconscious.ck.page/30d93ddf11 Insta: instagram.com/writeconscious 🤔My Favorite Haruki Murakami novel amzn.to/4eyPr14 📕My Best Books of All-Time List: writeconscious.ck.page/355619345e 🔥Want to READ my wife’s fire poetry? Go here: marigoldeclipse.substack.co
This was a brilliant video. You had so many great points that I was truly blown away. A masterful presentation of so many ideas. I especially liked what you said about how so many writers write from a deep pain.
To write a great novel, I first outline the story - line. The goal is not to make it great. Its to write it. The main characters are all introduced first - and their passions then described. The introductions are elegant and short. On page 2, it becomes clear what the main characters want. On page 3, the story has begun in full force and you feel yourself in its world. You´re transferred from this world to another where you feel things and can smell the fresh air in that world and walk on its ground. I write mostly 6 or more hours each day. Am working on my first dystopian sci - fi concept and it involves people who are living on the U.S. Mexico border who are fascinated by Norse Mythology and who are managing a large corporation. I like writing mental disorders The story - line tells you what to do - it´s like a voice in your head helping you to organise your world. Once your novel is complete you can remove the story - line and can go on editing it until you are happy with the end outcome. The trick by hooking your reader is to make your reader feel, as if no natural time flow is being experienced at all.
I work a full-time job and have 4 kids, so my writing time is definitely limited.. I'd say I'm able to put in 30 minutes a day on average. So I'll be able to write one novel every 10 years 😅
an ancillary anecdote.. saw a symposium with James L. Brooks discussing his film AS GOOD AS IT GETS, and someone asked him how my rewrites did the script get, he said: "it went into triple-digits.."..
It is interesting hearing you talk about Raymond Carver and the editing process. As you would certainly know, Carvers early work was edited by Gordon Lish, and there was alot of controversy surrounding that editing. Some stories were edited by up to 75 percent. I believe later in his career the story edits, before Lish got his hands on them, were released with different titles. I wonder if you prefer the Lish versions or the Carver versions? I would lean towards Lish myself. Another interesting thing I believe I read, though could be wrong, is Lish supposedly introduced Blood Meridian to Harold Bloom.
I will post the zoom link on Sunday on this page - There is also a recording of last weeks call in the second link below. Also, email me, message me on Substack, or come to daily office hours if you have questions because I don't see all my comments. Book Club Link writeconscious.substack.com/p/iq84-book-club Book Club Call writeconscious.substack.com/p/iq84-week-one-discussion-and-book
I feel like I tinker too much during the drafting process. It's a problem. Every time I read it outloud, I find rhythm issues or clunky words I want to replace.
Ian - love the work.. as a professional writer, what kind of copier/laser printer do you recommend to do real copy work - like 1400 page novels and dozens of 180-page screenplays.. like something industrial strength.. i suspect a few copies of my big novel, for revision would cost as much as me buying my own copier/laser printer.. any insights?
I also find revision to be endlessly entertaining. Some nights I wind up reading one page out loud to myself over and over until my brain feels like it's melting and my eyes feel like they're going to fall out of their sockets.
@@WriteConscious I am currently kinda obsessed with him lol. I've read all his short story collections and just started his novel so I'd be very curious to hear your story about him.
I write everyday but this video makes me realize I need to step it up even more. I don’t have children or a wife but it is hard to find time for reading and writing both on top of work. I was a big gamer but I’ve cut it out of my life and haven’t played for a a month or two now.
I hear you, but there's one major bug in your argument here. I'm sure Murakami spends thousands of hours working on flow and all that. But he does that *in Japanese,* which means we don't get to experience the fruit of his said effort, and enjoy the writing skills of his English translators, and their copy-editors, instead. Murakami is not the example you want to make this point.
This is the most ridiculous video on writing I’ve ever come across on youtube. So anyone that spends less than 4 years working on a book is not putting anything worthwhile? Writing is an entirely creative and subjective endeavour. There’s not a single path to success. I’m always interested in learning the process of any decorated author but not when it’s presented as a be all end all - off-putting and condescending. Bye.
Not the most ridiculous, but I agree with the sentiment. As someone who is also an artist, I can tell you that I have labored for days over one painting, but another one came together in a matter of a few hours. Not everyone works at the same pace, either. Some are more gifted or intuitive than others. I think it's more helpful to focus on adequately addressing each part of the writing process and focusing on what actually results in quality prose. Simply dedicating years to writing a novel part-time is not going to ensure success either. There is something to be said about having realistic expectations and how that factors into consistency, but it's better for a writer to pay attention to their own pace and use that as a gauge.
He’s saying to be one of the GREATS this is what it takes. Ian is saying drop the ego that you can be one of the greats by only spending an hour a day writing. He’s said multiple times that if you are not able to do this, then it’s okay to take many years to write something great. This isn’t a channel about being a writer to sell books and market etc. This is a channel of growth in your own writing by dropping the ego. Reading this comment is proof you’re not ready to be a great writer. Too close minded. Too egotistical. You are hearing but not listening. Which also means you probably see the words but do not read and understand them. Drop your ego and have a wonderful day.
So true. It is all about the rewrite. I do at least 20 rewrites during the writing of the first draft. Then several complete rewrites after the first draft is done.
Rewriting/editing is hard...gotta find your style...somewhere in between nothing and rewriting the first sentence ten thousand different ways. Or you could be like George Martin or Pat Rothfuss and not do anything for a decade because Trump got elected.
🚀 Want to WRITE better? Join my free writing school: www.skool.com/writeconscious
📚 Book club, daily podcasts, and my writing: writeconscious.substack.com
📖 Read my guide to Haruki Murakami here (free): writeconscious.ck.page/30d93ddf11
Insta: instagram.com/writeconscious
🤔My Favorite Haruki Murakami novel amzn.to/4eyPr14
📕My Best Books of All-Time List: writeconscious.ck.page/355619345e
🔥Want to READ my wife’s fire poetry? Go here: marigoldeclipse.substack.co
Join this book club. It’s so worthwhile. And needed this video today, thanks!
This was a brilliant video. You had so many great points that I was truly blown away. A masterful presentation of so many ideas. I especially liked what you said about how so many writers write from a deep pain.
Honestly the best writing teacher I have found! This is such an important topic to cover too!
Lol you mean Murakami or Ian?
Thumbs up for the tshirt ❤
Do one about poetry, I suck at it lol
To write a great novel, I first outline the story - line. The goal is not to make it great. Its to write it. The main characters are all introduced first - and their passions then described. The introductions are elegant and short. On page 2, it becomes clear what the main characters want. On page 3, the story has begun in full force and you feel yourself in its world. You´re transferred from this world to another where you feel things and can smell the fresh air in that world and walk on its ground. I write mostly 6 or more hours each day. Am working on my first dystopian sci - fi concept and it involves people who are living on the U.S. Mexico border who are fascinated by Norse Mythology and who are managing a large corporation. I like writing mental disorders The story - line tells you what to do - it´s like a voice in your head helping you to organise your world. Once your novel is complete you can remove the story - line and can go on editing it until you are happy with the end outcome. The trick by hooking your reader is to make your reader feel, as if no natural time flow is being experienced at all.
I work a full-time job and have 4 kids, so my writing time is definitely limited.. I'd say I'm able to put in 30 minutes a day on average. So I'll be able to write one novel every 10 years 😅
Holy shit you hit the nail on the head with every word
I'm from Mexico so I'm loving that shirt :3
Let's go!
poets.org/poem/black-stone-lying-white-stone
an ancillary anecdote.. saw a symposium with James L. Brooks discussing his film AS GOOD AS IT GETS, and someone asked him how my rewrites did the script get, he said: "it went into triple-digits.."..
my mentor Harry Crews at UF used to say: one page a day, a novel a year.. two pages a day.. two novels a year.. ; )
Can we get Steinbeck please? :D Thank you
I dont think he cares for steinbeck sadly, he said he didn’t particularly enjoy the Grapes of Wrath before.
It is interesting hearing you talk about Raymond Carver and the editing process. As you would certainly know, Carvers early work was edited by Gordon Lish, and there was alot of controversy surrounding that editing. Some stories were edited by up to 75 percent. I believe later in his career the story edits, before Lish got his hands on them, were released with different titles. I wonder if you prefer the Lish versions or the Carver versions? I would lean towards Lish myself. Another interesting thing I believe I read, though could be wrong, is Lish supposedly introduced Blood Meridian to Harold Bloom.
Carver transcended Lish, though, in the end. Cathedral, Feathers, A Small Good Thing, are as good as any.
I just joined the club for 1Q84. How do I have access to the Sunday groups?
I will post the zoom link on Sunday on this page - There is also a recording of last weeks call in the second link below. Also, email me, message me on Substack, or come to daily office hours if you have questions because I don't see all my comments.
Book Club Link
writeconscious.substack.com/p/iq84-book-club
Book Club Call
writeconscious.substack.com/p/iq84-week-one-discussion-and-book
@@WriteConscious Hey, thanks! I don't have a paid account, its not giving me an option to listen to last weeks call or email you.
I know you once said that you released a couple of practice novels for free. Where can I find those?
I feel like I tinker too much during the drafting process. It's a problem. Every time I read it outloud, I find rhythm issues or clunky words I want to replace.
You're trying to be like Nabokov but you aren't writing on index cards :P
@@WriteConscious 🤣🤣🤣
Ian - love the work.. as a professional writer, what kind of copier/laser printer do you recommend to do real copy work - like 1400 page novels and dozens of 180-page screenplays.. like something industrial strength.. i suspect a few copies of my big novel, for revision would cost as much as me buying my own copier/laser printer.. any insights?
I also find revision to be endlessly entertaining.
Some nights I wind up reading one page out loud to myself over and over until my brain feels like it's melting and my eyes feel like they're going to fall out of their sockets.
Have you ever read George Saunders? What do you think of him?
Yes, I have a crazy story about meeting him in the worst psychologial state possible and being forced to have a 5+ minute conversatino with him lol
@@WriteConscious I am currently kinda obsessed with him lol. I've read all his short story collections and just started his novel so I'd be very curious to hear your story about him.
Even from far away i cn still see bugs in the book shelf
On 6k hours of revision over 10 years and idk what im even doing at this point
Maybe try reflection too
I write everyday but this video makes me realize I need to step it up even more. I don’t have children or a wife but it is hard to find time for reading and writing both on top of work. I was a big gamer but I’ve cut it out of my life and haven’t played for a a month or two now.
There you go brotha!
I hear you, but there's one major bug in your argument here. I'm sure Murakami spends thousands of hours working on flow and all that. But he does that *in Japanese,* which means we don't get to experience the fruit of his said effort, and enjoy the writing skills of his English translators, and their copy-editors, instead. Murakami is not the example you want to make this point.
This is the most ridiculous video on writing I’ve ever come across on youtube. So anyone that spends less than 4 years working on a book is not putting anything worthwhile? Writing is an entirely creative and subjective endeavour. There’s not a single path to success. I’m always interested in learning the process of any decorated author but not when it’s presented as a be all end all - off-putting and condescending. Bye.
Not the most ridiculous, but I agree with the sentiment.
As someone who is also an artist, I can tell you that I have labored for days over one painting, but another one came together in a matter of a few hours. Not everyone works at the same pace, either. Some are more gifted or intuitive than others. I think it's more helpful to focus on adequately addressing each part of the writing process and focusing on what actually results in quality prose.
Simply dedicating years to writing a novel part-time is not going to ensure success either.
There is something to be said about having realistic expectations and how that factors into consistency, but it's better for a writer to pay attention to their own pace and use that as a gauge.
He’s saying to be one of the GREATS this is what it takes. Ian is saying drop the ego that you can be one of the greats by only spending an hour a day writing.
He’s said multiple times that if you are not able to do this, then it’s okay to take many years to write something great. This isn’t a channel about being a writer to sell books and market etc. This is a channel of growth in your own writing by dropping the ego.
Reading this comment is proof you’re not ready to be a great writer. Too close minded. Too egotistical. You are hearing but not listening. Which also means you probably see the words but do not read and understand them.
Drop your ego and have a wonderful day.
So true. It is all about the rewrite. I do at least 20 rewrites during the writing of the first draft. Then several complete rewrites after the first draft is done.
You have the best teeth on UA-cam
Thanks. Follow back on IG.
Rewriting/editing is hard...gotta find your style...somewhere in between nothing and rewriting the first sentence ten thousand different ways.
Or you could be like George Martin or Pat Rothfuss and not do anything for a decade because Trump got elected.