Today's thoughts on writing...
In the immortal words of one of the greatest creative writing teachers of all time, Brenda Euland: “Be a lion! Be a pirate! Let ‘er rip! Write any old way!”
There’s your next reading recommendation. Brenda Euland. She’s great.
This:
https://www.justinbuzzard.net/2006/09/16/brenda-ueland-if-you-want-to-write/
And this:
https://literative.com/editorials/lion-pirate-writing/
The perception that writers are these tormented individuals that sit at their typewriters, or computers, all day, in a dark room, needs to die. Not all writers suffer from illness or a tormented lifestyles. Not all writers have antisocial tendencies. The perception that you need to talk eloquently, and look a certain way, it’s all a sham. This is the modern day and age, where writers can wear all black and choose not to smoke over coffee. The days where writers can write from anywhere, on most any device, and go out on day trips with their loved ones.
These are the days when you should:
“Be Careless, Reckless! Be a Lion, Be a Pirate, When You Write”Brenda Ueland
WHY A LION?
Because why not, that’s why.
Consider this: lions are considered symbols of courage and strength. Even though the female does the hunting, while the lion sleeps, at the end of the day, if there is trouble too great, the lion steps in. He helps with the larger prey, he helps with protection. He helps eliminate the severe threats that the females cannot handle.
How does this translate to writing? Simple: never back down from a good challenge. As a writer, you’ll face many challenges, from publisher rejection, to lack of inspiration (dry spells, writer’s block, etc.). The minute you give up, is the very minute you cease your title as a writer. To be a proper writer, you have to have the courage to continue, no matter the odds. The strength to keep writing even when it seems futile.
WHY A PIRATE?
What do you mean why?!
First of all, pirates. You shouldn’t be questioning this. Second of all, pirates are notorious for being robbers, taking whatever they wanted, at any given time. In some more accurate tales, they were brutal and cruel. But that’s not all.
Writing for money is hilarious, because you have to work countless hours to make a level of money worth bragging about, and it can take several years before landing a job that really makes you feel accomplished. Fame is expendable, but at the end of the day, no one complains about being on a bestsellers list.
But the adventure, the danger? That’s spot on. Not knowing if one of your stories will make waves or not, spending your days writing from anywhere, at any given time, being able to seek out people that inspire those gripping, addictive tales…it’s all a writer can hope for.
SUMMARY
“Be a lion, be a pirate, when you write.” Have the courage and the strength to keep going when times get rocky. Do it for the adventure, to it for the danger. Thrive in times when others would resort to weakness. Be a modern writer, and leave old perceptions of writers behind. Dress however you like, enjoy bright sunny days if you’re so inclined, and make sure to be your own. Don’t adhere to expectations, set them.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 2001.14 - 10:10
- Days ago = 1655 days ago
- New note - On 1807.06, I ceased daily transmission of my Hey Mom feature after three years of daily conversations. I plan to continue Hey Mom posts at least twice per week but will continue to post the days since ("Days Ago") count on my blog each day. The blog entry numbering in the title has changed to reflect total Sense of Doubt posts since I began the blog on 0705.04, which include Hey Mom posts, Daily Bowie posts, and Sense of Doubt posts. Hey Mom posts will still be numbered sequentially. New Hey Mom posts will use the same format as all the other Hey Mom posts; all other posts will feature this format seen here.
No comments:
Post a Comment