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Article: 'Are we there yet' what did you think?
I am one of those people who never know if my writer is good and so often don't send work out. I let my fear get in the way of my writing. I read this article hoping for some support in banishing this fear (especially since I bought this magazine with the idea to enter some competitions and finally get writing). But this article just increased the fear!
It put more blocks in my head about whether or not I had what it takes to be a writer. The article just said you need to understand the basics but then "too many writers believe they have mastered the technical elements" but havn't I imagine. Then you must understand how to structure the story after mastering this list of basics. And then I guess you "should strive to improve .. basic skills and aim higher".
I was good honest advice but then it's not very helpful to those writers who are afraid. It offers no encouragement or even where you can get all this information from to master the basics etc except of course the writer of the article has conveniently written a book called 'before you write a word.'
I was always under the impression that writing is the way to learn to write. Over the years I've read a lot of writing books but never written enough. This article seems to set very high standards which means that those who are afraid their writing is not good enough will always think that.
The answer to are we there yet must me no and we never will be because how will we ever know if we have got all this right?
I did appreciate some of the advice and also agreed that some published books are quite poorly written. But I didn't find it very encouraging. The writers that have been described as 'there' are Mark Twain and Cormac McCarthy to name two. The others I've never heard of. Are they there? What about modern writers: Joanne Harris? Carlos Ruiz Zafron? Elizabeth Kostova?
Surely how good a book is, aside from the basics, is possibly a matter of opinion?
I just wondered what others thought. Are you discouraged like me?
Comments
I'm fortunate to be part of a writers group who have various competitions, and judged by published writers, so I've been able to see what I was doing right, and what still needed work.
I then set myself the task of improving those weak areas.
We have the OWC here, which is a gentle way of putting your writing out to be judged, but within a safe environment.
But at some point you have to be prepared to put those books aside and get on with writing and submitting.
Rejection is a part of a writer's life, but when everything works and it gets accepted, it's wonderful and makes up for all the no thanks.
Only you can take that big step...
We're writers because we write. What are the basics? In my opinion the first ones are learning decent grammar and how to spell, but perhaps that's naive and/or old-fashioned.
When I get a rejection I'm discouraged - but then so is everyone else.
Don't let it get you down - many of these 'experts' are only self-styled ones in my opinion, and if you read a lot of that stuff you'll find much of it is contradictory.
Just write, sweetheart - strive to improve, yes, but don't ever stop.
I was very, very fortunate that the first time I submitted something for a competition I was shortlisted. This gave me huge encouragement and the confidence to continue - and now whenever I get rejected, I know it isn't because I'm totally useless. Not everyone is so lucky, but I would say that one of the best ways to find out if you're on the right track is to submit stories to competitions that offer critiques.
So, I would say, forget the How To books and get writing and submitting - and accept that you often won't get it right. Doris Lessing said the only way to learn is to write - or something along those lines.
Good luck, be brave and get on with it, Jen. :)
Just write.
"How-to" books can be useful in some respects but they are largely about teaching you to write to a formula. Don't try to do that, whatever you do: it will take the life out of your work and give you no satisfaction.
It is difficult for some people to get over the initial fear of submitting work and the advice given above, to submit for a critique, may be the best way to do it. Otherwise, continue to try to make yourself grasp the nettle. Good luck!
You really need impartial feedback from strangers - and even then it is a matter of opinion. You will just know if they hit the mark.
I suspect you write v well, ;)
what sort of stuff you do? It helps if you get feedback from other people doing same.
I would add to that - it also depends on the judge's personal taste/
Even in our own WM I have noticed the short story critiques - of the winners, that is - follow a pattern.
One competition's meat is another's poison.