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.

16 comments:

Leila said...

The link is not working, can you repost it?

Sarah G said...

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

Janet Reid said...

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!!!

Ali Trotta said...

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

David Kazzie said...

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.

Phil Hall said...

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.

Unknown said...

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 ...)

Kristin Laughtin said...

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.

Feaky Snucker said...

*vigorously humps this post*

Colin Smith said...

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. :)

Anne-Marie said...

Great article. Thank you for sharing.

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

Carolynnwith2Ns said...

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

Thanks Janet

Anonymous said...

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

EliasM said...

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.

Martin Willoughby said...

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

Steve Stubbs said...

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.