[Writing Post] “Do or Do Not. There is No Try.”
These are infamous words of Master Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back. And while I agree with the idea behind the sentiment – I do so conditionally. Shocked? Here’s what I mean… First Rule of Writing (yeah, I’m talking “rules” again – this time in FAVOR) is “Apply Behind to Chair”. This is the “do or do not” part. And I fully embrace this. If you’re going to write – then write. If you’re just “thinking about writing” or making excuses, then give it up and “DO NOT”. It’s the “there is no TRY” that I consider “conditional”.
I <3 the comic strip, Bob the Squirrel, and today’s strip illustrates pretty well the point I’m trying to make.
As writers and artists, we do a lot of “try” when we “do or do not”. We test skills. We try on genres. We play with the rules, tips, and even software writers bigger than us swear by in order to find the path that works for us. I say this probably way too much – there is no ONE way for anyone to write. Every writer is different. Find what works for you. You can TRY anything. You can even try EVERYTHING – as long as it doesn’t keep you from actually writing.
To go on a minor tangent…this is the problem with “author branding” – besides the fact it sounds painful . It seems to take the “try” out writing. And I could be totally wrong be shouted down for this, but I find “branding” to be limiting to a writer. You find something you’re really good at and end up “branding” this style so people can shelve/pigeonhole you . Which isn’t necessarily bad, but where’s the growth? If you always do what you’ve done, you’re kinda stuck, right? Yes, you build a fanbase of people looking for THAT particular thing, but the ability to pull in people who might not ordinarily read THAT THING is more difficult.
I tend to embrace the “try”. I like trying different styles and genres. I take the story as it wants to be written – dark, humorous, fantasy, SF, mystery. I love writing Redheads of the Apocalypse, but I also love writing mashed up fairy tales, action stories, and even my serial killer novel. I get something new out of all of it. It’s all part of me as a writer (and I guess, technically, as my “brand”) to sometimes go afield with what I do. It’s also part of my “marketing strategy” to get as wide a fanbase as possible.
Yes, I learn from everyone. One of my favorite “freak” (see comic above) is Lawrence Allen Williams. He’s not afraid to do different things at different times in his life. And it’s working for him. The cute stuff works for many of the collectors. The “dark” stuff he’s been doing lately has been hugely profitable for him. The stuff in between? Well, he’s found a market for that too. He pushes envelopes until they cry “Uncle”, and it works for him. I’m taking a lesson from that and from him. While he’s “DOING”; he’s also “TRYING”.
Don’t be afraid of “Try” when you’re writing. That’s my point. Not everyone gets it right the first time out of the box, but when you can add skill sets to your craft – I don’t see how that is a bad thing. Feel free to disagree with me. I’ve seen some interesting discussion in comments in my last post. But if you’re going to disagree with me – be specific in what you disagree with and why. I might learn something from you.