Tag-Archive for » writer «
I know this is just a turn of phrase and usually, when people say this, they mean they want to be published, but where did it come from? A writer is just something you are. Like a runner or a bowler. You don’t dream of becoming a bowler. You just drive to the bowling lane, rent some shoes and start bowling. Just like writing but without the loud crashing. You just pick up a pen and start writing. Bam! Instant writer.
I think it might be because some people view those that are already published as writers, which is true. But it is not the only way to be called a writer. An author, yes. Not a writer. This is like the phrase, “I could care less.” It needs to be corrected. I dream of becoming an author but I’m already a writer. I couldn’t care less about Britney Spears’s bald head. If I could care less, then there’s a small piece of me that does care, which just isn’t true. For most people that dream of becoming a writer (read: being published), the wording is wrong because, technically, they’ve already reached that dream. Damn those socially acceptable colloquialisms.
So remember, if you write . . . anything . . . poems, short stories, novels, fanfiction, whatever . . . you are a writer. Don’t let any pretentious ass take that away from you. I think that might be it too. Some schmucks see publication as the only validation for someone being a writer. Get over yourselves, dudes. The second you put pen to paper and start scribbling, you’re a writer. Nothing is going to take that away from you. The real work comes in making that leap to author. Therein lies the hard part . . . and the dream.
But there are some people out there that actually dream of becoming writers, meaning they’ve never written anything before, don’t do it at all, and want to some day write something. To them I go O_O and say just pick up the damn pen already. It’s not hard to become a writer. It’s a bitch to become an author.
NaNo Update–Definitely questioning my sanity. Also discovering that maybe assigning a chapter a day was a little much for my writing style. It worked out in the beginning because the chapters were shorter but now they’re getting wordier and starting to get to lengths comparable to a chapter and a half or two chapters from the first few. My wrist is starting to hurt and my middle finger isn’t looking too good. I had the hangnail from Hell earlier in the week and it’s just now getting better. Not to mention the scar I still have from the pumpkin carving. An electric turkey carver might work better next time.
So I’m seriously considering tossing the chapter a day thing because I’m finding I just can’t write that much in one day. I write best in short bursts, as I’m learning. I’m getting the same amount of word count in but at this point, I’m thinking a chapter a day is just too much. It’s getting my OCD to come down from the chapter a day goal that’ll be the hardest part.
As for the word count, I’m pretty sure I’m good on that considering how much I’ve been writing. If it isn’t I’ll probably cry. I’ll find out tomorrow.
Yeah, in your dreams. Not that you can’t make money off of writing, and even make enough money to live off of, but becoming rolling in dough wealthy is a pretty far stretch for 99% of the writers out there. That’s not to say someone like me doesn’t dream of being in J.K. Rowling’s shoes but, until it actually happens, that’s all that it is: a dream. Sad but true. It’s like being asked to be the presidential nominee’s running mate. When targets are asked the what if question, they always say they’re content where they are but if actually asked, of course they wouldn’t deny it. Same goes for millionaire authors. I’d be very content making a reasonable salary off of my writing but if the opportunity came to make millions, I’d kick my own ass if I didn’t take it. After the screaming stopped, of course.
As Forbes is wont to do, they’ve released a list of the world’s best paid authors and is it really a surprise at who tops that list? I think what’s much more shocking is just how much more she got than number two, James Patterson. Rowling’s $300 million dollars in the single fiscal year from 2007 to 2008 got her number one on the list (no, I didn’t type that wrong, it really is $300 million) and Patterson’s $50 million got him the second slot.
Are you seeing that astounding gap too? The rest of the authors on the list (including Stephen King, Tom Clancy and Danielle Steele) aside from Rowling are within striking distance of each other. A $250 million gap is more like a precipice. A mini Grand Canyon even. Any of those figures on that list are astounding for any author to make, let alone to be at the top by a $250 million lead.
Yes, something like that can happen but the chances of it happening to you, me or anyone else you know are pretty slim. Might as well go play the lottery in a lightening storm and see what comes up.
