tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6771775388110854391.post4774545843696662257..comments2024-01-29T06:21:11.353+00:00Comments on Sarah Duncan's Blog: Why Alexander McCall Smith Depresses MeSarah Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12530089356370140344noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6771775388110854391.post-5605402608024053042010-10-19T23:09:58.808+01:002010-10-19T23:09:58.808+01:00Glad I cheer you up! More guilt=less writing is no...Glad I cheer you up! More guilt=less writing is not a good equation, Jo - though I must admit it's not unknown to me. We'll have to try Less guilt=more writing.Sarah Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12530089356370140344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6771775388110854391.post-92157330147236723332010-10-19T14:51:13.255+01:002010-10-19T14:51:13.255+01:00Sarah, you never fail to make me feel so much bett...Sarah, you never fail to make me feel so much better! I hope I can learn to stop feeling jealous of published writers and to stop beating myself up. The more guilty I feel, the less I write. Here's to banishing those inner gremlins!Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10680813337238122710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6771775388110854391.post-12235051691063535282010-10-14T15:12:27.966+01:002010-10-14T15:12:27.966+01:00I have to admit that I'm of the same mind as y...I have to admit that I'm of the same mind as you, Dan. I've met people who claim that the words just flow naturally and they don't need to edit, and it's usually a sign of poor writing - not that I'm saying AMS is a poor writer, perish the thought, but I think you could certainly call his tales slight, charming though they are.<br /><br />You'll have to read my books - I can guarantee that every word has caused me angst...Sarah Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12530089356370140344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6771775388110854391.post-38317788113698062222010-10-14T11:26:46.847+01:002010-10-14T11:26:46.847+01:00I heard about Alexander McCall Smith's impress...I heard about Alexander McCall Smith's impressive writing routine a while ago, on Radio 4's Open Book I think.<br /><br />Although at first I was wowed and a little intimidated by that level of output, once I'd thought about it a bit more I realised that the effect it had actually had on me was to limit the appeal of his books. I've not read any of them, and this insight has made me less likely to pick one up. I <i>want</i> my authors to have agonised over every word, to have battled procrastination and self-doubt, to have honed and sharpened every paragraph until they're sure they can't possibly write it any better.<br /><br />Maybe it's because that's my experience of writing, and I have developed an inbuilt distrust of anyone who claims they can just sit down and let the (right) words come to them. I may be missing out (the popularity of AMS's books would suggest the reading public isn't hampered by the same sort of prejudice as I am), but - as you say, Sarah - there's different strokes for different folks.Dan Purduehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01633271913854946500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6771775388110854391.post-54868113287145164182010-10-12T22:41:36.823+01:002010-10-12T22:41:36.823+01:00Jen, that's a fascinating take on it. I won&#...Jen, that's a fascinating take on it. I won't feel so bad now at lolling in bed of a morning.Sarah Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12530089356370140344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6771775388110854391.post-42258265480117236242010-10-12T18:59:49.394+01:002010-10-12T18:59:49.394+01:00Well said, Sarah.Well said, Sarah.Kath McGurlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02526923882402757423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6771775388110854391.post-24313520295238723202010-10-12T10:53:06.147+01:002010-10-12T10:53:06.147+01:00By the time you reach your sixties, you may find w...By the time you reach your sixties, you may find waking at 5am is no big deal. You may also find your attention span somewhat shorter. I suspect Smith's routine takes these things into account!Jen Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12628305777383099281noreply@blogger.com