But quality of content is another important factor...

This reminds me of National Novel Writing Month. Both enforce the idea that, with either sufficient time or sufficient endurance, it is surprisingly doable to write a book's worth of unedited, unplanned content.

Part of writing a book is, of course, volume of content... But quality of content is another important factor...

If I sit at a piano for an hour and bang on the keys, I will have played enough notes for a concerto!

I have probably written enough for a book, but none of it is interesting enough for people to actually buy

Part of writing a book is, of course, volume of content... But quality of content is another important factor...

It's the quality, but also writing something that fits a need.

I've done NaNoWriMo twice

There are such things as open-source books written by groups of people. It would be interesting for us all to put one about go together, but it would be a lot of work, esp. for the one or two people who end up being editors. And we would have to figure out what exactly we want to write about, etc.

I'll say it again: A published collection of polished Malkovich games would be worth reading. Sure, most of it would also be available online, but it'd be something of publishable quality, especially after significant editing.

This reminds me of National Novel Writing Month.

... need to write at the exact moment when you have inspiration, otherwise all you would write is a piece of crap.

I don't think that is necessarily true. Waiting for "inspiration" can become the refuge of the lazy artist. You want to be writer? Write everyday. You want to be a photographer? Photograph everyday. You want to be a painter... a musician... a programmer... well, do it everyday. Yes some days are better than others. Also, if you have those awesome inspiration moments and can't create at the time, get as much of the "feeling" you can captured somehow (small bit of writing in a notebook, a quick sketch/doodle, pull out your cell phone make a picture, whatever). Hopefully, you will be able to spark the idea again with that as kindling.

Creativity isn't inspiration based, its work based. Start working and the creativity and inspiration will come. Sure, some days everything will be complete and utter crap-- oh well, that is life, learn from it, move on.

And before anyone jumps on me ... Yes, I understand those moments when everything just aligns, and your work flows effortlessly. But I also understand, even on days that are super blah, you can make good work. It just hurts more, and it is easier to be distracted from it, and it actually feels like work.

I don't think that is necessarily true[...]

Yes, this is what I have heard from several writers, you must treat it as a job if you want to get anywhere. Writing (and painting, playing music etc) is not that different from eg programming, and what programmer would keep his job if he only coded when inspired?

/Mats

This reminds me of National Novel Writing Month. Both enforce the idea that, with either sufficient time or sufficient endurance, it is surprisingly doable to write a book's worth of unedited, unplanned content.
This reminds me of National Novel Writing Month. Both enforce the idea that, with either sufficient time or sufficient endurance, it is surprisingly doable to write a book's worth of unedited, unplanned content.