by James Scott Bell
@jamesscottbell
There are two questions which currently occupy the greatest minds of our generation.
First, how does quantum physics explain the existence of the cosmos?
And second, how is Keith Richards still alive?
The latter inquiry was the subject of a recent article.
Richards shared with The Telegraph he quit smoking in 2019 and hasn’t lit up since. Additionally, he kicked his heroin habit in 1979 and stopped doing cocaine in 2006. However, Richards does indulge in a cocktail every so often, but he doesn’t drink to excess anymore.
He said, “I still like a drink occasionally – because I’m not going to heaven any time soon – but apart from that, I’m trying to enjoy being straight. It’s a unique experience for me.”
Being on the straight-and-narrow must be unique for someone like Richards, who has been tied so closely to “the rock and roll lifestyle.” There have been plenty of jokes made about his drinking and drug use over the years. Frankly, it’s a miracle he’s alive.
Keith Richards rocks on
Alive and rocking. At 81, he just had a solo effort hit the UK charts with Live 3.10.22, backed by the band the X-Pensive Winos.
Richards, of course, co-wrote with Mick the monster hit “Satisfaction,” as in “I can’t get no…” The song is about the vapidity of consumerism and the frustrated pursuit of, ahem, amorous congress.
Which brings us to the question of the day: Do you get satisfaction from writing fiction?
There’s an old saying: I don’t like writing; I like having written. I have never related to that, even when the writing is frustrating, as it often is. Because working through the frustration to a breakthrough is one of the most satisfying feelings a writer can have.
I’ve written before about the “30k Wall.” Most of my novels have run into that edifice, but each time I found—after a period of agony—the way around or through it. That’s a great feeling! And it comes out of the frustration, not in spite of it. Hello frustration, my old friend (apologies to Simon and Garfunkel).
Here are some other things that give me satisfaction as a writer:
- Writing a particularly sparkling sentence.
- Coming up with a twist.
- Bringing a character to life.
- Receiving a nod of approval from my tough but compassionate first editor, Mrs. B.
- Seeing what needs to be fixed and figuring out how to fix it.
- Writing an ending with resonance, especially when it brings a tear.
- Nurturing a killer idea for a new project.
- Finding just the right “mirror moment.”
- Getting a startlingly good memo from The Boys in the Basement.
- Hitting the flow state as I write.
In fact, they all make me more than satisfied. They make me happy.
This kind of joy cannot be handed to you by a bot. It only comes from “doing the work.”
I know there is a very small subsection of typists (I hesitate to use the term writer) out there who think writing fiction should never be “work.” It should only be “fun.” It should never involve taking constructive criticism, or sweating the small stuff (or the big stuff, for that matter), or even editing beyond the occasional search for typos. Books written this way may be fun for the creator, but not for the reader.
On the other hand, Mr. Stephen King extols the value of revising after others have read the manuscript. In On Writing he explains that his first editor is his wife, Tabitha. Then: “In addition to Tabby’s first read, I usually send manuscripts to between four and eight other people who have critiqued my stories over the years.” His practice is “two drafts and a polish.” In other words, does the work, and I’m absolutely certain he’ll break out someday.
“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vince Lombardi
Where do you find satisfaction in your writing life?
Writing stories is solving problems – that never gets old. And that’s what helps me endure when I go through periods where it feels my creativity has fled the scene & has no plans of coming back. You know it WILL come back, and you will get back to solving story problems–back to writing something that will touch someone’s life in some way, great or small.
Touch someone’s life in some way…
That’s so true, BK. There’s nothing better to hear from a reader.
When the character does something unexpected, gives me a thrill.
Seeing the work printed out.
I like those moments, too. I once had a character refuse to leave a house. Just flat out refused. And she was right.
It doesn’t happen with every manuscript. But when characterization, word choice, and plot come together into a critical mass and create something alive and fascinating, it’s worth all the sweat that went into it.
You’ve phrased in perfectly, MC. Worth the sweat.
Indeed: No sweet without the sweat.
When a reader says, “I loved your book. When’s the next one coming out?”
Love that, too, Debbie. And as an indie, you can sometimes say, “Next month.”
If I’m not going to write, I’ll have to clean the toilets. 🙂
Like the commenters above noted, satisfaction comes when I hit my word count, when I get positive feedback from my writing partners, when I figure out how to get out of a plot corner, when a character surprises me, and when someone says they loved my book.
If I’m not going to write, I’ll have to clean the toilets.
You are flushed with success, Terry.
When I hit flow state. When I make myself laugh out loud (like with “Chekov’s Wig” in Book Drop Dead. When a plot twist comes to me. When a reader says they couldn’t stop reading. When a solution to a plot problem becomes clear, even blindingly obvious.
Just yesterday I was rejiggering the plot for my latest mystery, after taking a break, and ideas for how to unify plot elements were coming fast and furious. Definitely major satisfaction.
Fast and furious! I love that too, when my brain suddenly becomes Dom Toretto.
This makes me think of the quote by Van Gogh, “I dream my painting, then I paint my dream.” As a writer, artistically, if you can catch it, then remember it, then get it down in words, you’ve got it made. The mystery is the satisfaction.
That’s a great quote, Bryan. Bradbury would literally capture his dreams, first thing upon waking up. He would write down whatever was in his mind before it faded away.
I get satisfaction when I laugh out loud at something one of my characters is doing or when I get teary-eyed at an ending that perfectly sums up the story.
In the end, no matter how frustrating the writing has been, satisfaction comes from a good day’s work.
That “tears at the end” feeling is so cathartic…. I’ve had it maybe 3 or 4 times in 30 years.
When I ask myself a question, like, “What does true forgiveness look like?” . . . and my characters show me the answer.
Happy Sunday! 🙂
Yes! We don’t have to follow the adage “Write what you know.” Sometimes we write what we need to know.
Perfectly stated, Jim!
🥳
I always tell newer writers that, if you don’t enjoy the writing, find a new way to spend your time. Money is rare, making a decent living is rarer, and fame is almost nonexistent. I enjoyed the creativity and making my own sandbox universes. Heck, I even enjoyed sitting in front of my computer and typing. Without that, I would not have continued at this profession for years.
“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” – Toni Morrison
Because working through the frustration to a breakthrough is one of the most satisfying feelings a writer can have—there is no high quite like it!
Fact check: true!
I find satisfaction all the way through the process, from writing the perfect sentence, paragraph, and chapter to wrestling my way through a difficult spot. And of course, a great ending that resonates with readers. There’s nothing better than being in the flow. It’s a natural drug unlike any other.
That 30K mark trips me up, too. Ugh. Frustrating but worth it once you push past it.
Agree completely, Sue.😎