K is for Kaleidoscope


qnntv.com 

During this challenge, you and I will probably read through a thousand+ blogs. So many people, so many writers, it’s inevitable to find more than one person writing about the same topic.

Our world is a kaleidoscope. The ideas, situations and events we experience make the loose bits of colored material in the telescope-like toy. When you twist the tube an endless variety of patterns emerges, very much the way each of us approaches our writing. 

Each writer brings their interests, dislikes and influences to each topic.  Reading through all the posts can get overwhelming, but meeting so many different people makes it all worth it. 

On the other hand, sometimes my fear of idea stealing keeps me from sharing my writing. Then I stop and think. They can’t steal my life experiences that influence my story.  A great quote from Stephen King in On Writing really put it in perspective for me. “But once your basic story is on paper, you need to think about what it means and enrich your following drafts with your conclusions. To do less is to rob your work (and eventually your readers) of the vision that makes each tale you write uniquely your own.”

Steal. Steal. Steal.

Advice I received while I taught English and when I started writing, guiding me through this journey. Everyone kept saying, “Learn from those before you and once you get a handle on it, then you can add our own twist,” creating an entirely different story and reading experience.

Keep writing and sharing your experiences!

What writing advice do you keep in the back of your mind?

Comments

Bob Scotney said…
I recently had a whole article lifted from my blog and reproduced on a facebook page. What annoyed me was not that he lifted it word for word but that he did not have the courtesy to acknowledge the source or ask me first. It's a question of whether you think its a tribute that someone rates it enough to pinch it.
April 13, 2011 at 8:52 AM
Author Joshua Hoyt said…
This is a great idea. It is so true that we all have unique interests and ideas and even though the story looks the same on the surface the under lyings are radically different.
April 13, 2011 at 9:59 AM
Alex J. Cavanaugh said…
We all have different takes on life, so no two stories can ever be the same.
And no one else posted today about Kaleidoscope that I've seen! Hope you're enjoying the Challenge.
April 13, 2011 at 6:12 PM
Anonymous said…
Great advice. :)
April 13, 2011 at 7:13 PM
Amie Kaufman said…
Really great advice. It's always true that nobody can write your story except you.
April 14, 2011 at 6:03 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

L is for Location, Location, Location

Image
Source Readers look to novels to escape reality. An author’s words take them to distant lands. But a well-described location can do more than just take the reader on a trip away from home. It plays an important role in creating atmosphere and describing characters. The strength of location in a story transforms the setting into another character. Characters and setting rely heavily on one another not only to create images in the minds of readers, but also to describe each other.  A character reveals information about a setting. Their traits lead them to specific towns, cities, bars, schools, etc. A well-developed character personality can create the milieu. An uptight individual probably lives in a very neat and organized apartment. A character concerned with the environment might have a vegetable garden planted in the back with a recycling bin and compost heap. A young, single girl might feel stuck in family-oriented suburbia. Now, the...
Read more

Insecure Writer's Support Group:Overwhelmed

Image
Source My road trip to Boston at the end of August arrived just in time to relieve me from the constant head banging on the wall between me and my writing, blogging and freelance career. The permanent knot on my forehead, bald patches and a jaw that clicks every time I open my mouth has transformed me into a monster you might catch in the dark alleyways of Gotham City. I overdosed on advice in writing magazines, on writing-related websites and blogs. If you peek through the windows, you catch me wandering around the house strung out, too jittery to sit down at my laptop. As an information junkie, I hoarded writing techniques, strategies and prompts. I shoved them into every available space in my writing toolbox, reminding me of an overly prepared-style of packing. Overstuffed. I would sit on the lid to force it shut if it weren’t for the motivational quotes spilling over the sides keeping me from latching the damn thing. Then I come across an article contradicting th...
Read more

E is for Erasure Poetry

Image
rattle.com April is National Poetry Month . So, I thought I'd give  erasure poetry  a try. I chose an article about dating and race in The Philadelphia Inquirer .  Reading through the article, I underlined words that caught my eye. Then, I created a poem and title from my found words. Unfortunately, it was easier to type the words than scan the article. Enjoy! Talk About Dating First contact          Attitudes affect the messages Cut off from the real world          See the imbalance Healthy partners          Work together, no exclusions
Read more