Wednesday, June 27, 2012

What qualifies YOU to be a writer?

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.
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16 comments:

  1. Leila6/27/12, 7:46 AM

    The link is not working, can you repost it?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sarah G6/27/12, 8:13 AM

    I think it's supposed to be this: http://www.elizabethawhite.com/2012/06/06/no-one-best-way-by-jason-s-ridler/

    ReplyDelete
  3. Janet Reid6/27/12, 8:47 AM

    Sorry chums! Yes! Sarah is correct.
    The link is fixed now.

    Blogger has a "test this link" feature--and I still got it wrong!

    ARGH!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ali Trotta6/27/12, 8:48 AM

    Thank, Janet -- for always sharing things like that, articles that reassure and educate. It means a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  5. David Kazzie6/27/12, 8:48 AM

    Fear. Anger. Aggression.

    Oh, you said "writer". Thought you said what qualifies me to become a Sith Lord.

    Although I guess these things make good writers too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Phil Hall6/27/12, 8:55 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Unknown6/27/12, 9:43 AM

    Great 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 ...)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kristin Laughtin6/27/12, 11:51 AM

    Exactly! 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."

    Like 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.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Feaky Snucker6/27/12, 3:21 PM

    *vigorously humps this post*

    ReplyDelete
  10. Colin Smith6/27/12, 5:23 PM

    Ohhhhh! And here I thought you had to enter a Janet Reid writing contest to be considered a real writer! ;)

    Seriously, though--there's much in that article that resonates with me. Thanks for sharing, Janet. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anne-Marie6/27/12, 6:47 PM

    Great article. Thank you for sharing.

    "Just do it" is not just a slogan for sports.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Carolynnwith2Ns6/27/12, 9:27 PM

    What qualifies ME to be a writer?
    Paper.
    Pencil.
    Keyboard.
    Screen.
    Ass...having been busted.
    Yup, I'm qualified.

    Thanks Janet

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous6/27/12, 10:45 PM

    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!

    Cheers,

    Jay Ridler

    ReplyDelete
  14. EliasM6/28/12, 8:15 AM

    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!

    @David Kazzie, a Star Wars reference, @ 8:00 am? My man, you are obviously a PEN/Faulkner candidate and aces in my book.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Martin Willoughby6/29/12, 10:11 AM

    That is an excellent quote. One for printing out and reading every day.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Steve Stubbs6/29/12, 11:40 AM

    I 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

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