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100 Attempts

David Gane
David Gane
— 1 min read

People who try writing their first novel often complain how hard it is. Just because you write regularly, doesn’t make it any easier to write fiction.

Watch this video of a freestyle mountain bike rider learning a new trick. He’s a pro at what he does, but he has to go through the steps, the mind games, and the practice to be able to do it.

I did not think this was going to take in the hundreds of attempts. It’s worked in my head since day one. I’ve been thinking about this trick for two years, but the process to try it, changing things. It’s a game of inches.

To me, that really describes the process of writing a story.

Update: I really like how Kottke writes out the process even more thoroughly.

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David Gane

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Co-writer of the Shepherd and Wolfe young adult mysteries, the internationally award-winning series, and teacher of storytelling and screenwriting.

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