Greatest Hits: Skip the Boring Parts

« "Hi, I look like Brad Pitt, only more handsome" | Main | Why Settle for the Blue Plate Special When You Can Have the Whole K-Mart? »

Aug31

Greatest Hits: Skip the Boring Parts

Jason Boog

August 31, 2006

Know More: Humor Writing, Writing Resources 2.0, Writing Resources

The last couple days I've felt like I'm being squeezed between too many projects, and it's hard to imagine finishing anything. I know you know what I'm talking about, because everybody reading this has at least one day job besides the writing life.

Luckily, I discussed this very problem with humor writer Joel Derfner last month. He gave me some advice that I keep repeating over and over. So I'm passing it along, just in case you missed it...

"The hardest situation for me comes when I'm writing something bad. Every phrase is torture, because I know that it's boring and sucky, and glaciers move faster than the second hand on my watch. I write until I can't bear it anymore and then I turn on Law & Order and eat chocolate and go to sleep.

"Usually what happens is that within a few days I realize either that I can make it good by cutting it in half or that it's just not an interesting moment and I should just skip it entirely. I think I'm going to have to write a how-to book some day called 'Skip the Boring Parts.'"

related entries

How To Cure Writer's Block Dec 20, 2007
Three New Year's Resolutions For Working Writers Dec 13, 2007
What If Pitching A Story Was Less Like An Esoteric Cult Ritual and More Like Reality Television? Oct 23, 2007
From Law School To Congress You Should Think Very Carefully About Your Day Job Oct 12, 2007
Hey You! Read This! Oct 9, 2007

0 Comments/Trackbacks

submit a trackback

TrackBack URL for this entry:

Comment Preview

« "Hi, I look like Brad Pitt, only more handsome" | Main | Why Settle for the Blue Plate Special When You Can Have the Whole K-Mart? »

Advertise

Related Resources

Advertise Here

recent comments

rachna009 on Day-Job Therapy
TL Erickson on What Sloane Crosley, Jeff Gordinier, Toby Barlow and Tony D'Souza Can Teach You About Author Websites
Judith Briles on What Do Young, Anxious Writers Need To Know Right Now?
on How To Describe Nature In Your Stories
Krunal on Day-Job Therapy

sponsored ads

topics

subscribe

Subscribe
What's this?

Prefer Email?
Subscribe below-

Current News

resources

Bookmark this Page
Write for us
About us
Team
Contact
Subscribe
Advertise
Network Map
Privacy
Disclaimer

Support This Blog

blogroll

My site was nominated for Best Education Blog!

Know More Media - Writing / Speaking

know more media network

View Network Map

Network Feed List (OPML)

Know More Media Network
Feed

we support unitus

PRWeb

Influencer

ThePublishingSpot is a member of the Know More Media network of business related blogs.

Here are some current headlines from some of our business publications:

ProductivityGoal

CallCenterScript

AdHurl

TheBizofKnowledge

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 619

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 620

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 621

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 622

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 737

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 738

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 739

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 740

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 619

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 620

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 621

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 622

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 737

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 738

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 739

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 740

HealthCareVox

BrainBasedBusiness

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 619

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 620

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 621

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 622

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 737

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 738

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 739

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 740

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 619

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 620

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 621

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 622

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 737

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 738

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 739

Warning: date() expects parameter 2 to be long, string given in /usr/www/users/chrisycm/kmm-network/includes/rss2html/rss2html.php on line 740