Have you ever come across a blog post that is full of boasts and rants such as these:
- I’m awesome. I am a genius. Heck, I think I might be the next Tolkien/Rowling/Stephen King. (Yeah. Sure. Have you heard of ‘Show, don’t tell?’ Let your writing speak for itself.)
- I’m a big procrastinator. (Believe me, no agent or editor wants to hear THAT.)
- I’ve written first drafts of ten (or fifteen, or twenty) novels. (No, it does NOT make you a great writer. It is a sign of someone who lacks the drive to complete projects. Again, NOT something that agents or editors want to hear.)
- I hate revising and editing. (Newsflash: No book is EVER published after its first draft. If you hate the process so much, chances are, writing is not for you. It’s okay. The world will not stop turning.)
- I’m in the middle of a lot of things right now. (We ALL are.)
- Today I wrote n-number of words. (Nobody cares. Just get it done and get it out in print.)
- My life sucks. (See a therapist.)
- I hate reading. (Really? So how do you learn what works and what does not work in storytelling?)
While it might be acceptable to feel these things occasionally,
or even to discuss them with friends or helpless pets or long-suffering family members, these
must never, ever be used as attention-seeking gimmicks on the internet. A red flag gets people’s attention, but that’s
not the kind of attention one wants, right?
These are but a few examples of what separates a wannabe
from the real deal. So which do YOU want
to be?
Uhhh... hmmm... let me think.
ReplyDeleteCan I get back to you? I'm in the middle of a lot of things right now :)
Oh, and BTW, my life sucks and I'm a big procrastinator. On the good side, I'm OBSESSED with revising and editing which is why you sometimes see update after update on my posts. It might be a medical condition.
Does this mean YOU'RE back to writing, Swati? That would be awesome! Have a great weekend :) X
P.S. Something weird just happened. I finished writing this comment and hit publish but Blogger locked me out of my blog/account so I couldn't. I had to give them my contact to sign in again. I JUST READ about this on another blog! Creepy. Big Brother. The end is near.
Hahaha....! Your revision and editing process - as evidenced by crossed out lines - is the best part of the blog! Methinks Lady Georgia is smart enough to think one thing and say another, lest treats be withheld!
DeleteYes, I'm finally back to writing. Feels good. :)
Ah, the travails of logging info! Been there, and it's frustrating...
Uh oh... I identify with most of those things. :)
ReplyDeleteBut my dear friend, you don't write that on a public blog everyday! See the last para - venting to friends is allowed! :)
DeleteAnd no, I've never heard you say "My life sucks" even though there *are* a lot of things happening around you! And of course, I can never imagine you saying that "I hate reading!"