Comments for TERRIBLEMINDS: Chuck Wendig, Freelance Penmonkey

Comment on Darts On A Dartboard: How Do You Choose Your Next Project? by Filthy Jesse

Filthy Jesse — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:33:15 +0000

Honestly, I choose my projects based on the emotion of it. Does it entertain me to put it on paper. That’s why some of my projects could be considered horror and others humor. Sometimes, it’s a combination, which is usually a good mix. Gotta keep it light before someone loses an appendage.

Comment on Dang, Saturdays Are Ghost Towns Around Here by Maggie

Maggie — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:23:19 +0000

I… got nothing. No wit, no insight, no smug and superior comment about the Canadian schooling system. My mind’s a complete blank.

Can I borrow some of your synaptic diarrhoea? I seem to be lacking my own.

Err… on second thought, please just forget I asked that. It sounded better rattling around my empty noggin.

Comment on Dang, Saturdays Are Ghost Towns Around Here by terribleminds

terribleminds — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:57:39 +0000

@Rick:

Word. One day, the authorities are going to come crashing through the windows of this place. SWAT-style. Boosh.

The Washington image is my desktop, too. Heh. Nice.

@Kyle:

I know. Homeschooling is looking like a reasonable alternative these days.

(How do you like EVE, by the way?)

– c.

Comment on Dang, Saturdays Are Ghost Towns Around Here by Kyle Maxwell

Kyle Maxwell — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:31:31 +0000

Also, I should really post with my regular email address and not my EVE Online email address to avoid getting my girly game avatar >.<

Comment on Dang, Saturdays Are Ghost Towns Around Here by Kyle Maxwell

Kyle Maxwell — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:30:38 +0000

Hoo, boy. I may need to educate my kids via home school after all, just so the education system here in Texas doesn’t turn them into ignorant little gits.

Also, Boneshaker does indeed freaking rock.

Comment on Dang, Saturdays Are Ghost Towns Around Here by Rick Carroll

Rick Carroll — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:53:04 +0000

I just want to say, that after mentioning man-boy and man-dude in the same sentence, you might want to put that warning up to the authorities again. It seemed to work last time.

That painting of Washington and the tiger is going to be replacing the painting of the JSA from Smallville as my desktop. That is rad with a capital kick-ass.

Comment on Dang, Saturdays Are Ghost Towns Around Here by terribleminds

terribleminds — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:48:14 +0000

I like how it wasn’t long before we got straight to venereal diseases.

Comment on Dang, Saturdays Are Ghost Towns Around Here by filamena

filamena — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:47:10 +0000

I hate ‘writing is like…’ statements. They’re always twee.

So here’s mine!

Writing is like falling in love with a stranger. Every time you start it up again it’s terrifying because you could end up happy with it for the rest of your life, or it could cost you all of your money and leave you covered in venereal diseases.

Comment on Dang, Saturdays Are Ghost Towns Around Here by terribleminds

terribleminds — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:56:55 +0000

Out of all seriousness, the immaturity is fun, but I try not to let it affect… y’know, my adult life. I compartmentalize. The man-boy and the man-dude do not play together. When it’s time to man up, it’s time to man up.

And when it’s time to take the pants off, it’s time to take the pants off.

Wait, what were we talking about?

– c.

Comment on Darts On A Dartboard: How Do You Choose Your Next Project? by terribleminds

terribleminds — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:53:56 +0000

De:

We’ll have to politely disagree on that one.

I suspect we just don’t work the same way. I have these ten or so projects, and they all compel me, which is where I have a log jam. On any given day I could happily start writing any one of these. It’s just a question of, which one now, and why?

Obsession and inspiration are the things that put these ten projects on my plate. But obsession and inspiration are not what get them written. Diligence and discipline get them written.

Just because I take a pragmatic look at my writing career doesn’t mean I might as well just settle into a desk job. That’s a bit crazy, isn’t it? Like, if I’m not some mad word-slinging poet urged by compulsion, I might as well push a broom or do actuary tables? I’m a full-time writer, which means I have to look at my choices with some semblance of logic. I have to temper passion with practicality. Otherwise, I don’t pay my mortgage.

My point in saying “another project will fill the space” is that another project — not of my choosing, but a freelance project — will occupy that space. Which will have robbed me of the opportunity to take on a more personal project, then. That’s not ideal, hence, I need to make a decision, need to shit or get off the pot.

As noted, I suspect we just write differently, and that’s okay. But I’m not driven by compulsions when it comes to writing. Why don’t I take a day job? Because I love to write. Writing for me is a slow burn, not a flash bang. Your mileage certainly may vary.

– c.