Today, I write about writing again.
I suppose I do consider myself a writer, I am just not good at "being a writer," which, I think, is a different thing altogether.
I have said this before. It is not the epiphany of the moment.
A lot of people are good at "being" writers, but they can't write very well at all. I know that's a snobby thing to say, but I also believe it is true.
If I made a list of the things that are most important to me, and then I eliminated the obvious top-tier no-brainers like respiration and taking care of my household, it is highly likely that writing excellently will be at the top of my list.
That's probably a snobby thing to say, too.
"Being" a writer wouldn't make it on the list at all.
I think it's something of a consequence of our highly connected, social-networked mentality that a lot of us buy into -- the importance of "being" a writer as opposed to the process of writing itself. I blame the watered-down sameness of product on this, too -- the collective, delusional belief that "this is what I must write because this is what Barnes and Noble will put on their shelves."
"And the cover will look like this."
This, this, this!
You know what I mean.
In human history, writing and literature have never worked that way.
And here we are.
It is why so many "writers" don't feel even a moment of self-reflective shame for sifting out nouns and verbs from existing works and rearranging their context or morphing a flawed protagonist into another flawed protagonist with fins or scales or wings or fangs.
This is the end of the world, and nobody knows anything about it at all.
10 comments:
I know my comments are always all about me, and I am trying to break that habit, but this particular one is going to be ALL ABOUT ME.
I have reflected on myself as a writer many times. I am not a good writer. I do some clever things with my writing because my brain is bizarre.
I have been told many times by friends and writers that they'd like to pull up a chair and sit by the fireplace in my mind. Well, I really don't think there is a fireplace in my mind. In fact, you won't be able to sit because there's no gravity up there either.
Well, there is gravity of a different kind. And that's why I write.
I tend to be good at being a writer because I am ENFP and people like ENFPs. Except when we don't get their jokes and they tell us to lighten up. And I say I am light, I way 145 pounds. And then they give me a quizzical look and I give them a look that says, "Now who doesn't get whose joke?"
No, I am not a good writer, but I am semi-good at being a writer.
I love that "Midnight Souls Still Remain" is over eleven minutes long.
And I typo'd "weigh". Rock on.
Ha! You know what I'm seeing a lot of this year? Covers with people who are dogs, part dog, have dog shadows superimposed behind them, or just some shadowy dogs in general. I know they're probably supposed to be werewolves or wolf-spirits or wolf-fucking-pokemon or shit like that, but I just thought I'd let all of you know that: If you want to sell a book this year -- make someone turn into a fucking dog or fall in love with someone who does, or maybe be haunted by the spirit of a dog, or maybe be a dog who survives a car crash and his spirit invades the body of a beautiful romantic heroine who develops superpowers and a keen sense of smell.
Just thought I'd let you know.
This is my practical, money-making tip for the day.
I hope cats are all the rage when I publish.
I like hearing about you, Jonathan.
Andrew, you know how I appreciate your tips about writing.
I have a dog in my book.
He is not a magic dog.
He doesn't die, either. At least, he hasn't yet. He's not a wolf hybrid, either.
I also have geese in my book. They don't have superpowers.
Nobody morphs.
So your practical, money-making tip is wasted on me. This is sad. Because, you know, as teachers, we are all about the money.
I'll admit, I've read a few of those books that have some kind of dog/man/angel/demon protagonist in between the pages. And they are funny, quick reads but really now - who in their right mind wants to wake up in bed with some dude that can turn into a wolf? In the end he's a dog - that's just gross.
Also, the best protagonist - leading man - you want to spend your time with are the read guys, in books about real stories.
My favorite is still Troy from Ghost Medicine - maybe I'm partial to the name.
Jonathon, I like reading your comments, even if they are about you, it's like getting a 2 for 1 blog stop :)
Troy is my favorite too, Connie. In many ways I am Troy.
I like your comments too, Jon. You once told me to stop apologizing for being me. Not that you're doing that, but that was great advice.
I'm going to write a book this year about Mitt Romney's god, and how he survived that fateful car ride.
That was supposed to say dog. But I guess god fits too. On the roof.
I was once at a conference with an agent who was sweating profusely. She told me that my book sounded like shit and that "animals are the kiss of death in a book."
She wanted to see more love stories with sports.
She is the mental image I get when I think about the retail end of this thing I do. I write what I want to write about because I love writing. The fact that she wants love stories with sports is none of my business.
Amy said it best, I think: "I write what I want to write about because I love writing". The most difficult thing about yearning to publish, I think, is distinguishing between what one ought to write and what one wants to write. Personally, "ought" has nothing to do with writing. Even the maxim, "One ought to write well" is lost on me, because not a single author can tell another exactly what "writing well" means other than DO IT YOUR OWN WAY.
Therefore, write whatever the fuck you want however the fuck you want whenever the fuck you want.
That's my maxim.
Post a Comment