Is writing

[chonsigirl]

You can always write, even when working another type of job. If that is what you want to do, you should write as much as possible.

[jones jones]

lucy x;856235 wrote: a real occupation? I've been told I'll never get anywhere by just writing, even though it's all I want to do.


hi lucy ...

oh yes ... writing cerainly IS a very real occupation and yes you certainly will get somewhere just writing .... BUT ... and there is a very very big but ...

it takes a great deal of sacrifice and a great hunk of discipline ... you have to be prepared to write ... write ... write .. write ... think writing ... eat writing .. drink writing ... and keep writing ...

you have to be prepared to write when you don't really feel like writing and to write even when every word you type is a struggle ... then after you have written a page to delete everything you think is brilliant and then start over again ...

i have been writing since i was 12 years old and i too have never wanted to do anything but write ... i cannot conceive of not writing again ... i write poetry ... short stories and i have written only one full length novel which is now in search of a publisher ...

there are several good writing forums on the internet and if you would like me to put you in touch with them just shout ... i would also like to have a look at something you have written ... that is if you would like some critique ...

in any event good luck and please don't ever allow anyone to tell you that you will get nowhere with writing ... you will ...

just remember this ... writers write ... right!!!!

Jj:-4

[spot]

If you look at the best-seller fiction list you'll find the names of people who can write and make a living at it, so it evidently can be done. I even know someone who once met a professional writer who made a living as an author of fiction.

Take a village hall full of 100 literate school-leavers. One of them will earn a hundred million dollars from writing, the others will earn a total of a hundred thousand dollars between them from writing. That's an average lifetime income of a million dollars each, and all but one will have an average lifetime income of a thousand dollars from writing. Would you encourage them all to put in the ten years hard effort before they start being considered by agents, or would you tell them it's best kept as a hobby activity?

[CARLA]

If your getting paid for your writing then it is an occupation. If your not keep writing till it is. You may have to find a part time occupation till your writing becomes a full time occupation.

[jones jones]

CARLA;856312 wrote: If your getting paid for your writing then it is an occupation. If your not keep writing till it is. You may have to find a part time occupation till your writing becomes a full time occupation.




my sentiments exactly! very well put!

Jj:-4

[Dewey2Me1MoThyme]

I've written one book, started a few others, and have never published, although I have a very dear friend who has her own publishing company. She has asked me to send her my manuscript for my first book, but I have this deep problem with failures. I wish I had the nerve to just dew it as writing has always been my passion.

Dew

"Anything worth dewing is worth dewing well"

[jones jones]

Dewey2Me1MoThyme;856424 wrote: I've written one book, started a few others, and have never published, although I have a very dear friend who has her own publishing company. She has asked me to send her my manuscript for my first book, but I have this deep problem with failures. I wish I had the nerve to just dew it as writing has always been my passion.

Dew

"Anything worth dewing is worth dewing well"




jeez dew ... i should be so lucky as to have a PUBLISHER friend!!!

very difficult to get published as most of them won't look at manuscript unless it comes from an agent ...

and you just gotta find the right agent at the right time or else they too won't even look at your work ...

anyway thats my experience ..

Jj

[Chezzie]

lucy x;856374 wrote: Thanks everyone =D

I've been writing seriously ever since I was 10, although I was always making up stories and scribbling down stuff when I was a small child.

I always wanted to write biographies of significant characters of the Holocaust, such as Anne Frank and Miep Gies etc.

I have times when I'm really focused and I can write pages and pages on end but then I read through and I see it's all utter crap. I rarely produce something I'd show to anyone lol.

*goes and hunts for piece of writing*


practice on us Lucy :-6

Why not create your own journal here like others have done and share your writing skills that way too

[chonsigirl]

You do not need an agent to send out your work, it depends on what your write. I have about 150 poems/haiku published in the last 3 years, and I send them out myself to different places. You just need to be informed where to send them to, what the specific publisher is looking for, and everytime you get a rejection just send out to another publisher. Persistence is the key word, and to keep writing through the whole process. For my historical stuff, that is a different genre, I write and publish a few articles/chapters a year, book stuff takes a few years every time you send one out. Plenty of books out where to send your work, and lots of links online also for whatever you write, if you are serious about publishing.

[jones jones]

Chezzie;856469 wrote: practice on us Lucy :-6

Why not create your own journal here like others have done and share your writing skills that way too


and lucy ... in your spare time go to the arcade and get higher scores on all the games chezzie plays .... please!!!! :wah:



Jj:-4

[Hope6]

Hi Lucy!:-6

i too have been writing stuff since i was a child but having a horrible fear of rejection i have never tried to publish anything.

There are only 1 or 2 people who have ever read anything i have written!

all i can say is if you're serious about being a writer, don't fear rejection as i have always done. There has been some excellent advice given on here, don't be afraid to let your work be read. if you are rejected don't give up! and always keep on writing!:-6

btw. welcome to Forumgarden!:)

[Patsy Warnick]

Lucy

I'm jealous - what a great talent/art.

Carla said it best - keep writing and good luck

Patsy

[chrisb84uk]

First off welcome to FG Lucy!



Secondly as everyone before me has said you definately could have writing as a full time occupation, but it will need a lot of effort, dedication and believe. I've done a few small odd pieces of writing during my teenage days and like you I felt they were pretty rubbish at times, but at the time for me, it was more about fun and enjoyment than a need.



As long as you have a variety of ideas and thoughts about what to write, and the belief that even during times when it's hard to put pen to paper (or finger too keyboard,) that you will get through it and come out in the end with something you are happy with. And of course, have fun. As long as it's something you enjoy doing with a passion, then all the better! :-4



As Chezzie said, you are always welcome to post any work or questions you have up here, and I'm sure everyone will be happy to give you advice/feedback as required! Best of luck to you! :-6

[LadyLiadrin]

You can be a full-time writer, but unless you're coming from serious money, you're not going to be able to start as a full-time writer.

The good news is that you don't have to do it like Kafka, i.e. work at a miserable job during the day and write your books by candlelight. You can train for a job which will enable your writing, via practice and contacts.

Here are some ideas:

1) writing for a magazine. It's a different kind of journalism from the fast-paced news world: you'll have time to thoroughly research topics, possibly travel, and produce highly polished pieces of writing. The bonus: some magazines review new books on a regular basis, so you'll get to know the reviewers, discuss your writing with them, etc. Plus, when you do decide to try publishing something, you'll have already built a resume.

2) working for a publishing house, perhaps as an editor. Helping other people improve their manuscripts will, in turn, help you refine your own writing. Obvious bonus: you get to know the market/who would be receptive to your writing, and you make excellent contacts.

Something that goes hand in hand with professional writing is teaching Creative Writing. While some departments relegate CW classes to some of the regular staff, most have positions for a resident writer or two. Knowing where your next paycheque is coming from while doing something related to your main interest is definitely worth considering

Last, but not least, I would recommend some formal training. College can't turn a hopeless writer into a brilliant one, but can polish raw talent and open up windows to things which are difficult to discover on one's own. Don't forget that a good writer is an excellent reader - the more you know and the better you understand your predecessors, the more depth you can add to your writing.

Also, look around the internet for example of how NOT to write: you'll see tremendous amounts of just horrible writing, simplistic, empty, common. You'll also see people without a clue admiring that kind of writing and encouraging people who just don't have it in them. Find yourself a tough mentor and grow a tough skin: whatever they may say will hurt at the time, but, assuming it's constructive, it will help you become a better writer. No one gets good at something by being constantly praised - someone needs to point out your mistakes and help you rise above them.