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Frank Theodat's avatar

Just wait! More book reviews on the way. Got a biography of a certain pulp writer lined up for August.

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Zack Grafman's avatar

Stop adding to my To-Reads please Frank, thanks very much, that is all.

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Vanechka's avatar

I feel like the way it goes with the four stages is the following- once you reach stage four, you get back to stage one with all the knowledge you've acquired and now start daydreaming *professionally* in the strongest narcissistic way, but now being able to convey it :D

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Frank Theodat's avatar

Exactly! Well said, Vanya.

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John Carter's avatar

The division between conscious and unconscious maps quite precisely to Iain McGilchrist's description of the cognitive differences between left and right hemispheres, respectively. One is linear, logical, rational, linguistic, systematizing, detail-oriented; the other fluid, holistic, nonlinear, intuitive, imagistic. IMO writing creatively is largely a matter of finding a way to communicate RH insights through the LH language center, without letting the LH kill the magic. Which isn't easy.

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Frank Theodat's avatar

Agreed. Personally, I let the RH drive for a while, then loop back around and cycle through what I've written. The creative subconscious knows what it's doing. Thanks for commenting.

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Joseph L. Wiess's avatar

The right side of my brain, "This!"

Left side, (Hit's save.)

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Bob Sassone's avatar

I think I read every single how-to-write book (not kidding!) when I was starting my career in the 80s/early 90s and this book was one of my favorites.

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Edward Rooster's avatar

We follow the footsteps of the giants who came before us, and keep the trail fresh and alive. Great choice, Frank!

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Frank Theodat's avatar

Thanks Edward. Uncovering the wisdom and lessons of great genre writer is my favorite pastime. More to come in the future.

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Robert Weaver's avatar

Thanks, this was quite insightful.

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Frank Theodat's avatar

My pleasure. Glad you found it useful.

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