dear writer: your stuff starts out just for you
when to open the door and when to keep it tightly shut
Hello.
Happy November.
How’s your writing? Are you hitting the daily NaNoWriMo 1667 word count?!
A new novel is brewing here. The setting is a boarding school (which means young YA category; a first for me!) It’s a drama, a mystery, a love story, and there might be a ghost….but WAIT. This is the first draft. It’s untidy. There are major plot holes. Maybe it’s too early to share.
Whether or not you’re starting a 50,000 word novel right before the holidays (who thought that was a good idea? IT’S A BRILLIANT IDEA), here’s a writing lesson from master writer Stephen King.
Write with the door closed.
Rewrite with the door open.
Your stuff starts out being just for you.
Our belief and motivation while writing a new story or creating anything, can so easily be squashed if shown too early to those who do not have the vision.
Or, if it’s just really terrible. And you know the drill: it’s going to start off being pretty terrible. Keep that door shut, writer!
We are babies. So vulnerable.
Does this sound familiar? I’m not done yet but do you like it? Is this good? Am I good? Please say yes.
Write with the door shut. It’s not ready.
I still feel badly about giving animated, eager feedback to a new writer who showed me his very early draft. The more helpful I tried to be, the more deflated he began to look...and I swear, he just never recovered from my helpfulness.
Lesson learned on the other side of things.
At some point we have to stop tinkering.
It is a bold act to open the door.
Don’t wait too long. If we want to get better, we’re going to have to open the door. “Ship your work,” as Seth Godin says. “It’s doesn’t count unless you share it.”
And I like that. But equally important is knowing how long to keep the door closed.
Get the story as good and as right as you can.
Then: open the door and ship.
Look forward to the inevitable rewrite!
A little painting I did during the pandemic…hey, the critique door is CLOSED :)
“Write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open. Your stuff starts out being just for you, in other words, but then it goes out. Once you know what the story is and get it right — as right as you can, anyway — it belongs to anyone who wants to read it. Or criticize it.”
―Stephen King
I’ve read over this Substack post many many times. I’ve tinkered with the words, with the title, with the words again.
And now I’ve opened the door. It’s shipped.
Do with it what you will.
Happy writing.
You can do it.
Amy
picture of the week:
and:
Reading: Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith (mystery & suspense!)
Books to send you: If you’d like to purchase GUINEVERE, TTT, or MCNIFFS directly from me, get in touch. I will sign, personalize and ship (and they are cheaper than anywhere :) are we thinking Christmas presents yet?
Beautifully written and painted, Amy! A reminder we need to hear over and over.
Those are beautiful paintings! And the words are such soulful advise for writers.