Poll: A Question for All Prospective Writers

[manic_depressive13]

I've noticed that there seems to be a disproportionate amount of people, particularly on the internet, who fancy themselves as writers. Even more baffling is when their posts contain deplorable grammar, or worse, meticulous grammar and grandiloquent language. Of course, writing a book is very hard work and not somethings done on whim. Getting published is also no easy feat. Overall, writing a novel means investing a lot of time into something with potentially no reward.

My question, therefore, is how do you feel when you hear people claiming that they're writers, or that they intend to become novelists? Do you scoff internally and assume they don't realise how much effort is involved, or do you take them at their word?

 

[Kae]

I just take they're word for it, since it's not really my problem and it doesn't really affect me in anyway if they are or are not telling the truth I just assume they are telling the truth and move on, no point arguing something like that when it's quite frankly none of my business nor will I get upset or offended if somebody lies since again it doesn't really affect me in any way, shape or form.

 

[Nouw]

I keep an open-mind. They might genuinely mean it after all. I mean, I'd feel a little discouraged if everyone put me down when I said I wanted to be a writer.

 

[Antitonic]

There's a difference between being a writer and trying to get published. Personally, I write because I've got stories that want to be told. I have no intentions of getting anything published at this time. As such, I take people at similar values. They don't really bother me, unless they believe they're going to be published and make millions, especially if they don't make a constant effort.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Well...as for getting published, that seems to be, at least in part, a roll of the dice thing. So much utter crap around, but then so many authors that went on to be bestsellers that say they got knocked back dozens of times.

 

[manic_depressive13]

There's a difference between being a writer and trying to get published. Personally, I write because I've got stories that want to be told. I have no intentions of getting anything published at this time. As such, I take people at similar values. They don't really bother me, unless they believe they're going to be published and make millions, especially if they don't make a constant effort.

But there's a difference between writing and being a writer. "I am a writer" implies you have some sort of qualification, and that you have either made or intend to make a career out of it. "I (like to) write" is more indicative of just using it as a medium of expression for yourself. At least that's how I've always interpreted it.

 

[putowtin]

There's a difference between being a writer and trying to get published. Personally, I write because I've got stories that want to be told. I have no intentions of getting anything published at this time. As such, I take people at similar values. They don't really bother me, unless they believe they're going to be published and make millions, especially if they don't make a constant effort.

Agreed, I write because I enjoy it, but as for being published, I don't give it a moments thought.

 

[FalloutJack]

As with many things in life, it varies from person to person. You see, people can put words to paper as much as they like and call themselves writer. There is no little certificate you can hold up AS a writer to use as a means of distinguishing yourself from anyone else who ever wrote something. There is only the difference between paid and unpaid. And how you got there can be as wide and varied as anything else.

To explain, I have been celebrating a certain natural talent for words since about mid-high school time. In college, I further strengthened these skills and have shared my ability to set up scene, narrative, plot, and characters with my friends for the sheer pleasure of it, though getting paid work out of it would also be nice. I am a writer. I did all the right things to enter the field, plus I take pleasure in my work, which means I have double the chance of staying with it as anyone who pursues the field normally.

This is not to say that anyone with a different background cannot be a writer, but all the variables are different. You can have an incredible background and publish your own works and sell copies of it somewhere...but be incredibly shitty in your prose. Or you might actually be quite good. I don't know off the top of my head. I don't know you. Some people have it naturally and some train themselves up to having it. Many have no asperations for it in truth and some will have no talent. That is life.

 

[Antitonic]

But there's a difference between writing and being a writer. "I am a writer" implies you have some sort of qualification, and that you have either made or intend to make a career out of it. "I (like to) write" is more indicative of just using it as a medium of expression for yourself. At least that's how I've always interpreted it.

The same argument could be made for "gamers". I think, as a matter of speech you'd need to add "professional" to the front for it to be career/planned career worthy.

 

[Nickolai77]

Well, anyone can write words to paper and call themselves a writer. It's not one of those professions which requires qualifications like being a lawyer or doctor. If you kept a blog for instance i think you can legitimately call yourself a writer, but i think it's only justified to call yourself a professional writer if you have been published and made money from it.

It's like gardening, anyone can garden and call themselves a gardener- but if you make a living from it then you call call yourself a professional gardener.

 

[manic_depressive13]

The same argument could be made for "gamers". I think, as a matter of speech you'd need to add "professional" to the front for it to be career/planned career worthy.

Fair enough. To use Nickolai77's example, I wouldn't call myself a gardener unless I did it for a living, but I suppose there's no reason you couldn't legitimately use the term to describe doing yard work at your own home. It seems this thread is based around a semantic issue.

 

[Jonluw]

I am no writer (although my teachers have told me I might have potential [sub]Shut up, English isn't my first language.[/sub]), but when seeing someone claim they're going to write a novel I tend to think to myself that they will probably end up writing half of a poorly written story and publish it continuously on the web.
That is, unless they appear to be well-spoken and have some ideas that sound genuinely interesting.

Spoiler: It makes it a lot easier for me to pass judgement if the writer tells me something about the world his story takes place in

 

[Malkavian]

I wish them all the luck in the world, and hope they succeed. Why would I do anything else? Some people might not seem as fitting for the vocation as others, but neither am I, in my own eyes, so who am I to judge? I have read some terrible, terrible things(My Immortal springs to mind) and of course, sometimes you can't help but think it's a lost cause, that they will never ammount to anything. But hey, so what? They write for their own amusement. Sure, they might generate a lot of hate(especially if we are talking fanfic writers), and it might seem like delusion when they carry on in the face of never-ending poopslinging directed their way, but they wouldn't do it if they didn't get some satisfaction out of it. And, really, that's all it takes to be a writer, if you ask me. That you enjoy writing. Now, you can be a bad writer, but you are still a writer.

 

[Durgiun]

Personally, I don't think anyone can become a professional writer. To do that you need skill, patience, wisdom, knowledge and connections.

 

[Zeema]

i write, but im no writer. my grammer is terrible and i have trouble spelling even the simplest words. but i like to write just to myself about stuff thats happening in my head

 

[Something Amyss]

I usually define myself in terms of "wanting to be a published author." I mean, I technically AM a writer already. I have two completed manuscripts, and I even think one of them's pretty good. Got another on the way. As such, I don't see myself as being fanciful because I'm not really setting myself above what I am. I want to be published, I'd love to sell some books and be known, but it's far from a given.

My view towards others? I rarely judge. Occasionally, someone's completely out in left field and I think they are, but usually, I don't really start to square up their potential.

If someone tells me they're going to be super huge and revolutionise things, then I will likely scoff.

Just like everyone who's going to make it big in film, or TV, or games or music.

Captcha: Have an inkling

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

I try not to let my judgements get them down. Instead, I try to use my logic of their abilities against them. The people who aren't serious shy away, the more dedicated ones wise up. Works out pretty well.

 

[The Funslinger]

I've noticed that there seems to be a disproportionate amount of people, particularly on the internet, who fancy themselves as writers. Even more baffling is when their posts contain deplorable grammar, or worse, meticulous grammar and grandiloquent language. Of course, writing a book is very hard work and not somethings done on whim. Getting published is also no easy feat. Overall, writing a novel means investing a lot of time into something with potentially no reward.

My question, therefore, is how do you feel when you hear people claiming that they're writers, or that they intend to become novelists? Do you scoff internally and assume they don't realise how much effort is involved, or do you take them at their word?

Well, I tend to refrain from bad grammar. The fact that I'm posting on the internet is no excuse.

I like to think I've come a little closer than some, because I actually had a book in publication a while back. Shit happened. Anyway, a writing career will only be the final step for me. Before that comes a tour in the Royal Marines, and an attempt to get into journalism. If all else fails, I can become a journalist for something I have a genuine interest in (like this website) go into private security, become a police officer or work in a gun shop. (I intend to move to America after my service)

 

[The Funslinger]

Personally, I don't think anyone can become a professional writer. To do that you need skill, patience, wisdom, knowledge and connections.

You don't think anyone can?

Surely if that were true, there would be no professional writers...