Protect Your Voice and Your Vision
24th June 2016 | for Creatives | artist integrity, writing, solitude of creating, Anne Rice, artist's voice, protect the art, editors, ideas |
"You've got to protect your voice and your vision from everybody, really. Even the best-intentioned editors. And I mean, I love my editor; I've been with Vicky Wilson for over 35 years. She's wonderful, and her remarks on the finished manuscript are always terrific. But I don't go to her to discuss a germinating idea."
Similar for Creatives
Just Write
"I don't think we should discuss ideas. I think we should just write, and then go in with the book and say, 'here's the book.' Now, sometimes you have to say something. But I wouldn't listen to what they say back—because they're not prophets. ... Agents particularly are really not in the business of being prophetic. They know what has worked, and that's it."
That's Who You Are
"No matter where you are in your career, whether you're published, unpublished or just starting out, walk through the world as a writer. That's who you are, and that's what you want to be, and don't take any guff off anybody."
Never Get Lax or Comfortable
"I'm my own worst critic. Editors are always calling me a good writer. To me, I'm a horrible writer, and I keep that mindset so I never get lax or comfortable."
Let the Pressure Build
"It's like it's all inside me just kind of trying to get out. If I talk about it, it diffuses it, lets it out, and then maybe it wouldn't be as clear to me, or the characters wouldn't jump out of the page. The dialogue wouldn't just jump out if I talked about it with people and they said, 'Oh yeah, that part's good, that part's...' It's better for me to just keep it all bottled up and let the pressure build."