Mentors and Learning

Content warning: occasional profanity. Michael starts with a first: no tea to drink since we recorded this session in the late afternoon. I mention that we're starting our second year of broadcasting. Bonus: we're now an "official" podcast, available on all the major podcasting platforms. Search for "Two Writers, No Hook" to find it. Michael reports: 12,904 words written. He's trying for consistently getting a number of writing days in per week. His editor's evaluation of his latest book came in, the editor liked the book, offered several minor fixes and suggested cutting part of it out. I have written a net 53 words, but that's the result of cutting many words out as well as adding new ones. I've been doing fine-grained edits as a way of procrastinating filling in my missing scenes, but that's the result of a nagging feeling that things weren't set up well. Earlier today I think I resolved that problem. We discuss our relative processes when it comes to changing the order of events in our stories, how we reveal events through multiple characters, and painting (or plotting) ourselves into a corner. We continue to explore the differences in our writing approached (plotting vs. pantsing). We discuss how if Michael knows where the plot is going, he worries that he'll telegraph it too early in the work. I ask if he's in his head or in the head of his characters when he writes. Goals: Mine are the same as four or six weeks ago: fill in some missing scenes and get this draft done, fingers crossed. Michael's are keep writing regularly, setting a days when he was writing as the goal, rather than the number of words. He also plans to go over his editor's feedback. We get onto mentors and learning. I say my inspiration is reading a book I really enjoy and wanting to write like that. I mention some books on writing. Michael talks about being inspired by books where he thinks he can do a better job, and I agree. There's a "well if this can make it to print, I can too" feeling you get. We talk about several other places where we find knowledge and inspiration to keep writing. Next week: momentum vs. significance. We're not quite sure what that means either, but we'll figure it out! Links to all the places I can be found online: https://alanlangford.com/places