Comments on: The problem of prolixity http://willspirit.com/2009/12/04/the-problem-of-prolixity/ Fri, 18 May 2012 03:09:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Will http://willspirit.com/2009/12/04/the-problem-of-prolixity/comment-page-1/#comment-642 Will Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:44:23 +0000 http://willspirit.com/?p=2108#comment-642 Susan-- <br> Thank you for the suggestion. That is a format I have been toying with, and I am glad to hear that it worked for you. My topic would be recovery from childhood mistreatment, possibly combined with cautionary tales about my misadventures with psychotherapists and psychiatry (you can see I still have to narrow things down a bit.) The approach you describe would closely match my abilities, as you appear to understand. <br> I use your success as validation for my plans. It's nice to know that one <em>can</em> 'make it' as a writer. All my life I've heard (especially from my father) that the chance of success is miniscule. It's the main reason I pursued science and medicine rather than following my inclination to be a writer. It may be that spending my young adulthood in biology and surgery was actually a good choice, since my education can now inform my writing. But in taking the next step, and going from one field into the other, it helps to have role models. Seeing that real people like you can publish books and build an audience encourages me to pursue this path. <br> Blessings. --Will Susan–

Thank you for the suggestion. That is a format I have been toying with, and I am glad to hear that it worked for you. My topic would be recovery from childhood mistreatment, possibly combined with cautionary tales about my misadventures with psychotherapists and psychiatry (you can see I still have to narrow things down a bit.) The approach you describe would closely match my abilities, as you appear to understand.

I use your success as validation for my plans. It’s nice to know that one can ‘make it’ as a writer. All my life I’ve heard (especially from my father) that the chance of success is miniscule. It’s the main reason I pursued science and medicine rather than following my inclination to be a writer. It may be that spending my young adulthood in biology and surgery was actually a good choice, since my education can now inform my writing. But in taking the next step, and going from one field into the other, it helps to have role models. Seeing that real people like you can publish books and build an audience encourages me to pursue this path.

Blessings.

–Will

]]> By: Will http://willspirit.com/2009/12/04/the-problem-of-prolixity/comment-page-1/#comment-641 Will Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:31:07 +0000 http://willspirit.com/?p=2108#comment-641 Lili-- I appreciate the validation. Perhaps I'll work on enlivening the piece I deep-sixed until I feel OK about posting it. <br> I read many blogs in this field, but don't understand what makes some popular and others not. Part of it must be historical: those that started earlier had an easier time attracting an audience. It also appears there is a split between blogs where the pieces are built around current events and factual information, and those that are based on personal experience. Each type seems capable of success (here defined as popularity.) I write mostly from my life, but try to bring science and philosophy into the mix. So I suppose I am straddling a line. <br> Although it would be nice, I don't foresee this becoming a widely-read blog. The field has become so crowded that breaking out of the pack appears very difficult. I'm trying in my own small way to gather an audience, but barring an endorsement from an extremely popular site, I will probably remain under the radar. Even if I did get 'shouted-out' (which I guess is the correct term?) I don't know whether my work would appeal to much of the mental health community. <br> My current and limited goal is to ferret out when my writing most intrigues people, and where my strengths match popular desire. I want to use that information as I put together a book. With luck, I'll produce something that flies with readers. <br> It's a tricky business. I know that the chance of a book 'making it' is very small. So I need to be sure that the writing process fulfills me as I go. I don't want to put myself through a hateful ordeal and then face the very likely outcome of continued obscurity. On the other hand, I want to be careful to keep popular trends in mind, to give my baby its best opportunity. The idea is to write something that feeds my heart as I go, but still appeals to readers. Then I'll release it to the world and see if it has wings. <br> Thanks for helping me stay centered as I pursue this dream. <br> --Will Lili–

I appreciate the validation. Perhaps I’ll work on enlivening the piece I deep-sixed until I feel OK about posting it.

I read many blogs in this field, but don’t understand what makes some popular and others not. Part of it must be historical: those that started earlier had an easier time attracting an audience. It also appears there is a split between blogs where the pieces are built around current events and factual information, and those that are based on personal experience. Each type seems capable of success (here defined as popularity.) I write mostly from my life, but try to bring science and philosophy into the mix. So I suppose I am straddling a line.

Although it would be nice, I don’t foresee this becoming a widely-read blog. The field has become so crowded that breaking out of the pack appears very difficult. I’m trying in my own small way to gather an audience, but barring an endorsement from an extremely popular site, I will probably remain under the radar. Even if I did get ‘shouted-out’ (which I guess is the correct term?) I don’t know whether my work would appeal to much of the mental health community.

My current and limited goal is to ferret out when my writing most intrigues people, and where my strengths match popular desire. I want to use that information as I put together a book. With luck, I’ll produce something that flies with readers.

It’s a tricky business. I know that the chance of a book ‘making it’ is very small. So I need to be sure that the writing process fulfills me as I go. I don’t want to put myself through a hateful ordeal and then face the very likely outcome of continued obscurity. On the other hand, I want to be careful to keep popular trends in mind, to give my baby its best opportunity. The idea is to write something that feeds my heart as I go, but still appeals to readers. Then I’ll release it to the world and see if it has wings.

Thanks for helping me stay centered as I pursue this dream.

–Will

]]> By: Wellness Writer http://willspirit.com/2009/12/04/the-problem-of-prolixity/comment-page-1/#comment-640 Wellness Writer Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:17:36 +0000 http://willspirit.com/?p=2108#comment-640 Will, I developed a great format for my second and third books (on parenting) that might work for you (or give you food for thought). I started each chapter with a personal essay about the topic. In my case, I then interviewed subject matter experts, and ran quotes from parents in the margin. Even if you're the subject matter expert, I believe that breaking up the text works well. I also included lists of tips and advice. A friend of mine who's a therapist is using a similar format to write her new book. Anyway, just a thought... Susan Will,
I developed a great format for my second and third books (on parenting) that might work for you (or give you food for thought). I started each chapter with a personal essay about the topic. In my case, I then interviewed subject matter experts, and ran quotes from parents in the margin. Even if you’re the subject matter expert, I believe that breaking up the text works well. I also included lists of tips and advice. A friend of mine who’s a therapist is using a similar format to write her new book. Anyway, just a thought…

Susan

]]> By: Lili http://willspirit.com/2009/12/04/the-problem-of-prolixity/comment-page-1/#comment-639 Lili Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:58:49 +0000 http://willspirit.com/?p=2108#comment-639 Will honey you know everyone is different.What you don't like someone else may love. Your writing is wonderful. Will honey you know everyone is different.What you don’t like someone else may love. Your writing is wonderful.

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