Attack The Page

simply my philosophy on writing.

It's been some time since i've run into one, but, it seems like clockwork that i encounter people who prattle on about muse. Simply put, horse pukey!

The only reason i've gotten into so many newsletters and write so much is work, plain and simple. Too many poets follow the whole Dylan Thomas trash about "waiting for the muse to strike," or needing "divine inspiration." These, to me, are purely lazy people who won't get off their bottoms and go look for inspiration.

There are hundreds of books for novelists and short story writers on creative exercises that spur on inspiration, and i wonder, how many of you have looked at these (speaking to the "inspiration" crowd)? How many times have you taken even 1 minute a day to observe natural beauty all around you? Or even the nasty urban sprawl of ugly cities (London, Detroit, New York: sorry, cities can be elegant, but man is ugly)?

I follow, as i mentioned before, the Stephen King philosophy on writing. I do 10 pages a day of any kind of writing that comes, 7 days a week, and have for 5 years now. Now, a few folks, whose names i won't mention, have had the brass tacks to say "it's the quality, not the volume that count." true enough, however, may i say that Mr. King, and occasionally myself, get paid for writing, do you? I certainly am not making much, as i have only been paid cash for 20 out of 129 published pieces, and the rest were credit and copy, which i like just as well.

I know, i can hear the "Sell Out!" flying from some lips already, and my only answer is "lazy putz!" The fact is, any writer who has succeeded, self educated (which i am as well, i'm just now working on an English degree in communications) or not, is a professional, and they work. I may even say, they labor harder than a factory worker, slaving over pages no matter their health.I dare say, despite the lack of volume, even Mr. Thomas Harris works, albeit he's lucky to do a novel every 7 years. i wonder what he does in the meantime? Crochet?

Here's my suggestion. Work. come to the pages every day for 1 hour, with lists of questions, quotes, and ideas, and see what happens! You'll be amazed at how much fun it is! You're passion for writing can only multiply when you take it seriously. Kudos if you do!