Thursday, February 3, 2011

Welding and Writing, A Comparison and Contest!

Yeah, you're probably thinking I'm making a huge stretch right here. (And I maybe...might be, you'll have to let me know at the end of the post)
Not me, Source

Not me either, Source
Welding and Writing

Well....they both start with 'W'....

and they're both something I'm learning to do well. 

You'd think that's where the comparasion stops, but it's not. They're actually pretty similar. Check it out:

1. You have to know what's good and what's well....not.so.good.
Oddly enough you're looking for the same thing in both writing and welding. In welding you want the bead to be smooth with some wave to it. (imagine ocean waves frozen, but smooth) Likewise, in writing you want your prose to come out smooth but unique. You don't want to be boring, but you don't want the reader to be in the middle of a squall (unless you're setting is the ocean)

2. You start out blind. Literally.
I have yet to meet a writer who hasn't been surprised by some part of the writing process. Considering what you know now, you probably were basically blind when you started. With welding it's more literal. With the welding helmet/don'tburnyoureyesoutheadcontraption you can't see at all. Sunglasses are about a #6 shade (if they're good). The shade in a welding helmet is about a #10. Trust me when I say you don't see a thing. (Blind person with fire...really I'm shocked I'm still in one piece)

3. Eventually, (according to my professor for welding) something's going to catch on FIRE! <--not looking forward for my day....at all.
For writing, this is a good thing. Eventually you're going to get going and it's going to be great. Welding....well, you're going to get going....for the fire extinguisher.

4. Don't rush it.
If you rush the writing process, you're going to end up disappointed. Whether that's with rejections, feedback, finding an agent, or anything else. With welding, rushing it is basically like you didn't start it in the first place. With both, if you rush you're going to really mess it up somewhere. 

5. You can't fake it 'til you make it. 
Writing, if you're not ready, it's not going to happen (at that moment, you can get ready...eventually). An experienced writer can tell the difference between a beginner and someone who's been writing for a while. It shows in the writing. Welding is the same. As soon as you see a person's bead, you can tell how good/how long they've been welding. 

Welding and Writing Contest:
 This post is arguably the most bizarre comparison I've ever done on this blog (Unless maybe the Query Letter and the Brady Bunch...hmmmm) Got any bizarre comparisons between something and writing (like butter or flowers)? The more bizarre the better. Leave it in the comments! I'll pick the best and announce it on Friday's post. Whoever it is can either steal my blog for a day (aka post here), get a 25 page critique, or get a mock book cover from me (digital version only). Sound good? Good. 

In other news: 
Check out these awesome contests:
K.M.- Snow day giveaway! Just spread the word and you're entered for a chance to win a tote bag with 7 YA novels or first chapter critique from K.M.'s agent Sarah LaPolla!
Amie Borst- Best 150 Followers Contest! Anyone who follows her from Jan.1 2011 until the contest is over gets a free 150 word critique! AND everyone can comment with the 1 sentence pitch of their WiP for a chance to win a query critique from Elana Johnson (along with some swag), a surprise from Rose Cooper, and a book from author Jody Mammay! Don't forget to tell her I sent you! Go HERE!

5 comments:

buddeshepherd said...

Two comments-first This is really fun and annoying. This only works if you are using plastic buckets of water for cooling the metal and you are stick welding. You can stick the red hot end of the welding rod through the plastic bucket so that the bucket of the welder next to you drains on their leg while welding. The person will be concentrating on welding and not realize that his leg is wet until it is too late. Just do this to a guy as you can just smile and look confused and he will then punch the guy next to him.
Secondly, they are both very frustrating exercises. You only get one chance welding. If you mess up the weld you have to spend a lot of time grinding the weld away. It would be like writing by hand or with a typewriter as opposed to a word processor.
Although the main advantage to welding is the instant feedback.You usually can see if what you are doing is crap...
IMHO

Carolyn V. said...

Somethings going to catch on fire!? Yikes, I hope it's more in the writing than the welding! =) Thanks for the contest links!

Unknown said...

I always compare writing to quilt-making. Not so original, I know. And a quilt is a metaphor for pretty much any aspect of life -- hell, of life itself!

Thanks for the linkage!

Roxy said...

Excellent! I love this comparison between writing and welding. It's rather insightful and not bizarre at all. The Brady Bunch and query letters did make me laugh though . . .

Demitria said...

I always thought writing was like knitting...you sort of pluck away at it until you come to the end...but then you have to go back and tie up the loose stringe.

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