You Are A Writer (A Book Review) · 7:04am Jan 7th, 2018
You Are A Writer
A Review by B.
I came across this book expecting bullshit.
Believe you are a writer and it will be so. You were made for this because you are special, and unlike everyone else, you perusing writing excuses your narcissism. If you're seeking some more validation that is ultimately worthless in the end, please read my next self-help book.
The book is guilty of this but never to an annoying extent. For writers receiving low comments on their stories, I imagine this book carries the soothing words of a caring friend who has been there before.
INSTALLMENT 4 |WRITING
A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON WRITING | YOU ARE A WRITER (BOOK REVIEW)
The main premise of the book is to start writing now. You don't need someone else to choose you, nor will great inspiration be bestowed upon you: sit you ass down and type some words, and maybe, maybe some magic will happen. That, or you've made enough clay to play with in the editing stage.
Jeff is right in saying genius comes from re-writing. You need to have everything on the page before you can start assessing: what your argument is and the best way to convey it. Adding here and taking away from there. There is use in planning what you wish to write, but its application bears fruit only in the re-write because everything is concrete instead of abstract.
You should sell yourself. Regardless of your skill, if you're not hyped about your own shit, then who the fuck else should be? Get yourself out there, introduce yourself with confidence, and, if you truly want to have active readers (the kind that gives us comment galore) then help others. Editing, reading and leaving comments, listening—you name it, just help others.
I'm a jealous and insecure person. The first thing I do upon hearing about someone on the site is to search them up and look at their follower account: so that I know how threatened I should feel. The feeling is made worse when good things happen to good people, people whom I am lucky to call my friends.
This quote from Gore Vidal surmises the feeling:
This isn't the way it should be. You shouldn't be in the game for the views and comments and follows (though they are nice incentives) but for the love of the process. Above the rest, of succeeding friends and your failure to surpass mediocrity, you should keep coming back because writing, the act of creating words and worlds is better than jerking off for the twenty-fifth time at midnight.
Love the process over the results.
Lastly, and this part made the book worth reading, but value effective writing over good writing (whatever the hell that latter means.) The book makes a comparison to construction workers arguing over a drill:
"Harry, that hammer is not good. I see why you would appreciate it, but my tastes differ."
"Well, Lloyd, I disagree. The aesthetic beauty of this fine piece to be far superior to any of its contemporaries."
You don't judge how good a hammer is by its looks: you judge it by its effectiveness. Worrying about good writing invents unnecessary angst. Goodness is hard to judge and subjective to boot, but being effective with your writing sets more tangible goals.
Worry not about goodness but efficiency in your writing.
And, above all, the book hammers in just one point, only one word.
Write.
~ B_25 ~
Inspiring!
I feel like you always write these blogs just for me brother. Wtf, stop stalking me!
thanks for sharing this. It's the kind of things that keeps oneself moving forward.
btw: congrats for the 500 followers
Ohh! Great advice! Hope you take it to heart. Your writing might not be pretty, but sure as hell is effective. That's why typos are bullshit. They're a bad sight AND overrated.
Have a good one.