After the critiquing, a nice discussion ensued at Kate's workshop the other night. Jerry questioned the quality of stories (would they have any heart?) written as a result of challenges or writing exercise. Like write a story with three specific items, for example. The discussion evolved into writing methods.

Many voiced that through the writing excercise they find a thing (theme, character, whatever) they care about, thus the story has heart.

Kate said she never has liked the idea of writing excercises. She told us about how habits develope in a writer. During her years running Clarion with Damon, she had seen erotica writers, for example, have a hard time breaking habits developed from writing erotica.

Probably the best way to describe this is when the mind produces a story it follows the pattern developed after years of work or practice. Therefore the mind can't help but inject sex in a story about nuns on a secluded island. Just as an example.

I have a hunch Kate would say writing a variety of genre and plots is a good thing.

As for writing exercises, I know I've written stories from challenges where I found the "spark" and finished them and loved them. There are some challenge stories where I couldn't finish and they died. I suspect they died because I didn't find that "spark."

When I told Jerry it's impossible to finish a story you don't love. He said he could write a flawless story he didn't love. Then I added that I couldn't physically finish one. Upon further reflection on this I realized Jerry has been writing professionally for years and I've only just begun. Would I ever want to finish a story I didn't love? A professional finishes stories.

I know I came from the discussion with the cliche "We all have different methods for writing stories." I'll come up with a story using any method (or no method!) I want. I'll finish them and hopefully they'll have that spark.

I'm not sure how clear all this is, but I thought I'd write some of the highlights here. It was a good writing discussion and I think the reason I enjoyed it is because I haven't been a part of one in a long time.

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Okay, folks, I have to be a master of my own time. I'm feeling overwhelmed by time slipping away with the dayjob and other daily minutia. Writing can be done. Look out inertia, you're going down.