Friday, March 11, 2011

You're Still a Writer, Bub

Hey, Nevets, you cynical, whiny, give-upper.

Heard you the other day.  Talkin' to someone who didn't know nothin' so you thought no one who knew somethin' would hear.  Well, I heard.  And I'm calling you on the carpet, and this isn't the nice, friendly, hey have a piece of cake kind of calling you on the carpet, and it's not even the not-so-bad  pouring applesauce on your head kind of calling you on the carpet.  This is the, What were thinking? kind of calling you on the carpet -- the kind that comes with a slap on the face and a kick in the rear.

"A writer, well, yeah, I'm trying to be."

That's what you said.

Yes, it is.

Yes.

It is.

You may not have said it out loud.  You may not have said in print.  You may not have said it telepathically to the alien mother of your best friend from the galaxy of telepathic people.  But you said it.

Punk.

Whatever happened to, "One of the most important things steps in being a writer is just saying you're a writer."  Whatever happened to, "If you're writing, you're a writer -- not an aspiring writer, but a writer."  Whatever happened to, "Trying to be published doesn't mean you're trying to be a writer; writing means being a writer."

Notice no question marks.

Because those weren't really questions.

I know the answer as much as you do.

What happened it that you copped out.  Because it's easier to say, "I'm trying to be a writer," then it is to say,  "I'm a writer who's not getting much writing done."  Because that sounds like failure.  That sounds like it's some how your fault.  Like you're falling short of the mark.  But if you're trying, then, hey, that's a frickin' A for Effort and a parade down-town with ice cream and confetti and elephants and you're so full of it.

Yeah, you're really busy right now.  Yeah, you're sick again.  Yeah, you can't get your head clear or your emotions straight or your brain awake or your fingers on the dang keyboard.

Waaaaaaaaah.

Maybe you don't have the hours in your day right now.  Maybe your creative juices are flowing like the tears of a tar-pit mammoth.  Maybe you can barely stay awake or keep from crying or stop yourself from coughing.

So flipping what?

Seriously, bro.  So what?

Oh, I know.  If you say you're a writer then you feel guilty for not writing.  Guilt means pressure and stress and crying and sleeping and coughing.

Sometimes people don't do the thing they want to do or need to do or feel like they should do.  Sometimes, people can only do what they can do.  In any walk of life.

So you don't get off the hook.  A guy isn't "Trying to be a manager," because he his boss has him working on a project rather than managing.  Or "Trying to be a baseball player," because he's laid up with an injury.  Or "Trying to be a painter," because she's just had eye surgery and can't see right now.

You're not trying to be a writer.  You are a writer.

So shut it.

And stop stressing.

18 comments:

  1. Great point C.N- or rather the better half of C.N. LOL You got your good talkin to!

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  2. I like this new voice. But then again maybe it's not so new and I'm just still learning about your blog (voice).

    That paragraph about sick, busy, brain freezing etc. is brilliant. I can see myself in it.


    And my mom waggling her fingers. ;)

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  3. This reminds me of a conversation that I had at this temp job a number of years back. This administrative assistant asked me a few questions and I had told her that I love to write and she simply said "Then you're a writer." First time I ever heard anyone tell me that. I've been practicing a lot lately too. I'm not a social media coordinator; I'm a copywriter. Oh, I needed this reminder. Sometimes I despise the quality of my work, so I stop calling myself a writer (and stop writing). There's no escaping it. I keep going back, even in small ways.

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  4. A writer writes. That's what I always tell people who ask me, "How do I know if I'm really a writer?"
    I say "do you write?"
    If they say "yes,"
    I say "there you go."

    Sorry you're sick again. But I agree: sick voice is pretty awesome.

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  5. Come along, Nevets. We all know you're a writer. This is the blog of a writer, isn't it? Then you're a writer. Of course you are. Even when you're asleep.

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  6. You SO are a writer, and I'll tell you why. You wrote something--Terminal Instar, to be specific--I read it, and I haven't stopped thinking about it since!

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  7. @Summer - The only question is; will I listen to it? :)

    @Shopgirl - Thanks! It's not a usual blogging voice for me, but it's very much like much of my fiction writing. And, yeah, mom with the waggling finger is right there. :)

    @Scott - Here's another formula I tried to take to heart: You don't have to be a good writer to be a writer. I know it sounds harsh, but it's actually a huge relief for me sometimes to remember that I'm still a writer, even when my writing is pretty off.

    @Anne - haha I love it. :) I don't love being sick but it's a regrettably common part of my life -- but less common than it once was, so that's good. And I'm glad you like the voice! You'll probably like my story in Notes, then, at least stylistically.

    @Frances - hahaha I love the way you put it, Frances. :)

    @Bridget - Wow, thank you so much for saying so. That means the world to me; it really does.

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  8. Hell yeah, you're a writer. And you always will be, until the day you decide not to be... and that day will never come, I'm pretty sure of that (and if it does, I'll virtually smack you).

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  9. Wow. This was awesome on so many levels....

    First, I hope you feel better if you're sick, again. Second, my inner self sat up and took notice as I read, and saluted you. Third, you pretty much voiced all of my inner thoughts. Hmmm. Point taken. And fantastic advice/encouragement. Thanks!

    Have a great weekend.

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  10. Nothing like a good kick in the ass. (And a funny read too!)

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  11. @Jennifer - hahaha Thanks, I appreciate the violence in my own best interest! :-D

    @TWC - Thank you so much for your great feedback! I wrote this mostly for myself, but I did it on the blog in hopes that it might resonate with another writer or two. :) I hope you enjoy your weekend, too!

    @Roberta - I'm in favor of both! :-D

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  12. Well said Sir. You can talk to my self doubts any time. I hope you get to feeling better soon.

    ......dhole

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  13. Love it Nevets. I'll take that formula to heart too.

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  14. @Donna - Thanks, and if you ever need a note to your self-doubt, lemme know. ;)

    @Scott - Thanks, I hope it helps!

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  15. on the button, Nevets. If you don't take yourself seriously, no one else will.

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  16. Is this a Nevets beat down by Nevets?

    ReplyDelete
  17. @Michael - So true! And why would they?

    @Domey - Yep. I like me some recursion.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hey, just saw this- hope you're feeling better by now?!? Been missing reading you here there and everywhere- and I swear to Doug(las Adams) if I don't get that card into the mail soon I'm going to photograph it so you can see it and then know at least what it looks like while you wait. But that really would spoil the fun. You can't get the third dimension in a photo. :~D

    Keep writing, Writer.

    hugs
    bru

    ReplyDelete

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