Norm Macdonald, who died yesterday of cancer, at 61. was one of the funniest, brightest people I’ve ever met.
If art is what happens when your creations reveal your inner self, then he was an artiste extraordinaire in life as well as on the stage.
RIP, dood. Chill in peace.
New writers often ask the question in this post’s headline, and I always find myself pausing and giving thought to my answer…and sometimes even changing it from what I usually say.
This morning’s email brought two queries on the subject, and I found myself thinking about and changing my answer again. Right now, this very minute, here’s where my head is at:
Your writing is ‘good enough’ when you no longer ask yourself that question.
No, those aren’t my words. Picasso said them first. But they’ve always seemed like genuine Truth to me, which means that when I watch films and TV or read books these days I all too often find myself thinking:
If this is self-revelation, man, are these writers ugly!
And then I remind myself:
I’ve just been reminded (thank you, J.R.) that many of this site’s visitors come here every Monday just to read the Brodys’ adventures/misadventures on our Arkansas property, Cloud Creek Ranch. For which, natch, I give Big Thanks.
That reminder, however, was also J.R.’s way of saying that because the intended audience here is for the most part writers of one type or another, not every visitor understands why I call my co-star Gwen the Beautiful.
In other words, they haven’t seen her. So, although this probably will infuriate my lady love, I’m remedying that situation right now.
Speaking of synopses or even blurbs, their best usage seems to be not for describing what you’ve written so readers, editors, producers, et al will have some understanding of what it is, but for describing what you’re going to write so you’ll understand about it to finish the damn ms. without killing your favorite character along the way.