PositiveThinker

[PositiveThinker]

Don't believe him. He just wants the first peek.


Oh, hello, Mr. Bear!

I can assure you, my stories are nothing compared to some of the professional writers who write here. I'm just a hack.

 

[PositiveThinker]

Please don't post in italics all the time. It's really, really hard on the eyes.

I promise, you don't have to post in weird fonts or sizes to get noticed.

Sorry, I wasn't looking for attention. As far as the font, I'm a sucker for Times Roman.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Sorry, I wasn't looking for attention. As far as the font, I'm a sucker for Times Roman.

A man after my own heart!

 

[PositiveThinker]

Well at least they're good for something, then.

Yeah, well, the problem with having them read and edit my story is that they are all better writers than me (lol) and prove it by allowing me to read their stories. Still, this is a great place to practice and learn.

 

[PositiveThinker]

A man after my own heart!

It's interesting that you assume I'm a man. Suddenly, I feel like a guest on "What's My Line?" and being interviewed by Gary Moore. What was Kitty Carlisle's claim to fame, anyway? Gees, I'm showing my age.

 

[rgraham666]

I can assure you, my stories are nothing compared to some of the professional writers who write here. I'm just a hack.

We were all hacks once.

I still am for the most part.

 

[slyc_willie]

We were all hacks once.

I still am for the most part.

The good ones always are.

 

[rgraham666]

I don't care if I'm good. I just care if I sell.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I can assure you, my stories are nothing compared to some of the professional writers who write here. I'm just a hack.

Some professional writers are also hacks.

 

[PositiveThinker]

We were all hacks once.

I still am for the most part.

The most difficult part for me is wanting to write, in the mood to write, and then staring at the blank page not knowing where to start or what to write about.

I'll free write until I get an idea, but it usually doesn't pan out to a story. Life has a way of getting in the way of inspiration.

All my friends and relatives (those that are not English majors) think I'm wasting my time writing. They don't understand the need to write how you feel. In the end, to them, unless you have written a best selling book, you're just a bum.

 

[slyc_willie]

I don't care if I'm good. I just care if I sell.

Indeed.

Some professional writers are also hacks.

Laurel K. Hamilton, anyone?

 

[PositiveThinker]

Some professional writers are also hacks.

True, but they are still good enough to publish and quit their day job. I would't mind being a hack, if it meant I didn't have to work 9-5.

 

[rgraham666]

In the end, to them, unless you have written a best selling book, you're just a bum.

I've encountered a few of those. I usually ask them, "What's the last thing you read?" to shut them up.

 

[The_Fool]

Indeed.



Laurel K. Hamilton, anyone?

I can't believe I am saying this. Hamilton had a good thing going and then she found sex...

 

[PositiveThinker]

I've encountered a few of those. I usually ask them, "What's the last thing you read?" to shut them up.

Then, again, that's not why I write. I write for myself. I write because I must. I write to free myself of thoughts, put them to paper, and let them go to set myself free of them. It's amazing how few people read and write well. Too many don't read well enough to comprehend anything written beyond 7th grade level. It makes you wonder how they get through life.

 

[TE999]

All my friends and relatives (those that are not English majors) think I'm wasting my time writing. They don't understand the need to write how you feel. In the end, to them, unless you have written a best selling book, you're just a bum.

That, excuse the expression, is bullshit. Many best selling authors click with a character or a formula then beat it to death...creativity takes a back seat to money and deadlines...but it's also true that creativity don't fill the fridge.

My point, and I do have one (sorry Ellen) is that you should write what you want to, when you want to and about whatever strikes your fancy. With all the story cats here on Lit there's something to jibe with everyone's imagination.

PS: I have a BA in English, but I'm no literary snob. As far as your other critics, they have the shrivelled and mercenary souls of shopkeepers. Ignore them.

 

[PositiveThinker]

That, excuse the expression, is bullshit. Many best selling authors click with a character or a formula then beat it to death...creativity takes a back seat to money and deadlines...but it's also true that creativity don't fill the fridge.

My point, and I do have one (sorry Ellen) is that you should write what you want to, when you want to and about whatever strikes your fancy. With all the story cats here on Lit there's something to jibe with everyone's imagination.

PS: I have a BA in English, but I'm no literary snob. As far as your other critics, they have the shrivelled and mercenary souls of shopkeepers. Ignore them.

Interesting enough, there aren't very many writers who have control of what they write. Stephen King and J K come to mind, of course. The rest must dance to the whims of the publisher.

Perhaps, this, before being published, is the best writing time of a writer's life, being free and able to write whatever whenever without feeling pressured to sell. I suspect that the restraints that publishers put upon writers is just as bad as those that CEO's put upon accountants. Certainly, publishers have a way of removing art from the written word for the sake of money.

 

[TE999]

Interesting enough, there aren't very many writers who have control of what they write. Stephen King and J K come to mind, of course. The rest must dance to the whims of the publisher.

Perhaps, this, before being published, is the best writing time of a writer's life, being free and able to write whatever whenever without feeling pressured to sell. I suspect that the restraints that publishers put upon writers is just as bad as those that CEO's put upon accountants. Certainly, publishers have a way of removing art from the written word for the sake of money.

Precisely. For example, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle came to loathe Sherlock Holmes and killed him off...only to resurrect him when the lure (and need of) money became too great.

I'm far from an idealist...but I enjoy art (writing) for art's sake.

 

[slyc_willie]

Interesting enough, there aren't very many writers who have control of what they write. Stephen King and J K come to mind, of course. The rest must dance to the whims of the publisher.

Perhaps, this, before being published, is the best writing time of a writer's life, being free and able to write whatever whenever without feeling pressured to sell. I suspect that the restraints that publishers put upon writers is just as bad as those that CEO's put upon accountants. Certainly, publishers have a way of removing art from the written word for the sake of money.

Not exactly true anymore. The Internet is a wonderful place. It gives one the opportunity of, say, beginning a writer's co-op that allows one to publish without compromise.

You might want to check out excessica.com if you have the time. It was begun by Selena Kitt (SelenaKittyn on Lit) for the express purpose of giving erotica writers a venue for publishing. We've done quite well, to be honest. We publish in e-book format and also in print. And there is no one to tell you that your work isn't good enough to publish (beyond the mechanics of writing, of course). Your sales determine whether you're accepted or not.

 

[PositiveThinker]

Precisely. For example, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle came to loathe Sherlock Holmes and killed him off...only to resurrect him when the lure (and need of) money became too great.

I'm far from an idealist...but I enjoy art (writing) for art's sake.

Which, I imagine, why so many writers have turned to alcohol, drugs, and even suicide. We all can recite the list of those most famous, Poe, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Woolf, et al. Much like the grass is always greener...we don't know what someone else goes through until we walk in their shoes. I apologize for the cliches, but sometimes they are the best way to describe your meaning. Hmm, maybe I should lose myself in alcohol and drugs before I write my first story (lol). That would be different.

"Honey, are you drinking again?"

"No, Sweetie, I'm, uhm, writing."

"Okay, turn off the light when you come to bed."

 

[Carl East]

Then, again, that's not why I write. I write for myself. I write because I must. I write to free myself of thoughts, put them to paper, and let them go to set myself free of them. It's amazing how few people read and write well. Too many don't read well enough to comprehend anything written beyond 7th grade level. It makes you wonder how they get through life.

Personally I write for myself, although I will admit to enjoying the fact that some readers like my work. I'm a strong believer in allowing ones imagination to soar to new heights, and to explore all the possibilities of the written word. I like to think I'm different from every other author, and for that reason my advice to you is to find a story line that interests you and stick with it.

My only wish, where writing is concerned, is that I could write down all the ideas that pop into my head. I'd have hundreds of stories by now. lol

Good luck to you and welcome to the AH.

Carl

 

[PositiveThinker]

Personally I write for myself, although I will admit to enjoying the fact that some readers like my work. I'm a strong believer in allowing ones imagination to soar to new heights, and to explore all the possibilities of the written word. I like to think I'm different from every other author, and for that reason my advice to you is to find a story line that interests you and stick with it.

My only wish, where writing is concerned, is that I could write down all the ideas that pop into my head. I'd have hundreds of stories by now. lol

Good luck to you and welcome to the AH.

Carl

Thank you, Carl. Only, as you wrote about all the ideas that pop in your head, I have lots of story ideas, so many that it's difficult to just finalize one. I tend to get board with a story and forsake it to begin another. I guess I'm not a serious writer (lol), but that's okay.

Happy holidays to you and yours.

 

[michchick98]

Thank you, Carl. Only, as you wrote about all the ideas that pop in your head, I have lots of story ideas, so many that it's difficult to just finalize one. I tend to get board with a story and forsake it to begin another. I guess I'm not a serious writer (lol), but that's okay.

Happy holidays to you and yours.

As someone else said, with all the ideas bouncing around in my head, I'd have hundreds of stories. Sometimes they (the ideas) come together to actually make sense and start to form a coherent story, sometimes they kick each other around and fight for supremacy.

Usually, when the latter happens is when I just let them fight until one wins and the idea MUST be turned into a story.

Your boredom from one idea is probably similar to this (only on a more sane level..LOL) and that's why you get bored. The other ideas are kicking the crap out of the current one. That's doesn't mean you're not a serious writer, it just means....well, hell, I don't know what it means....maybe I'm just too dang tired.

 

[cloudy]

As someone else said, with all the ideas bouncing around in my head, I'd have hundreds of stories. Sometimes they (the ideas) come together to actually make sense and start to form a coherent story, sometimes they kick each other around and fight for supremacy.

Usually, when the latter happens is when I just let them fight until one wins and the idea MUST be turned into a story.

Your boredom from one idea is probably similar to this (only on a more sane level..LOL) and that's why you get bored. The other ideas are kicking the crap out of the current one. That's doesn't mean you're not a serious writer, it just means....well, hell, I don't know what it means....maybe I'm just too dang tired.

It might mean Adult ADD. Sarah and I can tell you ALL about that.

 

[michchick98]

It might mean Adult ADD. Sarah and I can tell you ALL about that.

I don't have Adult ADD, I just have....

oh look, a duck!