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Brian’s number for his post technically shoulda been V. His next post should use VII. Knowing him, he’ll use X just because he knows he can annoy me with it. Heh!

Ah well, at this rate it seems we’re going from Inside Joke to The Cousins Coltrane School of Writing. Still, Brian did manage something of a pot shot in his last post, to which I’ll respond to in a minute.

First tho’, I wanted to add a comment about those quotes about voice, particularly the last one that talks about how some of what you write will be lousy. This is true. However, one should not be discouraged by this. I have long believed in the following writing maxim: “The first draft is always shit.” Once you’re comfortable with that, the rest of it isn’t as difficult.

I have times when I’ll write a scene and it’ll come out pretty good on the first go around. Then I have times when I write a scene and the wording is just sucky and awkward, but I at least got the thing down. And that’s the important part, and the core of what was said in that last quote. You gotta write it down! Otherwise, whatever it is you’re looking to say or express isn’t going to come out at all if you’re worried about it coming out pretty or perfect the first time through. You can shore up the scene afterward, revising it and such. But it’s getting the thing down that’s the first big step.

Aside from that, have I found my voice? I believe I have. (At least, I’ve bled on the page so that must qualify me for something!) And I know my voice certainly has a lot more it wants to say about my personal observations, my beliefs, my desires and my passions.

Which brings me to answering Brian’s question about the naked experience…

…in that ah ree-fuse to answer that question. 

Now, I wonder if it would be plausible for him to get shot in the story at this point…muhahahahaha…