Am I a Writer?

Akuma · Aug 28, 2006

Recently, I've come to question my purpose.
Reading the classics of literature, I've lost all sense of why I write. Do I have really anything to say? Can't a story be told for a story's sake?

I've also come to question my humanity. It appears that I lack a fair amount of compassion. But isn't humanity what makes a great writer? If so, how do I gain it? Or is there something wrong with me?

I can't imagine never loving the craft of writing. But, apparently, I have no idea of what writing really is. Don't tell me that I'm not meant to be one--it's the only thing I can do.

Am I really a writer?
Or am I just a sad oxymoron?

LeeFlower · Aug 28, 2006

Do you write? Do you produce written work?

If yes, you are a writer. If no, you are not.

Cath · Aug 28, 2006

The question is, do you put words on the page?

If so, then yes, of course you're a writer.

The craft, and all that stuff is for people who do this for a living - not everyone does. If you want to improve and become that kind of writer, write, read and write some more.

And don't ever try and compare yourself to the classics - they're classics for a reason. You can't reproduce them, but with time, practice and a lot of luck, you might hit on something that can match them.

Just my opinion.

veinglory · Aug 28, 2006

What we are is always hard to define--what we *do* less so.

Cat Scratch · Aug 28, 2006

What? I need compassion? Crap.

CaroGirl · Aug 28, 2006

Writers write, but they also have to live. Introspection and self-examination can be useful, but moreso is taking a genuine interest in people. Who are all these people out there, and why do they do what they do? They are all characters.

Personal experience lends authenticity to fiction, but so does imagination and character study, which, again, comes down to watching and listening to people. We cannot just sit at our computers, navel-gaze and wonder if our purpose is to Write.

Jamesaritchie · Aug 28, 2006

writer

Akuma said:
Recently, I've come to question my purpose.
Reading the classics of literature, I've lost all sense of why I write. Do I have really anything to say? Can't a story be told for a story's sake?

I've also come to question my humanity. It appears that I lack a fair amount of compassion. But isn't humanity what makes a great writer? If so, how do I gain it? Or is there something wrong with me?

I can't imagine never loving the craft of writing. But, apparently, I have no idea of what writing really is. Don't tell me that I'm not meant to be one--it's the only thing I can do.

Am I really a writer?
Or am I just a sad oxymoron?

1. If y0u question yur humanity, you probably have more than you think.

2. Humanity, like pretty much all else, is not something we're born with, it's something we learn as we go.

3. I don't think I've ever met a sad oxymoron, or even a happy oxymoron, so you're probably a writer.

Soccer Mom · Aug 28, 2006

You are a writer. You are also, if I remember correctly, a very young writer. If you are questioning your humanity and your role in the world, then you are more self-aware than many your age. (ETA-and a whole lot of older folks, too.) Just enjoy telling stories for the sake of the story. There is nothing wrong with that.

SeanDSchaffer · Aug 28, 2006

Do you enjoy writing? Do you find it makes you feel good to write? Does the written word constantly nag at your soul?

I don't think it matters whether or not you have anything to say. I think what matters is what writing means to you personally. If you find that writing is something you love to do, or have to do, then I would say you're a writer. Regardless of what you have to say, or what you think Humanity is going to glean from your writing.

Siddow · Aug 28, 2006

Jamesaritchie said:
1. If y0u question yur humanity, you probably have more than you think.

yeah, what he said!

(sorry, I'm shrunk)

J. Weiland · Aug 29, 2006

You sound like a writer, akuma.

Tracy · Aug 29, 2006

Wasn't it Samuel Goldwyn who said "If you want to deliver a message, send a telegram"? Point being that stories are about entertainment, not messages.

Now I don't entirely agree with him - stories can carry very powerful messages. But they don't have to. Sometimes they can just be stories, and none the less valuable for that.

I second everybody else saying that if you question your humanity you probably have it.

I also wonder at your statement that you don't have compassion. Hmm. Very definitive claim.
And perhaps not all that relevant. Sometimes a clear-sighted observation of humans and their foibles can be equally necessary. You will need to be able to write the characters so that the reader has compassion for them - or at least so the reader cares about what happens to them. But do you have to feel compassion to do that? That's a good question.
You know the way showing-not-telling is so important? It would seem to me that a clear-sighted, almost detached description of what the character is experiencing/thinking/feeling could be extremely powerful. Let the READER do the compassionate bit. How 'bout that?

Begbie · Aug 29, 2006

We may need a Philosophy forum. At your age, it's typical to ask yourself tough questions. Try to enjoy writing and improving your craft.

gp101 · Aug 29, 2006

Akuma said:
Recently, I've come to question my purpose.
Reading the classics of literature, I've lost all sense of why I write. Do I have really anything to say? Can't a story be told for a story's sake?

The classics are fun to read. You can learn a lot from them, but remember that styles change over time, and that few of the classics, as published then, would get published today without serious rewrites. A lot more "telling" than "showing" went on in literature before cable TV, MTV in particular, the remote, and cinematic quick-cuts made our society's attention span dwindle to the point that literature has had to address this in the way stories are written.

As for that last line of yours... yes! That's why most of us write. Some story or "what if?" proposition gets under our skin so badly and makes us scratch so much that we feel compelled to write about it. Not every story has to have a resounding "message" or preach to the reader. If you do successfully--without condescending or preaching--more power to you. But most fiction is for entertainment's sake.

Akuma said:
I've also come to question my humanity. It appears that I lack a fair amount of compassion. But isn't humanity what makes a great writer? If so, how do I gain it? Or is there something wrong with me?

Compassion doesn't make a great writer. A firm grasp of CRAFT does. I don't know what you mean by "lack of compassion" but if it's bothering you this much, professional, clinical help would help you more than wondering about your writing. Though in that state of mind, you may be able to come up with a memorable compassion-challenged character for a story.

Akuma said:
I can't imagine never loving the craft of writing. But, apparently, I have no idea of what writing really is. Don't tell me that I'm not meant to be one--it's the only thing I can do.

Am I really a writer?
Or am I just a sad oxymoron?

It's the only thing you do professionally? Or the only thing you do as a hobby/time-killer? Either way, you're a writer, especially if you can't imagine yourself not ever NOT loving it. Improve your craft, and you'll enjoy it more.

gp101 · Aug 29, 2006

Akuma said:
Recently, I've come to question my purpose.
Reading the classics of literature, I've lost all sense of why I write. Do I have really anything to say? Can't a story be told for a story's sake?

The classics are fun to read. You can learn a lot from them, but remember that styles change over time, and that few of the classics, as published then, would get published today without serious rewrites. A lot more "telling" than "showing" went on in literature before cable TV, MTV in particular, the remote, and cinematic quick-cuts made our society's attention span dwindle to the point that literature has had to address this in the way stories are written.

As for that last line of yours... yes! That's why most of us write. Some story or "what if?" proposition gets under our skin so badly and makes us scratch so much that we feel compelled to write about it.

Akuma said:
I've also come to question my humanity. It appears that I lack a fair amount of compassion. But isn't humanity what makes a great writer? If so, how do I gain it? Or is there something wrong with me?

Compassion doesn't make a great writer. A firm grasp of CRAFT does. I don't know what you mean by "lack of compassion" but if it's bothering you this much, professional, clinical help would help you more than wondering about your writing. I'm not trying to be funny or fesitious, I mean if you're losing sleep over your humanity or it has changed your life for the worse, then get professional help. Nothing embarrassing about seeking help.

Though in that state of mind, you may be able to come up with a memorable compassion-challenged character for a story.

Akuma said:
I can't imagine never loving the craft of writing. But, apparently, I have no idea of what writing really is. Don't tell me that I'm not meant to be one--it's the only thing I can do.

Am I really a writer?
Or am I just a sad oxymoron?

It's the only thing you do professionally? Or the only thing you do as a hobby/time-killer? Either way, you're a writer, especially if you can't imagine yourself not ever NOT loving it. Improve your craft, and you'll enjoy it more.

NeuroFizz · Aug 29, 2006

Too many people try to psychoanalyze successful writers, and their works.

Too many people romanticize this business.

Writing takes effort, care, and it benefits from experience (personal and writing).

If you have doubts about your future in this arena, you have two choices: write your way through it or give it up for a while.

If you do the latter, you will know fairly quickly if you are meant to be a writer.

If you do the former, guess what? You are more normal than you think.

NeuroFizz · Aug 29, 2006

I_Shrugged said:
If you go to bed thinking about writing, and you get up in the morning thinking about writing, then you're a writer.

However, this is not a prerequisite, or a necessity, of being a writer. To some people, writing is like a job. They get into it for a portion of each day, but they are able to put it down in the off hours. Writers, like everyone else in this world, should strive for a balanced life. With that said, there is nothing wrong with thinking about writing in those "down hours." It's just not necessary, and for individuals with a family and a day job, it's still possible to be a writer even though writing may not be in the top one or two slots of life's priority list.

Jamesaritchie · Aug 29, 2006

gp101 said:
A lot more "telling" than "showing" went on in literature before cable TV, MTV in particular, the remote, and cinematic quick-cuts made our society's attention span dwindle to the point that literature has had to address this in the way stories are written.

.

I hear this often, but I've never seen any evidence at all to support it. Poeple not only read more than ever before, they still seem to prefer looong books, lots of description, and the same things they liked long before TV was even tought about.

There have always been readers who preferred fast books, lots of action, etc., but such books were also being written in droves long before TV was conceived. I don't see any evidence at all that attention spans have dwindled. In fact, I doubt there was ever a time when so many people spent so many hours concentrating on a single thing. My experience with kids is that they spend far too much time sitting and concentrating on one thing, whether it's a Playstation game, IMing, watching TV, or even reading.

There was certainly never a time when so many people spent so much time reading, and more people read more classics today than ever before. Classics sell today at an astounding rate, and so do modern writers who write incredibly long books that do not follow the fast cut, all action mode of writing.

Kate Thornton · Aug 29, 2006

NeuroFizz said:
Writers, like everyone else in this world, should strive for a balanced life.

It's easy to fall off the scale once in a while and have everything go out of balance. That's when you start questioning your selfness and your purpose. And it's probably okay to wallow in self-doubt once in a while, too.

Then get back to the writing. You know you want to tell that story!

And NeuroFizz is right - strive for a balanced life. That way when one part of it goes south for a bit, you still have the other parts to sustain you. And yes, you are probably a writer, and a human one at that.

Rolling Thunder · Aug 29, 2006

Mickey Spillane, who died just recently, claimed to be a writer; not an author. His reasoning was that a writer's books sold, an author's did not. So, if you're working towards having your book published, to be enjoyed by readers, you're a writer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Spillane
(For anyone researching just about anything....http://en.wikipedia.org: great source of information right at your fingertips)

RT

Zisel · Aug 29, 2006

Do I have really anything to say? Can't a story be told for a story's sake?

Just personally, the idea of writing fiction in order "say" something, álá Ayn Rand*, makes me shudder. Besides, just because you don’t think you put any “great ideas” in your work, that doesn’t mean your readers won’t find any.

If Nabokov counts as writer of classics, here's his take on that:

"For me a work of fiction exists only in so far as it affords me what I shall bluntly call aesthetic bliss, that is a sense of being somehow, somewhere, connected with other states of being where art (curiosity, tenderness, kindness, ecstasy) is the norm. There are not many such books. All the rest is either topical trash or what some call the Literature of Ideas, which is very often topical trash coming in huge blocks of plaster that are carefully transmitted from age to age until somebody comes along with a hammer and takes a good crack at Balzac, at Gorki, at Mann."
-- Vladimir Nabokov, On a book entitled Lolita

You know, he once failed a student of his for suggesting that a writer had described tree leaves as green in order to make reflect a character's mood. (I think that's described in Strong Opinions.) Not everything has to have meaning.

Creating stories can be a form of exploration, too. Robert Frost said, "I write to find out what I didn't know I knew," and the line "I write to find out what I think" is atributed to various writers.

It appears that I lack a fair amount of compassion.

I second what James said on humanity. In what sense do you mean compassion, though? Trying to understand people is different from liking them. Chekhov got frustrated with people, too, probably because he worked with them day in, day out as a doctor. He really knew people. I always got a similar feeling, although with more bitterness, from Asimov (although I haven't read him in some time, so I could be misjudging). Some of Faulkner’s novels are considered classics and he wasn’t known for being a nice guy, he was/is known for understanding the human mind (well, that's part of what he's known for).

So, like the other posters have been saying, you're probably just fine.

Z

*Not trying to pick on Ayn Rand personally, just the general idea of using fiction as a soap box and she's a handy example.

badducky · Aug 29, 2006

I met a lot of people in grad school who struggled to define themselves.

I've sold more books than them.
I'm usually too busy doing to worry about defining.

Rolling Thunder · Aug 29, 2006

Zisel said:
Zisel writes:

Just personally, the idea of writing fiction in order "say" something, álá Ayn Rand*, makes me shudder. Besides, just because you don’t think you put any “great ideas” in your work, that doesn’t mean your readers won’t find any.

[/quote]

A good point. You could write the most simplistic novel ever devised, just for the sole purpose of others enjoyment. Then, someone comes along and analyzises it as having underlaying tones and meanings, that you never intended, and it takes on a life on it's own.

Making your book become even more popular....

A classic in the making....

Best selling book of all time....

And when David Letterman asks you what inspired such a life alternating book.....you'll either stare blankly or hope your marketing people come up with a good response.

Ahhhh.....gotta love those marketing people.
RT

epicfantasy7 · Aug 29, 2006

Simple test to find out if you are a writer

I heard this quote from somewhere and can't remember where. It stuck with me though.

"To know whether you are a writer or not all you have to do is ask the question: Can you stop writing?"

-Will

Am I a Writer?

Akuma

Rare Writer Pokemon

LeeFlower

Lurker Extraordinaire

Cath

The mean one

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Cat Scratch

The Peacock Next Door

CaroGirl

Living the dream

Jamesaritchie

Soccer Mom

Crypto-fascist

SeanDSchaffer

Siddow

I'm super! Thanks for asking

J. Weiland

Lurker

Tracy

Begbie

Quite a character

gp101

gp101

NeuroFizz

The grad students did it

NeuroFizz

The grad students did it

Jamesaritchie

Kate Thornton

Still Happy to be Here. Or Anywhere

Rolling Thunder

Zisel

badducky

No Time For Chitchat, Kemosabe.

Rolling Thunder

epicfantasy7