tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734185444720658846.post7834119053896245103..comments2023-11-02T07:55:16.312-04:00Comments on Cheff Salad: Modify It Until It's Not CrapKevin Bahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13324920062646153622noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734185444720658846.post-63805317354116738562011-07-23T23:20:30.236-04:002011-07-23T23:20:30.236-04:00I remember reading an article or seeing an intervi...I remember reading an article or seeing an interview (long enough ago to not remember much of the details), where a writer talked about the germinal idea of a story: That one scene or speech or action or relationship that gave life to your story. It is the thing that, in your mind, is the story more than anything else, even if it is not a key factor. Even if it is ancillary, it is the soul.<br /><br />And as you work on a story, the writer said, it is often that your germinal idea gets pulled. Somehow or another, it doesn't quite fit with everything else you have going on, and trying to keep it in makes for a lesser work.<br /><br />It is always heartbreaking to have to mangle or uproot your germinal idea, but if it is for the greater good of the story, so be it.<br /><br />And if you believe that the only thing your project will yield is a finished full-length piece, I say, "what's the problem with that?" Is it not impressive and valuable to have a completed longform project under your belt? It gives you great experience and it sounds pretty impressive.Kevin Bahlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13324920062646153622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5734185444720658846.post-72053289351665693732011-07-23T14:56:12.276-04:002011-07-23T14:56:12.276-04:00It's hard because the project began four years...It's hard because the project began four years ago. And the parts that I think are crap are the ones that I conceived and wrote then. With modification, I feel sad that the ideas that I had four years ago will be gone. However, I suppose this is the evolution of the piece. It will no longer be the piece I set out to write. <br /><br />However, even with modification, I don't think I will be able to do anything with it except say, "I have a full length piece."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com