Writing is one of the coolest things in the world. Don't ever let anyone convince you otherwise. It allows the most mundane people to create worlds no one could have even imagined. One book can change someone's entire way of thinking. There are even stories of teens who change their corrupt ways after reading Shakespeare. So never underestimate writing. It has power and wonder beyond our wildest dreams.
But if you want to make a career out of it, it would only harm you to ignore the fact that a career in writing is not going to be easy to achieve. There are hardships that you will face in the pursuit of your craft, and, as much as it pains me to admit this, some of those personalities mentioned in the previous post have valid points. (This does not mean you should let them discourage you.)
But if you want to make a career out of it, it would only harm you to ignore the fact that a career in writing is not going to be easy to achieve. There are hardships that you will face in the pursuit of your craft, and, as much as it pains me to admit this, some of those personalities mentioned in the previous post have valid points. (This does not mean you should let them discourage you.)
I personally think that a career in writing is worth moving mountains, so I've educated myself to some of the things I'll encounter. If you think that being an author is an easy job, that it's guaranteed work, think again.
First off, writers need thick skin. I've had one since I was young because of a combination of high self-esteem and always being a bit different from my peers. I started to show interest in writing sometime around second or third grade, but started to get serious about it early on in middle school. But anyway, back to why thick skin is important. There are going to be lots of different people you're going to encounter. People who love your writing, people who hate your writing, people who hate you and take it out on your writing, and people who don't care. Yes, not everyone is going to care about what you're writing. Sorry. But, let's be honest; do you look at every single book you see in the store, ever? If so, good for you. Most people won't.
Second, writers need to be patient. Writing is a process. Processes take time. Sure, there are people who can crank out short stories in a few hours, and novels in a few months. That's cool; good for you guys. Like before, most people aren't like that. I have written lots of short stories and poems before, but those took time. Novels take even longer. If you like your idea for your novel, and you're okay with taking the time to nurture and develop, then what's holding you back?
Third, writers need to be willing to make sacrifices. This one can take several different meanings. The main one is that, well, it's extremely unlikely that, as soon as your writing goes out into the world, someone will recognize your genius. It's gonna take some time. Which means if you go a year without any success, you can't give up. No way, Jose! You've gotta say, "Hey, you don't see my potential? Heh, sucks for you. You're gonna wish you had taken me when you had the chance. YOUR LOSS, BUB."
Well, you probably won't be that blunt. At least not to their face.
But anyway, I guess the point of that was that being a writer isn't for the faint of heart. It's a wonderful profession, and I personally can't see myself doing anything else with my life, but not everyone is cut out for such a lifestyle. If you're like me, and nothing short of death would keep you from writing, then CONGRATULATIONS. YOU HAVE PASSED THE TEST.
That's all for now. Keep on keepin' on, teen writers! Kelli out.
Second, writers need to be patient. Writing is a process. Processes take time. Sure, there are people who can crank out short stories in a few hours, and novels in a few months. That's cool; good for you guys. Like before, most people aren't like that. I have written lots of short stories and poems before, but those took time. Novels take even longer. If you like your idea for your novel, and you're okay with taking the time to nurture and develop, then what's holding you back?
Third, writers need to be willing to make sacrifices. This one can take several different meanings. The main one is that, well, it's extremely unlikely that, as soon as your writing goes out into the world, someone will recognize your genius. It's gonna take some time. Which means if you go a year without any success, you can't give up. No way, Jose! You've gotta say, "Hey, you don't see my potential? Heh, sucks for you. You're gonna wish you had taken me when you had the chance. YOUR LOSS, BUB."
Well, you probably won't be that blunt. At least not to their face.
But anyway, I guess the point of that was that being a writer isn't for the faint of heart. It's a wonderful profession, and I personally can't see myself doing anything else with my life, but not everyone is cut out for such a lifestyle. If you're like me, and nothing short of death would keep you from writing, then CONGRATULATIONS. YOU HAVE PASSED THE TEST.
That's all for now. Keep on keepin' on, teen writers! Kelli out.
No comments:
Post a Comment