CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS
MYTHS WRITERS BELIEVE
Writers apply many “myths” to their field of work. Below are my personal responses to a few of them.
- THE RULES DON’T APPLY TO ME*
I’ve have writers who emphatically state that they don’t have to follow the rules: their writing is “so good” that the editors will bypass these rules and publish the piece. They don’t write in the publication’s style. They don’t submit their work according to guidelines. And they don’t understand that these behaviors lead their submission right into a circular file.
- I SHOULD SPEND A LOT OF TIME FANTASIZING OVER WHERE I WILL BE PUBLISHED NOW THAT I’VE WRITTEN TWO CHAPTERS OF MY NOVEL*
People frequently ask me where and how I’m going to publish my novel.
I don’t know. I don’t even know when the novel will be finished—it’s not being written as quickly as I hoped it would be.
I could spend my time perusing publishers, agents, and self-publishing sites. However, to me this is a thankless task—as fast as the publishing industry is changing, by the time I am ready to make a choice, the publishing scene will be quite different.
However, because I facilitate a writers group, I try to remain somewhat up to date on publishing trends. Usually, though, I field where/how to publish questions to members who are currently at that point in their writing.
- WRITERS ARE UNABLE TO WRITE WITHOUT A MUSE **
Huh??? A muse? Hmmm.
Some writers claim they have a muse, or even credit a muse with inspiring them to write. However, I’m a matter of fact person with a science background. It’s me writing, not someone or something else. I’m fully responsible for the result. It’s never occurred to me to turn to a muse.
Note: In the non-writer world, there are not muses so much as ideas.**
- ONCE CREATED, CHARACTERS DO MUCH OF THE WORK FOR THE WRITER **
Some writers concur that characters take on personalities and write themselves.
I tend to seek someone I know and use that person as a model. For example, I suspect that Mary Googins (des Isles) had the same personality as my friend Colleen—uplifting, celebratory, romantic. When I am stuck knowing how she would react to a particular situation, I even call Colleen, describe the scene, and ask her how she would respond.
All the characters in the novel and a short story I am currently working on were “real life” people. As such, I must remain true to their persona, as revealed by my research, or deduce their character from the research materials. Madame Rosalie de Leval is described as an astute business woman, a fact supported by her entrance into Maine land speculation within two months of arriving in this country as a refugee from the French Revolution. I have copies of letters written by her, and others written about her, which provide clues to her personnna.
Note: The work is done by the writer, but by their subconscious rather than conscious mind **
WRITERS ARE SOMETHING ‘SPECIAL’’**
Even if writers are “born, not made,” members of other professions can claim the same.
I can attest to the fact that writers are no better than medical laboratory technicians, human service workers, photographers, or homemakers. Each of those professions were once mine—and writing is no more “special” than the others.
Each person is gifted in different areas. Writers are no more special than members of other professions.
ANYONE COULD BE A WRITER, IF THEY WANTED TO **
Some people just don’t have writing in their giftedness bank.
There are writer wannabes—I’ve met numerous people who have a great idea to write, but they never put pen to paper—or fingers to keyboard. Others might write a rough first draft, and consider themselves done—they cannot be bothered to do the necessary evil deed: rewriting. They figure that’s the work of the editor.
WRITERS SHOULD WRITE ABOUT WHAT THEY KNOW **
If this were the case, I’m treading in turbulent, deep waters. My historic journal paper and novel are based on historic facts I’ve spent years researching—Land grants in Scioto, Ohio and Maine; 1791 Philadelphia, Alexandria, Boston; French Revolution refugees in the United States.
When writers know how to do research and use sources, an entire world of subjects is open to them.
WRITING TALENT IS ALL IT TAKES TO BE A SUCCESSFUL WRITER** or I’M NOT A MARKETER, I’M A WRITER!*
I watched as my friend, Maryanne, sat marketing her self-published book in a mall. She said she was required to do the same marketing of a regularly published book, but her profit margin was considerably different—self-publishing, 60% of the sale price; regular publishing, she might receive 10%, if she were lucky.
Regardless of how you publish your book, marketing ability is necessary to produce sales—and to be a successful writer—if you define success in terms of makng money.
- WRITERS NEED A SPECIAL SPACE IN WHICH TO WRITE**
Consider the laptop. Its blessing and its curse is that it allows writers to write anywhere.
Perhaps, as a child, I learned to “block out” distractions. This was a “must” in high school and college, when I lived in a three-bedroom house with an older sister and four other noisy siblings (the oldest of whom was five when I was high school sophomore), and a mother and step-father who yelled constantly.
Being able to block out distractions, I developed tunnel-vision, which enables me to work anywhere. The laptop makes me mobile. That is the blessing.
The curse of this combination is the self-discipline needed to build in time off. Working constantly is not healthy.
- WRITING IS THE LONELIEST OF LONELY PROFESSIONS**
In previous lives, I’ve been a medical laboratory technician, a homemaker, an abuse counselor, and a child day care proprietor. Each work field could be “lonely” occupations (child day care makes one yearn for “adult” socialization). Writing is no different.
However, writing, like my other occupations, also has a social aspect. Currently I facilitate a writers group. My writing research introduces me to people all over the world, and it opens doors to intriguing relationships. I am now communicating with a gentleman who climbed Schoodic Mountain in Maine—we have exchanged pictures and information. When I next visit Maine, I have another contact.
- REAL WRITERS ARE ORGANIZED***
I’ve been regularly published in a series of newspapers since 1995. I’ve written a historical journal article. I’m working on a historical novel and a historical paranormal short story. I manage five writing blog sites. If that doesn’t qualify me for being a “real” writer, I don’t know what would.
Welcome to my abode. My topsy-turvy, cluttered, mismanaged household. I was disappointed when a picture sent to a messiest room contest didn’t win. I was certain that the room, though not dirty, was as messy as any in the United States.
- REAL WRITERS ARE LEARNED***
As a student, I disliked history—dry memorization of facts and events. Had you told me then that I would have Life, Journals and Correspondence of Rev. Manasseh Cutler, LL. D. or William Bingham’s Maine Lands 1790-1820 or Gallipolis: Histoire D’un Mirage Americain au XVIII Siecle (and I do not even read French) on my coffee table, I would have scoffed at you. Yet, I have a two file buckets and a computer full of research files of a similar nature, needed to research subjects on which I knew nothing about when I began writing.
In photo/journalism, when I have a better grasp of the subject than my interviewee, the only use for this knowledge is formatting interview questions. I cannot use my first-hand knowledge in my story.
I don’t consider myself “learned,” a term I associate with Ivory Tower professors. I just know how to do research.
- REAL WRITERS WRITE EVERY DAY***
Some do, some don’t. Because I am “self-employed,” I can work in the doctor’s waiting room. I can also let life interrupt my work, as it did recently when my son and his family visited. In order to focus on the children—boys almost four and six year old—I set my writing aside.
- REAL WRITERS ARE DRIVEN***
Not more than members of other professions. Some are driven, others, like me, often need a bucketful of self-discipline to approach their work.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Several more myths writers hold as true are listed below, with their website, which has comments on the myths above.
AGENTS AND EDITORS HAVE IT IN FOR ME.
I’M A BETTER WRITER THAN MOST PUBLISHED AUTHORS.
WRITERS NEED TO KNOW WHO THEY’RE WRITING FOR
WRITERS SUFFER FROM WRITERS’ BLOCK
REAL WRITERS AREN’T LIKE OTHER PEOPLE
REAL WRITERS ARE CONFIDENT
~~~~~~~~~~~~
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OF NEW POSTS ON CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS
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Be the person who makes the most comments.
For further details click on
http://carolyncholland.wordpress.com/monthly-prize-for-comments/
or visit the page MONTHLY PRIZE FOR COMMENTS
at the top of the column to the right.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ADDITIONAL READING:
Use of Quotations in Writing: Types of Quotations
Journalism Rules and Professionalism: I had neither!
Eavesdropping—the good and the bad of it
Blogsite or a Website: What’s the difference?
Writing Quality Blogs
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Myths Writers Believe
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CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS
MYTHS WRITERS BELIEVE
I’ve have writers who emphatically state that they don’t have to follow the rules: their writing is “so good” that the editors will bypass these rules and publish the piece. They don’t write in the publication’s style. They don’t submit their work according to guidelines. And they don’t understand that these behaviors lead their submission right into a circular file.
People frequently ask me where and how I’m going to publish my novel.
I don’t know. I don’t even know when the novel will be finished—it’s not being written as quickly as I hoped it would be.
I could spend my time perusing publishers, agents, and self-publishing sites. However, to me this is a thankless task—as fast as the publishing industry is changing, by the time I am ready to make a choice, the publishing scene will be quite different.
However, because I facilitate a writers group, I try to remain somewhat up to date on publishing trends. Usually, though, I field where/how to publish questions to members who are currently at that point in their writing.
Huh??? A muse? Hmmm.
Some writers claim they have a muse, or even credit a muse with inspiring them to write. However, I’m a matter of fact person with a science background. It’s me writing, not someone or something else. I’m fully responsible for the result. It’s never occurred to me to turn to a muse.
Note: In the non-writer world, there are not muses so much as ideas.**
Some writers concur that characters take on personalities and write themselves.
I tend to seek someone I know and use that person as a model. For example, I suspect that Mary Googins (des Isles) had the same personality as my friend Colleen—uplifting, celebratory, romantic. When I am stuck knowing how she would react to a particular situation, I even call Colleen, describe the scene, and ask her how she would respond.
All the characters in the novel and a short story I am currently working on were “real life” people. As such, I must remain true to their persona, as revealed by my research, or deduce their character from the research materials. Madame Rosalie de Leval is described as an astute business woman, a fact supported by her entrance into Maine land speculation within two months of arriving in this country as a refugee from the French Revolution. I have copies of letters written by her, and others written about her, which provide clues to her personnna.
Note: The work is done by the writer, but by their subconscious rather than conscious mind **
WRITERS ARE SOMETHING ‘SPECIAL’’**
Even if writers are “born, not made,” members of other professions can claim the same.
I can attest to the fact that writers are no better than medical laboratory technicians, human service workers, photographers, or homemakers. Each of those professions were once mine—and writing is no more “special” than the others.
Each person is gifted in different areas. Writers are no more special than members of other professions.
ANYONE COULD BE A WRITER, IF THEY WANTED TO **
Some people just don’t have writing in their giftedness bank.
There are writer wannabes—I’ve met numerous people who have a great idea to write, but they never put pen to paper—or fingers to keyboard. Others might write a rough first draft, and consider themselves done—they cannot be bothered to do the necessary evil deed: rewriting. They figure that’s the work of the editor.
WRITERS SHOULD WRITE ABOUT WHAT THEY KNOW **
If this were the case, I’m treading in turbulent, deep waters. My historic journal paper and novel are based on historic facts I’ve spent years researching—Land grants in Scioto, Ohio and Maine; 1791 Philadelphia, Alexandria, Boston; French Revolution refugees in the United States.
When writers know how to do research and use sources, an entire world of subjects is open to them.
WRITING TALENT IS ALL IT TAKES TO BE A SUCCESSFUL WRITER** or I’M NOT A MARKETER, I’M A WRITER!*
I watched as my friend, Maryanne, sat marketing her self-published book in a mall. She said she was required to do the same marketing of a regularly published book, but her profit margin was considerably different—self-publishing, 60% of the sale price; regular publishing, she might receive 10%, if she were lucky.
Regardless of how you publish your book, marketing ability is necessary to produce sales—and to be a successful writer—if you define success in terms of makng money.
Consider the laptop. Its blessing and its curse is that it allows writers to write anywhere.
Perhaps, as a child, I learned to “block out” distractions. This was a “must” in high school and college, when I lived in a three-bedroom house with an older sister and four other noisy siblings (the oldest of whom was five when I was high school sophomore), and a mother and step-father who yelled constantly.
Being able to block out distractions, I developed tunnel-vision, which enables me to work anywhere. The laptop makes me mobile. That is the blessing.
The curse of this combination is the self-discipline needed to build in time off. Working constantly is not healthy.
In previous lives, I’ve been a medical laboratory technician, a homemaker, an abuse counselor, and a child day care proprietor. Each work field could be “lonely” occupations (child day care makes one yearn for “adult” socialization). Writing is no different.
However, writing, like my other occupations, also has a social aspect. Currently I facilitate a writers group. My writing research introduces me to people all over the world, and it opens doors to intriguing relationships. I am now communicating with a gentleman who climbed Schoodic Mountain in Maine—we have exchanged pictures and information. When I next visit Maine, I have another contact.
I’ve been regularly published in a series of newspapers since 1995. I’ve written a historical journal article. I’m working on a historical novel and a historical paranormal short story. I manage five writing blog sites. If that doesn’t qualify me for being a “real” writer, I don’t know what would.
Welcome to my abode. My topsy-turvy, cluttered, mismanaged household. I was disappointed when a picture sent to a messiest room contest didn’t win. I was certain that the room, though not dirty, was as messy as any in the United States.
As a student, I disliked history—dry memorization of facts and events. Had you told me then that I would have Life, Journals and Correspondence of Rev. Manasseh Cutler, LL. D. or William Bingham’s Maine Lands 1790-1820 or Gallipolis: Histoire D’un Mirage Americain au XVIII Siecle (and I do not even read French) on my coffee table, I would have scoffed at you. Yet, I have a two file buckets and a computer full of research files of a similar nature, needed to research subjects on which I knew nothing about when I began writing.
In photo/journalism, when I have a better grasp of the subject than my interviewee, the only use for this knowledge is formatting interview questions. I cannot use my first-hand knowledge in my story.
I don’t consider myself “learned,” a term I associate with Ivory Tower professors. I just know how to do research.
Some do, some don’t. Because I am “self-employed,” I can work in the doctor’s waiting room. I can also let life interrupt my work, as it did recently when my son and his family visited. In order to focus on the children—boys almost four and six year old—I set my writing aside.
Not more than members of other professions. Some are driven, others, like me, often need a bucketful of self-discipline to approach their work.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Several more myths writers hold as true are listed below, with their website, which has comments on the myths above.
AGENTS AND EDITORS HAVE IT IN FOR ME.
I’M A BETTER WRITER THAN MOST PUBLISHED AUTHORS.
WRITERS NEED TO KNOW WHO THEY’RE WRITING FOR
WRITERS SUFFER FROM WRITERS’ BLOCK
REAL WRITERS AREN’T LIKE OTHER PEOPLE
REAL WRITERS ARE CONFIDENT
~~~~~~~~~~~~
RECEIVE E-MAIL NOTIFICATION
OF NEW POSTS ON CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS
Subscribe today!
(to subscribe see upper right hand post on this site: SIGN ME UP)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Win one of our monthly prizes!
Be the person who makes the most comments.
For further details click on
http://carolyncholland.wordpress.com/monthly-prize-for-comments/
or visit the page MONTHLY PRIZE FOR COMMENTS
at the top of the column to the right.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ADDITIONAL READING:
Use of Quotations in Writing: Types of Quotations
Journalism Rules and Professionalism: I had neither!
Eavesdropping—the good and the bad of it
Blogsite or a Website: What’s the difference?
Writing Quality Blogs
Like this: