presents “Two Voices” – a discussion about writing
by 2 writers, Alfred Brown and Anh Thi
(male) ALFRED
I do not need inspiration. I have too much of it frankly. Unless you define inspiration as having an idea that makes you money. In which case, I’d love some of that. But ideas that alone can make money do not exist, as far I’m aware. Right now, I just got inspired to write a piece of sci fi:
–[Alfred’s spur-of-the-moment writing sample]
While I was talking to Ted, his eyes kind of glazed over and then I heard a soft ding noise.
“What was that?”
“Oh, I have an implant that records instantly my thoughts, and cross-references it with a database of patents, and then does sophisticated analysis based on models and algorithms to see if it can actually make money, and then patents it if it does, and then instantly sends it to an agency who will later enact it, and it instantly sends me back a funds transfer per that analysis, minus their cut, of course.”
He then told me how much he made with that thought. That amount was more than I believe I, or any of my ancestors, have made in all our collective lifetimes. He then proceeded to say he was most proud that he patented his idea patenting procedure, because otherwise he’d have far more competition and his model predictions would be far lower in value.
I was fortified in that instance to go through with my assassination plans
—
So, inspiration comes easy. I just have to be writing, or about to write, at the time.
And when is that? Oh, often when I’m anxious (which is often). Like right now, I’m supposed to go visit my family for dinner before I go to sing for Midnight Mass, and I am worried I won’t make it on time, or forget something I need to bring etc. So, I do the addict thing and escape into some writing.
(female) ANH
I start my writing process with an idea, or a thought…and then write to explore where it goes. The writing process is different for everyone, I believe, as different as a fingerprint. You really have to know yourself in order to express yourself. And that is a process of discovery. As you grow as a person, grappling with your shortcomings while working to develop your strengths, you grow as a writer.
I learned a lot about myself over the years: that I’m easily distracted, but when I get started, I am intense in my focus. Almost obsessive! That I didn’t like outlines and rough drafts because I didn’t like following a path that was already laid out – rather, I preferred to explore as I go.
So I learned to think before I write. To essentially make my first drafts as final drafts, with minor editing. It wasn’t easy because I went on a lot of tangents, thinking until my brain ached and writing until my eyes hurt. Writing got easier with practice, as I grew into the writer that I envisioned because I was becoming the person I wanted to be.
How do I start writing? I think about it. How do I know when I’m done? When I reach an ending that feels right.
How do I know when it feels right? That’s a judgment call, and I can’t explain it other than describing it as a feeling of completion. That I served the story and the characters, and did them justice in allowing their journey to reach its natural conclusion.