Writing "Light" Episode Ten: Process, Expectation, Responsibility

Matthew Wayne Selznick presents insights into his creative process as he writes the first draft of his second novel, "Light Of The Outsider." In episode ten, Matt discusses how he's learning his own limitations, priorities and processes as a writer and a creator.

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[skevosmavros]

Really enjoying this video series. Please keep it going, even in those less "productive" months!

Have you read or listened to any of the articles/podcasts by Michael Nobbs on "sustainable creativity"? I like what he has to say, and although he's an artist (draws) and is dealing with chronic fatigue, his perspective is quite useful to writers I think, with or without chronic fatigue.

Google "sustainablycreative" to find him.

[mwsmedia]

@skevosmavros Thanks for the comment! Fortunately, I don't have a problem with sustaining my creativity. I have a problem with over-extending and assuming unnecessary and self-imposed obligations. ;-)

[DreamisVision]

Ultimately it didn't work at all. In fact almost all of the material that I created was a direct result of that negative energy being forced into my novel and I've since deleted all of it.

We're all different and I think we all have to find ways to increase our creative energy. For me its been improving other aspects of my life. You have to find out how much of the issue is work ethic and how much of it is a creative issue.

Take your time and don't give up. You'll get it done!

[mwsmedia]

@DreamisVision Thanks! I have no doubt I'll get it done... and more, too, while I'm working on it!

[DreamisVision]

Personally my response to the lack of output was to almost treat my novel like a job: I'd take my writing on the road more and find more opportunities to write, skipping out on "wasteful" things such as other forms of entertainment in hopes that an intense focus would spark my efforts. I, like you, also hoped that a certain amount of pages done per day as a deadline would be a motivating factor.

[mwsmedia]

@DreamisVision If I understand correctly, your comment is more for that other episode than for this one, correct? I'll address the pages-per-day point: unless I'm being paid to produce something (or I'm under any contract to do X by Y and get Z), I don't think word count or page count is a healthy thing. The best thing for me creatively on a daily basis is to do what I feel like doing for as long as I feel like doing it, and then stop. Google the Autofocus system for more on that.

[skevosmavros]

@mwsmedia Well, despite the name of his site, that's sort of what he's getting at.

But I agree about internally imposed deadlines. Ultimately, we can't "pretend" tha such deadlines are "real external" deadlines. It doesn't work.

[mwsmedia]

@DreamisVision I'm pleased you're enjoying Writing Light! For myself, I think it's an issue of setting realistic goals and expectations, and making sure that anything I do has a positive feedback loop in terms of satisfaction, energy and reward. My creative water is finding its level, if you will.

[DreamisVision]

Fantastic upload today Matt. I've been doing a lot of research on motivation as well as energy almost exclusively because of the apparent drop in those things over the last few months as it relates to my own novel efforts. In fact it was why I was so pleased with your very own advice a couple of uploads ago: That perhaps there is something missing within our emotional environments that is leading to the slowing down of output.