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Sorry to hear you were ill,
but it's good to know you're feeling better!
posted by
word.smith
on April 21, 2006 at 5:17 AM
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_Uncle_Dave_ I didn't relapse - the lurgy never left
Write on Pat_B, I have no idea what else to do with my life either. Don't laugh when you say you're a writer unless that is you're laughing for the joy of it. I hate nausea too and these past days have been far worse than that. , that is the way that writing should be for writers and for others. I agree with you that most people want to have written and even more so when they realize what it takes to write the great American novel. Statement: I want to be a writer.
Response: Go on then.
You said it
Y'all know my take on this, but you raise the "quantification" issue...
Is there a "threshold frequency/duration" to cross to be judged a "writer"?
My feeling is "yes", but not due to sheer time spent.
I used to spend hours a night on my Olivetti Lettera in my shack/office when I was a teen. It was good for me, I felt like I was doing something, but the product was akin to a watercolor by a ten year old; my friends might like it, it got me through Creative Writing, but it lacked the elements needed to elevate me (or, vise versa).
Contrariwise, Tom Clancy and Stephen King initially had to write in fairly short periods after the family went to sleep due to a lack of dedicated space and the absolute need for outside income (Clancy sold insurance, King was a teacher and worked part time). Lars Eighner was homeless, started with various spiral pads, and got his first word processor out of a college dumpster. (These are "creation stories", which always have an element of myth, but also an element of truth; believe as much as you will).
A Writer (capitalized) will find time and make a place because it is an internal imperative.
Becoming an Author is another step, but going from "writer" to "Writer" is step one.
WELL SAID . I agree that it is not so easily quantifiable as filling a time sheet.
Sometimes I am too subtle but there are always folk who seem to relate. I am only now starting to feel better thanks. Writing calls me too, always has. My writing always flows better at times when I have been reading. you will write as much as you want to. It's good to know this isn't it ?)
sweet friend, we need to impose some deadlines on ourselves for motivational reasons but we almost must allow for life and shit.
Shypettite1,
it's good because you are doing what you want to do
posted by
Azur
on April 20, 2006 at 10:30 PM
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TAPS-
It's a conversation I've had too many times
posted by
Azur
on April 20, 2006 at 10:06 PM
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Jazwolf, writing comes second when............
making a close inspection of the porcelain ware
posted by
Azur
on April 20, 2006 at 9:59 PM
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Azur--- Writing often cures what ails you. Not this time, I guess. Hope
you're better soon.
posted by
Jazwolf
on April 20, 2006 at 7:18 PM
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Azur, hope you haven't relapsed with that lurgy.
posted by
_dave_says_ack_
on April 20, 2006 at 5:09 PM
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Writers write.
posted by
Whacky
on April 20, 2006 at 4:21 PM
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Writing isn't something you want to do
in my case, it's a necessity, like plenty of veggies and exercise. It's therapy, it's finding out what I think, it's playing with "what if?" and developing characters that seem to come out of a dream state. It's a way to tell somebody off in no uncertain terms, then burning the words harmlessly, venting without consequences. And I laugh when I say I'm a writer. But I've got the rejections to prove it. :) Hope you feel better by the end of the day Azur... I hate nausea.
posted by
Pat_B
on April 20, 2006 at 8:57 AM
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I write, but I'm not a writer.
I just like to write like I like to sing. I am well aware that many write and sing better than I. But I still like to do it! People are born writers, but some people who like to write make things people like to read, even without being writers.
posted by
brettnik
on April 20, 2006 at 7:42 AM
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Azur,
Some interesting thoughts. Some of the dumb things people say when they say they
want to be a writer amaze me. They want to write the Great American Novel, but they don't even write home to their loved ones. They don't want to
write The Great American Novel, they want to
have written The Great American Novel. As you probably know, everyone is a very good wrtier, even the copywriters for the evening news--the ones who write things like
''they busted down the door'' for the newscasters to read.
posted by
Jack_Flash
on April 20, 2006 at 2:36 AM
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I used to like food
but now we are only passing acqaintances
posted by
Azur
on April 20, 2006 at 1:47 AM
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We appreciate that your slackness of interaction is entirely due to the
slackness of your internal digestive system. Solidity will breed solidity.
Statement: I want to be a writer.
Response: Go on then.
posted by
_dave_says_ack_
on April 20, 2006 at 1:30 AM
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Azur
Good title. I had to laugh at your comment about Dan Brown.
posted by
TAPS.
on April 19, 2006 at 9:15 PM
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Y'all know my take on this, but you raise the "quantification" issue...
Is there a "threshold frequency/duration" to cross to be judged a "writer"?
My feeling is "yes", but not due to sheer time spent.
I used to spend hours a night on my Olivetti Lettera in my shack/office when I was a teen. It was good for me, I felt like I was doing something, but the product was akin to a watercolor by a ten year old; my friends might like it, it got me through Creative Writing, but it lacked the elements needed to elevate me (or, vise versa).
Contrariwise, Tom Clancy and Stephen King initially had to write in fairly short periods after the family went to sleep due to a lack of dedicated space and the absolute need for outside income (Clancy sold insurance, King was a teacher and worked part time). Lars Eighner was homeless, started with various spiral pads, and got his first word processor out of a college dumpster. (These are "creation stories", which always have an element of myth, but also an element of truth; believe as much as you will).
A Writer (capitalized) will find time and make a place because it is an internal imperative.
Becoming an Author is another step, but going from "writer" to "Writer" is step one.
posted by
majroj
on April 19, 2006 at 9:00 PM
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Azur,
You make good points, though very subtly. I'm glad you're feeling better, also. Writing is not a craft many people fully appreciate. For me, it's a calling to which I can't turn a deaf ear. It's weird, I'm sure, but that's my experience. It's a calling and a passion. But even I know that I should read more. The more I read, the stronger I write. Thanks. :)
posted by
BlackPearl1
on April 19, 2006 at 7:35 PM
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I have to be more disciplined about my writing if I ever want to make it as a writer. I guess knowing this is a good thing.
posted by
Ca88andra
on April 19, 2006 at 7:14 PM
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I wanna write. Thanks Azur.
posted by
una01
on April 19, 2006 at 7:04 PM
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It's a good question.
Sometimes the answer is Yes and sometimes No. I'd like to think a steady income would motivate me to have the answer be Yes more often. Not that money is top priority, but it's just easy to slack off from time to time when there's no deadline lifeline.
posted by
CunningLinguist
on April 19, 2006 at 1:33 PM
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I am glad you feel better. I wanna write, but not necesary to be a writer.
posted by
shypettite
on April 19, 2006 at 1:26 PM
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