Writers Tricks of the Trade Issue 2 Volume 9 | Page 11

If I get on the list in time, I may have a
chance to read it at the writer’s group
meeting. I’m sure I’ll get a plethora of opin-
ions, good and bad. I’ll of course, listen to
them all. Will I go with all of them? It de-
pends on what they say. As usual, I don’t
have to do everything they say. However, I
do listen to each opinion, no matter how
off-the-wall.
Turns out, I did make the
list and read it Monday
night. I heard the predicted
wide range of opinions from
changing the order to make
the story flow to adding dia-
logue, to changing this and
that. It was great feedback
from a wide range of viewpoints. I especial-
ly liked it because I just started reading and
didn’t let anyone know what I was reading.
They had no pre-conceived notions. Their
opinions were raw and as unbiased as I
could get.
C ONCLUSION : With maybe an hour’s work to-
tal, maybe a bit more after the writer’s
group as I pondered which advice to take, I
whipped out an essay of about 1,400+
words. Not everyone can do that, while
some can do a lot more. What I do with it in
the end is hard to say. Will I submit it to
Writer’s Bloc? Not sure. I may use it for
something else.
The point is that I felt
the muse and followed it.
How about you? I know
it’s not as simple for many
of you, but if you can, don’t
worry about the mechan-
ics. If you get the muse,
just go with it and see what comes out in
the wash. You may surprise yourself. All it
costs is a bit of time. You never know until
you try.
Happy writing!
Fred
Fred Rayworth found his passion for writing in 1995. He has been a regular contributor to
Writers Tricks of the Trade for several years now, always offering sage advice, or his own spin
that may raise questions about techniques that have been the standard. www.fredrayworth.com
EDITOR’S NOTE: I N RE - READING THIS ARTICLE AND DECIDING TO PUBLISH IT IN THIS ISSUE , I REALLY ENJOYED F RED ’ S
UNVARNISHED ACCOUNT OF HOW HE MANAGED TO WRITE A 1400+ WORD SHORT STORY , OR OP ED AS IT TURNED OUT TO
BE , IN A REASONABLY QUICK TIME FRAME . T HE KEY ATTITUDE WAS : G O F OR I T . S HORT STORIES ARE FUN . I NSTANT GRATI-
FICATION AS OPPOSED TO WRITING A NOVEL . G ET YOUR THOUGHTS DOWN BECAUSE YOU CAN EDIT LATER . D ON ’ T IGNORE
THE IDEA OR SPURT OF INSPIRATION WHEN IT PRESENTS ITSELF . I T WANTS TO BE WRITTEN .
W RITERS ’ T RICKS OF THE T RADE
P AGE 6
S UMMER 2019