Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Ninety percent crap



A writer friend of mine, Kim Church, said something to me the other day that warmed my amateur writer's heart. May I paraphrase? "Let's face it. Ninety percent of what we write is crap. Five percent is good. Five percent is brilliant."

What? Kim, are you saying I don't have to write 100% publishable, awe-inspiring stories?

Thank God.

And now, I shall resume writing.

3 comments:

MitMoi said...

You know ... In my own writing I'm still having a hard time telling the 90% from the 10%. I dread the day I recognize on my own the 90%.

trisha said...

In a similar vein:
"The need to produce a great work of art makes it hard to produce any art at all."
from The Artist's Way

A thought: Kim's 90/5/5 breakdown may also apply to what makes it onto bookstore shelves.

Love you. Miss you.

Mamie said...

I'm ROFL at your comment about current literature, Trish.

Mit, I think we're supposed to keep writing and the hell with worrying about what's good and what's not. Maybe?

Love ya both