Are you tormenting yourself by listening to the people telling you that you must be this that or the other to be a writer?
There is no one best way to become a writer. Find your own way, and then bust your ass."
Read that.
Then tell everyone else to shut up.
The link is not working, can you repost it?
ReplyDeleteI think it's supposed to be this: http://www.elizabethawhite.com/2012/06/06/no-one-best-way-by-jason-s-ridler/
ReplyDeleteSorry chums! Yes! Sarah is correct.
ReplyDeleteThe link is fixed now.
Blogger has a "test this link" feature--and I still got it wrong!
ARGH!!!
Thank, Janet -- for always sharing things like that, articles that reassure and educate. It means a lot.
ReplyDeleteFear. Anger. Aggression.
ReplyDeleteOh, you said "writer". Thought you said what qualifies me to become a Sith Lord.
Although I guess these things make good writers too.
It was explained to me this way: you are a writer if you write. "Published Author" is a designation that's separate from "writer." Sometimes, they're applied together to the same person...sometimes not.
ReplyDeleteGreat link, although just seeing the words "There is no one best way to become a writer. Find your own way, and then bust your ass." kind of lit a fire under me. I'm torn between two projects at the moment, so this was pretty much just what I needed to hear :-) (well, not hear, but ...)
ReplyDeleteExactly! I'll admit my first reaction to the title of the post alone was, "I DO. Because I write. I don't have to justify it to anyone beyond that."
ReplyDeleteLike Phil Hall above me, I was distinguishing between "writer" and "published author". The latter takes a lot more: skill, talent, determination, and a published book.
But anyone can be a writer if they want to be, no matter their background, skill level, or anything else. Maybe not a great one, but a writer nonetheless.
*vigorously humps this post*
ReplyDeleteOhhhhh! And here I thought you had to enter a Janet Reid writing contest to be considered a real writer! ;)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though--there's much in that article that resonates with me. Thanks for sharing, Janet. :)
Great article. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDelete"Just do it" is not just a slogan for sports.
What qualifies ME to be a writer?
ReplyDeletePaper.
Pencil.
Keyboard.
Screen.
Ass...having been busted.
Yup, I'm qualified.
Thanks Janet
Thanks, Janet, for re-posting my article! And thanks to everyone who read and enjoyed it. Much appreciated and continued success with your own pounding of 'da keys!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Jay Ridler
I really, REALLY don't like the world as it is. So, I write the world as I would like it to be. With car chases!
ReplyDelete@David Kazzie, a Star Wars reference, @ 8:00 am? My man, you are obviously a PEN/Faulkner candidate and aces in my book.
That is an excellent quote. One for printing out and reading every day.
ReplyDeleteI always respect your opinions, but something in the back of my mind keeps saying it really is this, that, or the other thing. I notice lots of writers have this and that, but the other thing? No, that is where they just don't cut it. The other thing will get them every time.
ReplyDelete