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Writer's picturecarolemarples

Trying to knit my own false teeth.

Updated: Dec 6, 2019

Occasionally you hear an author say, “the book wrote itself.” Really? That’s as incredible as saying, “I knitted my own false teeth.”

This writing business is hard and slippery. I started with enthusiasm and misplaced confidence. My first hurdle was tenses which slapped me round the face and said, “You really have no idea what to do with us.”

Then I got all caught up with POV. I’ve settled for first person as I find it easier. Experts in my writers group say it is frowned upon and limits the author. Now they tell me, when I am seventeen chapters in.

One useful tip I wish I’d known at the start, produce a first draft and then iron it out later. It took me four and a half years to write three chapters as I kept going back to alter a comma. I still can’t resist a mini edit now and again, but that’s more for continuity than self flagellation.

The latest thing to get in a flap about is ‘The Passive Voice.’ That’s not, apparently some weird cult, but is all about verb order and while we’re on the subject, I need to excommunicate all my adjectives.

I am steadily ploughing on, but all the time thinking, is there anyone out there who is going to read it anyway?

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