So I've been talking with a friend on twitter about the difference between a writer and an author. It started out as a simple enough tip: he suggested that I should take "aspiring" out of my profile, because if I write, then I'm a writer. I disagree.
Part of it goes back to what I said in this post about not being able to call myself a writer until I've finished the novel, and not being able to call myself an author until I'm published. But I realize now, that in my head, they're two different titles. It's like being called Staff versus Manager, or an Analyst versus Accountant. It's not necessarily hierarchical, and maybe it's pigeonholing, but to me they're entirely different animals (though not mutually exclusive).
In my opinion, being a writer means that you sit down and write pretty much every day. A writer may or may not share that work, but that's not the point. A writer actively writes, and that's a good thing, and a goal in and of itself. You can be a writer regardless of the style of writing (it could be poetry, news articles, corporate brochures, or advertisements), and you don't have to make money doing it. It could be hobby or something you do sitting on a train (which is how I got started). The point is the writing, and going back to my old post again, finishing what you start, even if you don't share it.
An author, however, is someone who writes book-length work and shares that work broadly, generally with the intent to earn money on it, even if it doesn't pay all of the bills. I don't think a copywriter is an author, but both are writers. Similarly, I wouldn't call a journalist an author, but they write too. To me it's a title, and one that's earned through publication, be it traditional or self-publishing.
I am a writer, but I aspire to be an author. It's the next step in my writing career, and that's precisely how I look at my writing: as a career. I enjoy it immensely, and there's a strong possibility that I'll never get rich or famous from it, but being an author is still a career goal.
I don't want to demean anyone who calls themselves purely a writer. Being a writer is a self-defining thing, and something to be admired. I just don't think that the two terms are synonymous.
Showing posts with label Rant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rant. Show all posts
Friday, June 24, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Irresistably Sweet Blog Award
This morning, I woke to find a comment on my blog from Catherine Pawsey, an aspiring paranormal romance writer blogging at The Diary of a Trainee Paranormal Romance Writer. She awarded my blog the Irresistably Sweet Award!
My seven facts:
Thank you Catherine!!
It's wonderful to know that my blog is being read and enjoyed by people outside my immediate circle of friends and family. Despite my Google Analytics stats (which really aren't very good, but do show that people are visiting the site) I always wonder if anyone cares what I put up here. I hope so! But in the end, Ranting, Raving, Writing is a means for me to share my thoughts and experiences. I want people to read, learn, and participate, but that's the joy of the internet: people can easily ignore the idiot standing on the soapbox if they're not interested!
In any case, the rules of this award are as follows:
- Thank and link to the person that nominated you.
- Share 7 random facts about yourself.
- Pass the award to 15 of your blogging buddies.
- Notify the recipients.
My seven facts:
- I love to garden, and this year have planted a ton of veggies. So far, they're all doing really well, but only the cherry tomatoes have started to fruit.
- I've cut out my coffee addiction, at most drinking one latte a week (it was a daily or even twice daily habit).
- Instead of coffee, I now drink herbal tea most mornings. I especially like chamomile and lemon teas, with a bit of honey to sweeten them up.
- I love wine. A good sauvignon blanc on a warm evening, or a fantastic cab with a prime steak is divine. Seriously, drink of the gods. :-)
- I've had laser eye surgery, but my vision still isn't perfect. At least I don't run into walls anymore when I'm not wearing glasses or contacts.
- I have a dog, named Foster, that is currently at "summer camp" in Colorado (spending time with my mom).
- I would love to own chickens. My city allows them, but right now I just don't have the time to care for them properly and Foster might try to eat them (he's an 80 pound husky mix).
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Passion...
Jane Friedman, famed There Are No Rules blogger and media & networking expert, has had several posts recently about talent vs. determination. She argues that determination is more meaningful than talent, not because talent is unnecessary, but because having talent doesn't necessarily mean you'll be a great success, while determination and focus will propel you forward.
That's the funny thing about talent: if it comes too easily, sometimes you neglect it, and won't pursue that activity. It's too easy. But if you want to succeed at that task, if you're truly passionate about the activity, you'll do whatever it takes to get there. That's not the same as being talented.
In a separate post on her personal blog, Jane talks about the 3 Boring Elements of Success: 1) Extraordinary Focus, 2) Dedication and Consistency, and 3) Industry Awareness. However, taking that a step further, all three of these elements come with passion for what you're doing, obsession with your chosen vocation.
If you are passionate about your job, it will be easy to find the focus and dedication to perform each and every day. You might need a break now and again, but the itch will grow and you'll be back to it before you even realize it. Similarly, if you love your career, you'll want to know what's going on in the industry and what trends are popping up, so that you can find your own best way of navigating that world. You'll want to know every little detail, not because it's a required part of your work day, but because you're fascinated by the changes, events, or connections around you.
Having great talent isn't really necessary if you're willing to put in the work*. Having great passion is required. With that passion, the work will come easier, the 10,000 hours of practice won't be forced. And eventually, you'll demonstrate the talent that may have appeared to be lacking in the beginning. As Justine Musk, of Tribal Writer, says:
* Caveat: it's probably good to have some basic aptitude, but you don't need to be an idiot savant.
"I suspect that a few of my most talented students aren't putting in the effort required to succeed. They've succumbed to the demons of ambivalence and apathy."
That's the funny thing about talent: if it comes too easily, sometimes you neglect it, and won't pursue that activity. It's too easy. But if you want to succeed at that task, if you're truly passionate about the activity, you'll do whatever it takes to get there. That's not the same as being talented.
In a separate post on her personal blog, Jane talks about the 3 Boring Elements of Success: 1) Extraordinary Focus, 2) Dedication and Consistency, and 3) Industry Awareness. However, taking that a step further, all three of these elements come with passion for what you're doing, obsession with your chosen vocation.
If you are passionate about your job, it will be easy to find the focus and dedication to perform each and every day. You might need a break now and again, but the itch will grow and you'll be back to it before you even realize it. Similarly, if you love your career, you'll want to know what's going on in the industry and what trends are popping up, so that you can find your own best way of navigating that world. You'll want to know every little detail, not because it's a required part of your work day, but because you're fascinated by the changes, events, or connections around you.
Having great talent isn't really necessary if you're willing to put in the work*. Having great passion is required. With that passion, the work will come easier, the 10,000 hours of practice won't be forced. And eventually, you'll demonstrate the talent that may have appeared to be lacking in the beginning. As Justine Musk, of Tribal Writer, says:
"Common wisdom has it that we’re passionate about the things we’re naturally good it, but it’s possible that it’s the other way around: we become “naturally” good at the things we’re truly passionate – and obsessive – about."
* Caveat: it's probably good to have some basic aptitude, but you don't need to be an idiot savant.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Work Hard and Finish What You Start
About a week ago, maybe more, I had a conversation with a good friend about my book. She's read a bit of it and helped me through some tough choices that I've had to make on the early rewrites. We were talking about the amount of time I've spent working on the novel, and how I've learned so much from this process. Given today's knowledge, if I could start all over, I would do things very differently, though I don't think I can face starting over completely on this story.
She had one comment that really struck me during this conversation, and has stayed with me ever since:
On first glance, that might seem like a terrible thing to say, but it wasn't, and I didn't take it that way. Rather, she was forcing me to consider why I'm writing, and what it is I'm trying to accomplish. She was helping me assess the work in progress.
Now I'm going to say up front that I'm not going to set the novel aside until I have a completed manuscript. I have to finish the story. I tried to explain why during the conversation with my friend, but I don't think I was very eloquent about it.
Luckily, there's someone else out there that's been in the business much longer and is better equipped to speak on the subject.
David Coe is starting a new series of posts on Magical Words called "Back to Basics". Part 1: Be a Writer posted on Monday. Of the many good pieces of advice in that post, there was one that particularly struck a chord, because of this past conversation.
This brilliantly explains why I can't just stop working. I can't call myself a writer until I've finished an entire work. I've written a few short stories, sure, but they were intended to be writing exercises, not serious projects. The novel is my first attempt to create something that's worth publishing. The act of "finishing" the project will prove that I can, in fact, write a novel. If it's not good enough this time, maybe the next one will be, but I can do it.
Far too many people decide that their goals are just too hard. They don't want to put in the time, effort, energy, money, or make the sacrifices necessary to achieve their goals. They're afraid of failure. And maybe they're even afraid of success. So they quit mid-stream and go back to something that, at least on the surface, seems easier.
Life takes work. Dreams take work. There's no fairy godmother that's going to wave her magic wand and poof, you're a princess. It doesn't work that way. You pick a path, choose your goal, start at the bottom and work your way to success. I don't care if you want to be a farmer or an astronaut, a ballerina or a WWF wrestler, you have to work to your success. What's that old adage? Anything that's worth doing is difficult (or something like that).
I want to be a writer. I've spent nearly two years working on this novel, but I'm not yet a writer. I will finish the novel, and then, only then, can I call myself a writer.
Ultimately, I want to be an author. If this novel isn't good enough for publication, then I'll start on the next project. I will finish that one. I may have to go through the process two or three more times, but eventually I will be published and then, only then, can I call myself an author.
She had one comment that really struck me during this conversation, and has stayed with me ever since:
"Don't stay married to the novel, just to justify your efforts."
On first glance, that might seem like a terrible thing to say, but it wasn't, and I didn't take it that way. Rather, she was forcing me to consider why I'm writing, and what it is I'm trying to accomplish. She was helping me assess the work in progress.
Now I'm going to say up front that I'm not going to set the novel aside until I have a completed manuscript. I have to finish the story. I tried to explain why during the conversation with my friend, but I don't think I was very eloquent about it.
Luckily, there's someone else out there that's been in the business much longer and is better equipped to speak on the subject.
David Coe is starting a new series of posts on Magical Words called "Back to Basics". Part 1: Be a Writer posted on Monday. Of the many good pieces of advice in that post, there was one that particularly struck a chord, because of this past conversation.
6. Keep Moving Forward: Ask Faith, and she will tell you that you are not a writer until you finish something — a story, a novel, something. And she’s right. I know so many aspiring writers who reach that tough section in the writing process and either retreat into rewrites or give up and start something new. Revisions are important; the new-shiny is a great part of writing. But writers finish what they start, and you need to keep moving forward with your Work In Progress. Writing isn’t easy; part of the process is fighting through the stubborn sections of a work, finding that solution to a nagging plot problem. Keep moving forward. Finish what you start.
This brilliantly explains why I can't just stop working. I can't call myself a writer until I've finished an entire work. I've written a few short stories, sure, but they were intended to be writing exercises, not serious projects. The novel is my first attempt to create something that's worth publishing. The act of "finishing" the project will prove that I can, in fact, write a novel. If it's not good enough this time, maybe the next one will be, but I can do it.
Far too many people decide that their goals are just too hard. They don't want to put in the time, effort, energy, money, or make the sacrifices necessary to achieve their goals. They're afraid of failure. And maybe they're even afraid of success. So they quit mid-stream and go back to something that, at least on the surface, seems easier.
Life takes work. Dreams take work. There's no fairy godmother that's going to wave her magic wand and poof, you're a princess. It doesn't work that way. You pick a path, choose your goal, start at the bottom and work your way to success. I don't care if you want to be a farmer or an astronaut, a ballerina or a WWF wrestler, you have to work to your success. What's that old adage? Anything that's worth doing is difficult (or something like that).
I want to be a writer. I've spent nearly two years working on this novel, but I'm not yet a writer. I will finish the novel, and then, only then, can I call myself a writer.
Ultimately, I want to be an author. If this novel isn't good enough for publication, then I'll start on the next project. I will finish that one. I may have to go through the process two or three more times, but eventually I will be published and then, only then, can I call myself an author.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
You know you're a writer when...
...bathroom signs drive you bananas!
There's a sign in our office bathroom that drives me nuts every time I go in there. It's stupid, and not a huge deal, but I read it every day, multiple times a day, and I can't stand it any longer.
On first glance, this might not seem so bad. But look closer. The tenses don't really agree in the second sentence, and it's awkward at best. I wish there was someone I could complain to, but in an organization that spans the country and employs more than 20,000 people, who knows who wrote it. I'm sure it's part of some toolkit that was provided to our operations personnel on a national basis. Luckily, I have people I can rant to!
So, here's my revision:
Or another version:
Or a funny version:
There's a sign in our office bathroom that drives me nuts every time I go in there. It's stupid, and not a huge deal, but I read it every day, multiple times a day, and I can't stand it any longer.
Attention:
Please be considerate of your fellow employees and leave the stall area clean.
Everyone can help by making sure you utilize the provided seat covers as well as thoroughly wrapping feminine products and disposing of them properly in the container.
Thank you.
On first glance, this might not seem so bad. But look closer. The tenses don't really agree in the second sentence, and it's awkward at best. I wish there was someone I could complain to, but in an organization that spans the country and employs more than 20,000 people, who knows who wrote it. I'm sure it's part of some toolkit that was provided to our operations personnel on a national basis. Luckily, I have people I can rant to!
So, here's my revision:
Attention:
Please be considerate of your fellow employees and leave the stall area clean.
Everyone can help by using the provided seat covers, thoroughly wrapping feminine products, and disposing of them properly in the container.
Thank you.
Or another version:
Attention:
Please be considerate of your fellow employees and leave the stall area clean.
Please use the provided seat covers, thoroughly wrap feminine products and dispose of them properly in the container.
Thank you.
Or a funny version:
Attention:
People work here besides you. Don't be gross and mess the place up.
Thanks!Anyone else have a version they'd like to share?
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Genre fiction can still be literature. Honest.
As I stated in my post a few weeks ago, sci-fi and fantasy - and practically all of their sub-genres - are my cup of tea when it comes to books I love. I make no bones about it. When you ask me what I'm reading, 95% of the time it will be something within this realm of literature. However, as we all know, genre fiction is often looked down upon by academics. It's considered "low-brow" and unsophisticated; inappropriate for an educated person to be caught reading. Of course, as a well-educated woman who gobbles up the stuff, I have to politely disagree.
However, I do agree with what Laura Ann Gilman said this on Tor.com the other day:
Misty Massey, from Magical Words, had this to say:
(Side rant: isn't "literary fiction" a genre in it's own right? Sure seems like one to me.)
*****************
Woo Hoo!
Word count on the novel: 40,221 !!!
However, I do agree with what Laura Ann Gilman said this on Tor.com the other day:
"... in my experience, urban fantasy—more to the point, modern fantasy—is at its heart not about the fantastic, but the everyday: the intensity of the real world drawn in the most vibrant colors possible, so that what was mundane and ordinary takes on a new depth and meaning."To me, taking mundane things in our everyday lives and making them new and exciting is what makes fantasy so fun. So, okay, you have an adventure set in some alternate medieval period, with talking cats and ghosts. I get it, some people can't suspend their disbelief that far. But what's the story really about? It's really about a young woman making her way in the world, falling in love, and finding her destiny. (Note: I just finished reading The Poison Throne and The Crowded Shadows, the first two books in the Moorehawk trilogy by Celine Kiernan, and they're fantastic. Highly recommended.) There are swords and crossbows, court politics and adventure, but the fundamental story is not about the action, it's about the journey and the relationships that are developed between the characters.
Misty Massey, from Magical Words, had this to say:
"Some of the genre fiction I’ve read is more well-written and brilliant than any ten literary doorstops, but kept from the eyes of the literati merely because of the genre label."Genre fiction sells, which means people are reading it. Considering that one in four American adults failed to read a single book in 2006, shouldn't we consider this to be a good thing? Shouldn't we celebrate the written word, in whatever form it takes, and encourage people to find the value in it for themselves? Better yet, why don't we take a closer look at genre fiction to understand the power of escaping the real world through a good story? Maybe it will even teach the literati a thing or two.
(Side rant: isn't "literary fiction" a genre in it's own right? Sure seems like one to me.)
*****************
Woo Hoo!
Word count on the novel: 40,221 !!!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Reading habits of the average American
I read today on Pub Rants, one of the many blogs I follow, that the average American only reads 2-3 books each year. Mindboggling! So I decided to do a little research to see if this statistic is true, or if it's one of the 80% of statistics that are made up on the spot.
While I didn't find that exact statistic, I did find this horrifying article from the Washington Post back in August 2007: One in Four Read No Books Last Year.
Personally, I read at least 15-20 books per year just for fun. There was a period of time before I started writing when that figure was even higher. That's not counting all of the articles, news, manuals, presentations, etc. that I read for work or school. As a kid I was grounded from reading because my mom couldn't get me to do my chores. I can't imagine what my life would be like without good novel.
But apparently 25% of the American population doesn't even read one book each year, and the average person "claimed to have read four books". (By the way, "books" includes the Bible and non-fiction as well as novels, and doesn't differentiate between personal and business/work-related reading, so we're talking about a pretty wide range of material.) I know that TV, movies, and the internet take up increasing amounts of our time and provide plenty of entertainment, but is it really possible that the written word is being ignored by such a large proportion of our population? If so, how sad!!
What about you guys? How much do you read for fun? How many books have you read this year so far?
While I didn't find that exact statistic, I did find this horrifying article from the Washington Post back in August 2007: One in Four Read No Books Last Year.
Personally, I read at least 15-20 books per year just for fun. There was a period of time before I started writing when that figure was even higher. That's not counting all of the articles, news, manuals, presentations, etc. that I read for work or school. As a kid I was grounded from reading because my mom couldn't get me to do my chores. I can't imagine what my life would be like without good novel.
But apparently 25% of the American population doesn't even read one book each year, and the average person "claimed to have read four books". (By the way, "books" includes the Bible and non-fiction as well as novels, and doesn't differentiate between personal and business/work-related reading, so we're talking about a pretty wide range of material.) I know that TV, movies, and the internet take up increasing amounts of our time and provide plenty of entertainment, but is it really possible that the written word is being ignored by such a large proportion of our population? If so, how sad!!
What about you guys? How much do you read for fun? How many books have you read this year so far?
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