How do you know when you're a "writer?"

[jomar]

There's a saying in the film industry that you know you're finally a director when you cut your favorite scene. Does the same apply to writing (scene, character, line)?

 

[SesameStreet]

For me it was when I first posted my Short Stories on the Fantasy Board at the now defunct Women.Com and the other Members gave then good reviews.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I've been a writer since I started writing without it being a homework assignment.

 

[cantdog]

You do have to 'kill your children,' though. That oh-so-clever phrase or scene that really has to go-- if you've seen it, and been heroic enough to cut it, it's a step toward being able to call yourself a writer. There's more to it, and I don't necessarily mean reviews, either, with all respect to Street. There's more to being a director, too, I daresay. It's a craft.

 

[JamesSD]

I say you're a writer when you first start writing.

I'm not sure what makes one a good writer. I'll let you know on the off chance I ever become one.

 

[jomar]

You do have to 'kill your children,' though. That oh-so-clever phrase or scene that really has to go-- if you've seen it, and been heroic enough to cut it, it's a step toward being able to call yourself a writer. It's a craft.

That's sort of where I was going. Loving your "child," but being able to view it with "objective" eyes enough to see the flaws and what's relevant and what's not driving it forward, or not meaningful. And I suppose, being "strong" enough to edit it.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I will never cut my forite scene out of a story. I'll rewrite everything around it to fit that damn scene into it to make it work, but I won't cut it out, because that scene is why I was writing the story in the first place.

 

[jomar]

I say you're a writer when you first start writing.

I'm not sure what makes one a good writer. I'll let you know on the off chance I ever become one.

I'm with your second sentence.

I posted this question because something I saw on a different thread connected with a dvd I saw. On the deleted scenes features, he said this was his favorite scene. He struggled, but eventually cut it. He later talked about it with a famous director, who said "You know your a 'director' when....."

 

[jomar]

I will never cut my forite scene out of a story. I'll rewrite everything around it to fit that damn scene into it to make it work, but I won't cut it out, because that scene is why I was writing the story in the first place.

Are you saying that you have a story in mind and then write a clever scene that takes a left turn you'll change the whole story? Are we talking about getting whacked by the muse?

That could work and you might have two stories!

 

[jomar]

For me it was when I first posted my Short Stories on the Fantasy Board at the now defunct Women.Com and the other Members gave then good reviews.

Ha! Published author's get a "bye" - any definition of writer you want is respected.

Hey, I made a bad pun!

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Are you saying that you have a story in mind and then write a clever scene that takes a left turn you'll change the whole story? Are we talking about getting whacked by the muse?

That could work and you might have two stories!

That's why I always Save As - A, B, C, D or so before making any major changes

 

[TE999]

That's sort of where I was going. Loving your "child," but being able to view it with "objective" eyes enough to see the flaws and what's relevant and what's not driving it forward, or not meaningful. And I suppose, being "strong" enough to edit it.

That's what volunteer editors are for.

The Spanish Inquisiton with a red pencil.

 

[MagicaPractica]

Someone once asked me how I came up with story ideas. She was an intelligent woman but she couldn't fathom it. My mind responded, they're everywhere I turn.

"A writer writes." To me, it feels like something built into the fabric of my being.

How do I know I'm a good writer? When someone tells me they couldn't put it down.

I loved the bit in the tribute to American films at the Oscars that showed various writer characters in movies. It portrayed so well that little grin and glee of getting it right. Personally, if I write for long enough, I get a little "writer's high."

 

[jomar]

That's what volunteer editors are for.

The Spanish Inquisiton with a red pencil.

I remember teh red pencil from grad school. Nightmares!

 

[jomar]

"A writer writes." To me, it feels like something built into the fabric of my being.

How do I know I'm a good writer? When someone tells me they couldn't put it down.

People have different definitions of what makes a "writer. "Connecting with a reader is a powerful one.

Don Henley (Eagles) was once asked what he would to if he wasn't a musician. He basically said he didn't have a choice.

 

[TE999]

I remember teh red pencil from grad school. Nightmares!

Those red strokes have made many a budding author wince.

Sounds like a BDSM story starter. LOL

 

[jomar]

Those red strokes have made many a budding author wince.

Sounds like a BDSM story starter. LOL

Ha. It hurts so good, Professor!

 

[cloudy]

When I sold my first story (at age 13), I started thinking of myself as a writer

 

[TE999]

When I sold my first story (at age 13), I started thinking of myself as a writer

Care to elaborate on that a tad?

13??

Sounds interesting.

 

[jomar]

When I sold my first story (at age 13), I started thinking of myself as a writer

I will never question a published author on that count. Are you able to edit objectively, are you a natural, or do you rely on an editor?

 

[cloudy]

I will never question a published author on that count. Are you able to edit objectively, are you a natural, or do you rely on an editor?

I'm a terrible perfectionist that edits as she writes, which is why so few things actually get finished. I also have ADD, which means a lot of the time I lose interest halfway through. I have a kajillion half-finished stories on my harddrive.

Don't be too impressed with the publishing credit, though. It was a children's story that I wrote/illustrated, and as far as I know, it's not in print anymore.

 

[cloudy]

Care to elaborate on that a tad?

13??

Sounds interesting.

I took a creative writing class in 8th grade, and one of our assignments was to write and illustrate a children's story.

My teacher liked mine so much that he shopped it around for me, and presented me with the publishing contract at 8th grade graduation.

As far as I know, it's out of print now. Haven't seen one in ages.

 

[jomar]

I'm a terrible perfectionist that edits as she writes, which is why so few things actually get finished. I also have ADD, which means a lot of the time I lose interest halfway through. I have a kajillion half-finished stories on my harddrive.

There's help for that if one is so inclined. You have an interesting mind from reading your comments on variuos threads. Maybe you could get a jajillion stories finished?

 

[cloudy]

There's help for that if one is so inclined. You have an interesting mind from reading your comments on variuos threads. Maybe you could get a jajillion stories finished?

Thank you.

 

[floweringquince]

Don Henley (Eagles) was once asked what he would to if he wasn't a musician. He basically said he didn't have a choice.

John Gardner (who has written several published novels that I haven't read, and one book on writing that I have) illustrated how he felt about writing by quoting a professional basketball player as having said "If there were a law against playing basketball, I'd spend my life in jail."

That's pretty much how I feel. If there were a law against writing, I'd spend my life in jail.
(Or at least as a fugitive from justice


I define "a writer" as "one who writes."

But the first time I really felt like a Real Capital-W Writer was when I not only got a story idea; but knew how I could turn it into a short story and I knew just how I wanted it to end.
(Endings are a big problem for me, which makes it hard for me to finish anything...

That was 10 or 15 years after my name first appeared as the author of a technical magazine article, and who knows how many years before any of my fiction will ever be published.

Quince