I had the fortune of attending a boarding school in the NE when I was younger, and at my graduation George Plimpton spoke. Afterward I approached him - terrified - and stuck out my hand. I told him that I really loved his work and also wanted to be a writer, could he give me any advice? His response almost killed me. "My advice is don't. There are far too many of us out there already and you should become a businessman or lawyer."
Ouch. I gave up writing for a long time; I certainly didn't have a thick skin at eighteen.
Today I would thank him. I eventually returned to writing after establishing myself in an entirely different field and soon realized something: I gained experience in a lot of different ways - ways that I never would have accomplished if I focused solely on writing. If a highschool kid were to ask me if I had any advice, I would alter Plimptons: do something else, but keep writing.
Rejection sucks; I keep checking my inbox and I shouldn't. But to hell with people like Plimpton, I love my story and maybe someday someone else will!!!!
Ouch. I gave up writing for a long time; I certainly didn't have a thick skin at eighteen.
Today I would thank him. I eventually returned to writing after establishing myself in an entirely different field and soon realized something: I gained experience in a lot of different ways - ways that I never would have accomplished if I focused solely on writing. If a highschool kid were to ask me if I had any advice, I would alter Plimptons: do something else, but keep writing.
Rejection sucks; I keep checking my inbox and I shouldn't. But to hell with people like Plimpton, I love my story and maybe someday someone else will!!!!
