Novel 2 comes online

Each year I ask my Novel 2 class to respond to F Scott Fitzgerald's quote: "All good writing is swimming underwater and holding your breath." They have just ten minutes to think about and write their responses. Here's what this year's class have made of it.

First of all, I would never compare writing (especially good writing) to swimming. Why? Simple. I hate swimming and I love writing.

I suppose, though, that some aspects of writing can be compared to swimming through murky water. Sometimes you have no idea what's in front of you; other times you can make out some things but not the whole picture. When I think about it, holding my breath is something I do figuratively as I write. No matter how sure I am or how planned the work is, I write hoping that, when I reach the end, it will be a story someone else will want to read. Finishing a story is like letting out that breath, like a huge sigh of relief that it's over and that it actually exists.

Being struck by inspiration is a lot like holding your breath too. Wanting to get it out, but not being able to write fast enough can be physically painful. But I love it. Seeing the finished product is worth the pain.
-- Marie

For me, who has had experience in writing and swimming underwater, these can both result in having to hold your breath. For swimming, the phrase can be regarded by its literal meaning, but when writing, it comes across more figuratively. I suppose when writing, you need to "hold your breath" during the whole process: from the first word to the final draft. We all take a leap of faith for the paragraphs we construct, and we need to have an unconditional devotion to our work. Sometimes that involves cancelled plans, loss of sleep and an endless amount of stress and exhaustion. We give up a lot for our writing, but at the end of the day, we can take in that long deserved breath, sit back and how we got to be so clever.
-- Hayley

It is about looking at life from a different angle, being disciplined and prepared not to give up.
-- Hugh

The quote to me is about perspiration and patience. Bad writing is rushed, overlooked, and never given any thought. Each sentence should add value to the story, either setting-wise or plot-wise. Therefore the author should be aware of what they are writing.

And if words aren't coming to mind, or you are stuck: patience. Patience. Patience. Patience. Of course this is just my opinion and I could be horribly wrong.
-- JJ

It's all about taking risks, and this refers to bad writing too. But with good writing, these are the pieces that are published. Holding your breath is about taking your time and hoping that what you write will succeed. All you need to do is swim under water (work your best) and never give up.
-- Anon

This quote shows us that writing is a difficult task, one which is always heavily scrutinised by peers and critics. It tells us that the difference between good writers, good writing [and bad] is distinguished by the applause or criticism received; therefore, we are constantly holding our breath, waiting for that judgment while we are in the dark -- or under murky water.
-- Tom Pinchen-Hogg

Groping for air as you try to propel yourself forward and knowing that the agony won't finish until you get to the end -- that is the essence of the line. That is the pain of writers.
-- Daniel

Writers take great risks when writing. When we first put our ens to paper we are swimming underwater, searching for the perfect sentence. We then have to distance ourselves, separate ourselves from the work. When we eventually bring it out into society, we hold our breath hoping it will be accepted. But sometimes it is rejected. So we delve back underwater.
-- Anon

To write is to submerge yourself in a world of your own creation, where the light bends and changes, and everything flows around you and into your ears and eyes and nostrils. You cannot live there indefinitely because you have to surface every now and then to breathe; you can only stay there for as long as you can fill your lungs and plunge in.

Sometimes you have only a mouthful of air, enough to glimpse a coral forest, or the mouth of an underwater cave; sometimes the air fills your longs and spills over into your bones and heart and feet, so you have enough to carry you beyond the coral fast and deep into the watery dark of the labyrinth that lies beyond the cave.

On a bad day, you might emerge choking with seaweed between your fingers, and sand in your hair; on a good one, you might climb out onto the beach with your arms full of treasure.
-- Fiona Price

The good writer goes through lots of pain before the good stuff rises from the mind to the paper.
-- Steven Clark

I agree in some ways with the above quote, in that writing can show you many wondrous things, and yet still feel like you're drowning. However, not all good writing can support like buoyant water. It more often feels like climbing a rock wall to me -- physically and mentally tiring, but when it's over there is a great feeling of relief at the thought that you've done something to be proud of, before the insanity of finding the next wall to conquer kicks in!
-- Andrew Ellis

It’s true that writing is like swimming -- the water is all of your ideas melded into a body that continues to swirl and change, and you, the swimmer, must explore the depths while still finding a way to come back up to the surface to take a break and suck air back into your lungs before diving back in.
-- Luke

A well-written story can leave you breathless? A well-written story can make you want to go swimming? In order to write well, first you must learn to swim? In order to be published, first you must master deep-sea diving?

Who knows what crazy old F Scott was on about. I know I don't. Besides, how can you write under water? I think I'll stick to writing badly, on land, whilst breathing, and you can quote me on that.
-- John King