Monday, March 21, 2011

Just Pick It Already

“Don’t pick at it!” is a phrase used often in my house. When you have a few boys running in and out all the time this is not the grossest thing you’ll find yourself saying. But it got me thinking…as a writer we do pick at it. We are encouraged to pick at our characters, our plot, and everything in between. We pick and pick at the scab of our story until we uncover what’s beneath.

Really great authors must pick their stories till they bleed and if we want to be that good then this is what we have to do. Pick at it.

And if that analogy isn’t enough to make you want to throw up just a little…then I’m honestly disappointed.

3 comments:

  1. Hahahaha! Now that is a GREAT analogy.

    I pick. I pick until it bleeds and gets gross, and then I let it heal a little so I can pick some more. The picking can be addictive, and I know that sometimes I pick more than I should. But picking is definitely an important part of writing.

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  2. Yes, necessarily gross. I agree. Pick it good.

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  3. Eeeek. It gives me the creeps just thinking about someone picking at a scab. I know what you mean, though. Unfortunately, sometimes you pick at it so much you cause it to bleed and get infected. Ha! See, I outgrossed your analogy!

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It helps to know I'm not just talking to myself.