Friday, September 30, 2011

Bad Hair Books

I highlight my own hair. It’s quicker and cheaper than going to a salon and sitting for hours so a professional can charge me an outrageous amount of money.

But there are risks to this. Once towards the end when I was extremely tired, I started slapping highlighting solution everywhere like there was no tomorrow. It actually didn’t look bad…until I pulled it up into a ponytail. But I rocked that look like I meant to do it. Because if you can’t fix it, then you gotta own it.

My sister colored her hair and then about halfway through the process freaked out and changed her mind. She washed out the solution and instead of a lighter color…it was no color. Her hair was completely gray. She had no choice but to go to a professional and have it repaired.

Have you ever read a book where the author did a great job until the end and then threw a lot of random events together to wrap it up quickly? Or they stopped in the middle of the story and just called it a day? I have and while I understand it might have been their vision all along or done for dramatic effect, it doesn’t seem very professional.


I don’t want my novel to end like a bad hair day. My highlights may never be salon quality (although I think they’re pretty badass) but my writing can be. Never go cheap on the story or settle for something less than your very best effort.


Can I get an Amen?

7 comments:

  1. Amen, sister! Only salon quality writing, that should be our goal.

    And we should also wear those awesome capes when we write. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Amen! Great point about stories--some are great up to a point, and then they just fall away.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Shit. Now my first draft is going to take longer.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Amen! :) It's so sad when great stories drop off and end in a weird/unsatisfying way. It's like... really? Really, really?

    ReplyDelete
  5. AMEN!

    Never cheap out on the story - this is great advice. I may drive a Mazda but in my mind, my stories are Ferraris.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Amen! Top quality always. I really like this analogy :o)

    ReplyDelete

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