Some truth about being a writer

[DreamCloud]

Interesting blog entry by Joe Bunting.

Lie #2 is my favorite. My ignorance of the English language is not the drawback some believe it is.

Yep, I won't be quitting my day job anytime soon.

 

[Handley_Page]

Interesting blog entry by Joe Bunting.

Lie #2 is my favorite. My ignorance of the English language is not the drawback some believe it is.

Yep, I won't be quitting my day job anytime soon.

Interesting and rather educational.

 

[NicoleZ]

Interesting and rather educational.

Seconded! (Or is it thirded?!?)

 

[oggbashan]

I didn't start writing stories to make money. I knew that very few authors, even famous ones, made any significant income from their writing.

I started writing stories because I had to, to get the Muses of my back. It doesn't work. The more I write, the more they want me to write.

 

[8letters]

On #1, my impression is that King's position is more nuanced than it sounds from the quote. King's position is that you have to start with a good story idea and then you have to do the work of banging out the story even when you're not in the mood. But if you don't have a good story idea, all you're doing when you're writing is banging out crap.

On #2, there's no editor at LitE to clean up what you submit. Improving your grammar will definitely help your stories here.

 

[sr71plt]

I didn't start writing stories to make money. I knew that very few authors, even famous ones, made any significant income from their writing.

I started writing stories because I had to, to get the Muses of my back. It doesn't work. The more I write, the more they want me to write.

Me too.

 

[Hypoxia]

I came late to writing fiction.

I started with songwriting, which requires both inspiration and perspiration. Did I make money there? No, but as with other pursuits, I approached it professionally: sit down and write. Or walk, run, or bike, and write, dictating into a wee little voice recorder. Or assign myself projects with various keys, modes, time signatures, tight constraints to jot down in a musical staff.

I made money with technical writing. Very little inspiration needed, but much perspiration. Definitely a sit-down-and-write situation, with conferences.

Writing fiction derived from encountering LIT, reading many sloppy stories, and thinking, "Fuckola, *I* can do better than that!" No thought of making money. No thought of gaining a public reputation. Only a challenge to do better.

 

[Handley_Page]

I came late to writing fiction.

.
.

I made money with technical writing. Very little inspiration needed, but much perspiration. Definitely a sit-down-and-write situation, with conferences.

Writing fiction derived from encountering LIT, reading many sloppy stories, and thinking, "Fuckola, *I* can do better than that!" No thought of making money. No thought of gaining a public reputation. Only a challenge to do better.

I also managed quite well with technical writing [and I enjoyed it, too].
But I am having real trouble of later. At present I have a 'reluctance' (a near rape)
and I cannot get the violence right (she manages to escape before being really got at). It's causing me real grief.

And I'm getting Very Good at procrastination . . .
.

 

[CarlusMagnus]

…Writing fiction derived from encountering LIT, reading many sloppy stories, and thinking, "Fuckola, *I* can do better than that!"…

Been there. Done that.

 

[CarlusMagnus]

…And I'm getting Very Good at procrastination . . .
.

I found the solution to that problem.

I now put off procrastinating.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I didn't start writing stories to make money. I knew that very few authors, even famous ones, made any significant income from their writing.

I started writing stories because I had to, to get the Muses of my back. It doesn't work. The more I write, the more they want me to write.

I've linked this one before but it's still pretty great: http://oglaf.com/blank-page/

And the sequel: http://oglaf.com/muse/

 

[DreamCloud]

I've linked this one before but it's still pretty great: http://oglaf.com/blank-page/

And the sequel: http://oglaf.com/muse/

Now that is funny!