Wednesday, January 4, 2012

It ain't easy being green

Today is the day for sharing. We laugh a little, we cry a little, we whine a lot and we comfort each other. I love this outlet and opportunity called,


Dear Fellow Struggling Writers,
    I am diving right in this month. I ask you, How do we maintain originality? Clamped down by the Rules of writing, it can be difficult to express voice - what if my character likes to speak in cliches and mixed metaphors? And I've read that every core story has been done a million times. Will we run out of tales to tell? The number of writers seems to have multiplied so much so that we are all being turned away (it couldn't be that my writing is bad!). It has not always been so, has it? The classics were original. Today it's exponentially harder to come up with a new classic! A new original story! Can it exist?
                                                 Sincerely,
                                                 Been There, Done That

Now on a more positive note, for Sensational Haiku Wednesday on resolve,

Communication
Open minds and open hearts
Keys to resolving

Melt away the hate
Kind words will always win out
Show them your resolve

Never giving up
Resolve to attainable
Goals you can achieve

36 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Yes it can and you are going to write it!

Neil Vogler said...

Tara -- yes. Originality exists. The envelope can be pushed, and should be at every opportunity.

Will the mainstream notice? Will you be successful? That I can't answer.

All I know is that without doubt, and soul-searching, and worry, and psychological distress, and existential crisis... well, without those you're not much of a writer!

So I think you're going to be fine...

Christine Rains said...

Originality does exist and you can do it! :) Keep writing.

Olive Tree said...

despite your struggle, the message in your haiku is very positive. keep up the positive attitude.

alberta ross said...

the new classic - only trouble is to be a real classic you'll have to wait 50 years or so - but I'm sure you can do it

Christa Desir said...

I don't think the classics were really that original either. Look at Shakespeare. Very unoriginal in terms of story lines but still, the voice, the voice, the voice. You have one. Of this I am certain:)

Anonymous said...

You're not green, Tara. You're growing. You'll get there! Just keep on keeping on.

anthonynorth said...

Luckily variation on the theme is infinite. Enjoyed the haiku.

Unknown said...

The haiku is a nice contrast. Yes, you can be original. It's found in the truth, which is never trite and in individuality. Sit back and think about how people (or snowflakes, if you'd rather) or so unique. It's a very hopeful thought.

Cherie Reich said...

I do believe that there are core themes, and I can't say I've ever read a story that was completely original of these core themes, but you can find originality. It is out there. And if the character speaks in cliches and mixed metaphors, then that's what the character goes. Sometimes you have to be true to them too. :)

Lovely haiku too!

Tasha Seegmiller said...

I love a good haiku! It will be different because you are different than the person who thought of the idea before you. That's why people keep reading! New follower :)

Tyrean Martinson said...

Each story is original, because each person is unique and brings an original, creative perspective - even to tales told over and over again. Trust me on this. When my kids were little, my husband's storytelling version of Goldilocks, the Three Bears, and Sleepying Beautpants, was far different than my version of Goldilocks . . he made our kids laugh.

G-Man said...

Tara Tyler...
Very positive Haikus
Just like YOU!

Julie Flanders said...

Love your haiku, very inspiring! I have the same fears about originality, but I'm going to focus on the message of your haiku and believe we can both find it! Great post. :)

Nicole Zoltack said...

Yes it's possible to still be original. Maybe not with plot, but with your characters.

I came over from Alex's blog and am your newest follower. Nice to "meet" you!

Anonymous said...

I like the series of haiku using 'resolve' - cleverly put together!

Jamie

M.J. Fifield said...

Love the haiku.

And as for the idea of originality, I agree with Christa's comment. Voice saves all.

Anonymous said...

Looking at the positive is always more refreshing and hopeful till your time to publish comes ... enjoyed your set of Haiku, especially the first! Happy New Year! :-)

Jenn said...

I struggle with this idea a LOT. And then the insecurities take over: there's no way I could make this unique enough for it not to be a repetitive piece of blah-dee-blah...so why bother? Gotta keep fighting it.

Never Giving Up -- that's the key. :)

Angela Cothran said...

I think that as long as there are a few original aspects you are good :)

Tonja said...

I think everyone walks through life seeing things in a way that no one else sees it. If you write honestly from your own perspective, you'll write something original.

Anonymous said...

There will always be originality because we are each unique. And you, Tara, have a clever mind and a drive that leads to success.
mom

Nicki Elson said...

Awesome haiku for the new year. :)

I do believe it's true that there are no truly new ideas, but I also agree w/ lots of others have said here - it's the writer that makes it unique and classic.

Sophia Chang said...

I think I'm pretty forgiving about recycled tropes as a reader - they resonate with our core for a reason!

Yay I'm your 290th follower :D

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

"Kind words will always win out"

Yes, they will...but sometimes it seems to take forever!

Resolve to Travel

Nancy Thompson said...

What? We whine a lot? No, never!

As for originality, it's all in how you tell the tale. Look at the movie Avatar. It's Dances With Wolves dressed in sheep's clothing. Yet it was extolled as being so unique and original. Nah, not so much. But with the all the characters dressed up differently, you barely notice. So just go ahead and tell your story.

Good post, Tara!

Carrie Butler said...

Ditto what Sophia said, and nice haiku! :)

MISH said...

If anybody can write a great story, it would have to be you!
You embody originality...

Allison said...

There are no new stories--only old stories told in new ways. That thought makes it a little easier for me when thinking about the millions of books already written. My brains sees things differently than everyone else's, just like yours does, so we can tell a story through our eyes, and hopefully it will be something new!

Allison (Geek Banter)

Cgull said...

I agree there is competition, but I think you should keep doing what you love doing that is what matters. Many successful artists have been denied for a long time but in the end they become successful.

Maude Lynn said...

Love the haiku!

Georgina Morales said...

Great haiku!

Visiting from Diary of a Writer in Progress

Alexis Bass said...

That rant is spot-on! Writer-Insecurity happens to the best of us!
:)

Heather M. Gardner said...

Our 'voice' is the only thing that sets us apart from other writers. It's that 'voice' that makes your work original. That makes your characters different. That makes your story different.
With all the rules we still have to stick to our guns.
Remember, agent/publishers don't care if your characters talk in cliches only if you do.
Never give up! Never surrender!

Anonymous said...

Heather summed it all up. (Darn!)
But she's absolutely right. We're all originals. No one will view our story world exactly like us, and that's why our stories matter. Happy writing!
(new follower)

Jenn @ Youknow...that Blog? said...

Excellent haiku - well done!

Popular Posts