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.
16 comments:
The link is not working, can you repost it?
I think it's supposed to be this: http://www.elizabethawhite.com/2012/06/06/no-one-best-way-by-jason-s-ridler/
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!!!
Thank, Janet -- for always sharing things like that, articles that reassure and educate. It means a lot.
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.
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.
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 ...)
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.
*vigorously humps this post*
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. :)
Great article. Thank you for sharing.
"Just do it" is not just a slogan for sports.
What qualifies ME to be a writer?
Paper.
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!
Cheers,
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!
@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.
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.
Post a Comment