January 31, 2013
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Writing So You Can Be a Writer
I keep marveling at how stupid I was for not realizing (for so many years) that the way to become a writer was to start writing something.
Duh.
I realize many of you told me that the way to become a writer was to write some stuff. I heard you, I did, but it didn’t really sink in for some reason.
And then I figured out that if you want to become a writer you have to write some stuff and then show it to people.
Comments (21)
I’m just now learning that too and am enjoying the constructive criticism. Are you going to post some writings?
You writers on xanga are better than a Broadway musical…….most the time. I know y’all are just as dramatic!
I would say the showing people part is optional. If you write something, you’re a writer
Oh there are traps for writers. If you blog, you might be stereotyped as a blogger. If you do news you are into non fiction, etc.
What is the way to find out if you are a writter? People notice you and want to pay for your writing.
Hmm, I wonder if you could do a serial here on xanga? Maybe Novels is your thing and you will have to go to a place where novelists hang out?
Whatever you do did you know that the stuff can always be revised, redone and basically recycled until everyone is tired of it?
you can write anywhere you wish. Your writing will find it’s audience, no matter what style. Don’t worry what others think. If I did that I’d have quit long ago….. But I do as I please, and have been published several times in different places. Books are what you make now days anyone can publish…. can you sell is the question. I sell well. You won’t find me easily because I don’t want to be found. My site has become more personal, so I put out a piece here and there, combine them and add art, then publish. If you’ve been on the right cruise ships you’ve seen a coffee table book of mine, though you wouldn’t know it here.
Be careful where you write. There are places where they will hurt your feelings , then steal your work. I like xanga. Most of the people here are a higher quality, and somewhat oblivious to anyone who doesn’t fit exactly ….. that’s why I’m safe here. I get great feedback from a few…. that helps. I don’t want to get super famous, nor do I care about money I have enough. What I love is writing what I love
and occasionally someone says something nice…. just right
Writing requires practice…like any skill.
Walt Whitman said you aren’t really a writer until everything you’ve written stacked stands taller than you do!
(Which gives an awful advantage to short people!)
But I had written my height by 30…and when you DO get going, you get BETTER…I promise!
Art cannot exist in a vacuum! Especially a vacuum that hasn’t been emptied recently. No one wants dusty art.
lol, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Too much caffeine?!??
Stephen King once said “If you want to be a writer, you have to do two things above all others. Read a lot, and write a lot.”
This was the advice that plunged me into my journey, I hope to become a successful writer one day. I pass this along to other beginners from time to time, since I found it helpful.
Xanga is a great starting point, there’s a lot of different people who can help you here from amateurs to people with published books on the shelves.
And now it’s Deep Thoughts…..with OBL.
Does this mean you sold something?
I suspect that one of the big reasons you’re a successful attorney is your writing skill.
This is actually great advice. Thank you for reminding me.
Showing it to people can be hard, it takes a degree of courage.
Very true. One of the things I want to try making at least part of my living doing is photography. My wife has been a pessimist, saying, “You’re not a photographer!”. I told her if I can make money from taking pictures, it will mean I AM a photographer.
If you thinking writing to become a writer is tough, try singing to become a singer. Do you know how awful it is to sound awful singing…AND KEEP DOING IT? bahahahaha
It’s hard to keep writing when you don’t like the results. Hmmm, come to think of it, maybe I mentioned avoidant pd when you were talking about anxiety disorders because I vaguely associated it with despising your own work. For instance, I don’t like the sound of my writing voice anymore, so I’m taking a break from posting.
Sorry. Babbling.
@distractedbyzombies - my opinion of that.
@promisesunshine -
If you knew how much stuff I had been writing and posting on private, you might feel differently. I have gotten so much done in the last two days! Bills have been paid! Parties have been scheduled! And other than the poor grammar in my comment above, dumb blond-isms have been nil.
I’ve been meditating, too. Little bursts. I’m going to start a club. There might be a post. Want to join?
Practice makes perfect of course..must we write to be read, or must we write to be a writer or both..but nowadays everyone writes, which is a good thing, so no one is put on a pedestal..at least not as much as before BC, that is before computers..
@distractedbyzombies - i want to be in a club. any club. maybe you worry too much about what people think? (unnecessarily) do i have to be sane to be in your club? that might be a problem.
@distractedbyzombies - i meant to say that you sound wonderful and that i’m glad things are going well. <3
@promisesunshine - Of course you don’t have to be sane! I’m, like, in the club, aren’t I? In fact, unlike the hair club, you don’t even have to have hair. Judging from pictures I’ve seen of people meditating, it might even be better if you don’t. So. You are in the club. It is decided. Instructions to follow.
Wonderful…my head is above water. That is wonderful.
@distractedbyzombies - best part of my day thus far.