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Were you always meant to be a Writer?
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I believe I created stories (not lies, honest) before I could read and write. I left school uneducated and spent years developing my skills (not quite there yet) . My philosophy is. If people listen and you can hold the attention of a room in conversation: You can surely write it down and become a writer. Even if what you ( I ) talk is mainly drivel.... Still, I need sales to confirm my standing properly...
From PDL the author of Paulyanna International Rent-boy.
See this question always baffles me when it comes up in interviews - either you are a creater of stories or you aren't. Now actually getting published is different to writing stories at school, to tell your kids, siblings etc. Am I the only one who thinks like this?
Oh I imagine so. I wrote my first story that I rember when I was 12, it was fan fiction...The Man from U.N.C.L.E.! And I kept at that kind of thing all through school but I didn't write my first novel length tale until 24..... But I always loved to write to tell myself stories to imagine myself in other places...I read omnivorously....Yet I majored in Art and got my degree in Painting and drawing. I let my oldest brother who got a degree in English talk me out of English because he said if you think you are going to do any creative writing, forget it. You're going to write critical analysis and essays...and so I studied art...but further down the line I worked at the LA Times..soI actually got paid
I've been writing since I was 9 years old. I wrote my first book when I was 14. I'm 16 now and about to go to college for creative writing. So yeah, I think I was meant to write. Not only for my own enjoyment and the enjoyment of my readers, but to further spread Christianity. (I have a teen Christian series planned out when I finish my fantasy series.)
This is a great question. At school, I assumed that I was the next Lawrence, Orwell or Salinger and was slightly surprised not to find myself writing in a New York loft apartment married to Meryl Streep. Suddenly, in my early 50"s I have started to write. Perhaps it is a case of relaxing into your self.
I also understand that it is of value as a writer if you feel you might have something you want to say to the world. I have an abiding dislike of the idea that our lives might be controlled by supernatural forces, or that there are boogy men or spirits amongst us so I would like to find ways to bring an atheist and humanist perspective into the historical fiction I enjoy writing.
One of the highlights of publishing through Amazon are the reviews. It is fantastic to get feedback, good or critical of the books you write and I wish I could find ways to talk more with readers.
Probably. I wrote my first two novels when I was 13 or 14, but I've been a storyteller as long as I can remember, much to the dismay of my second grade teacher.
Paul wrote: "I believe I created stories (not lies, honest) before I could read and write. I left school uneducated and spent years developing my skills (not quite there yet) . My philosophy is. If people lis..."
I can sympathize with leaving school uneducated. When I graduated high school my 5 years of English classes had taught me nothing more than how to daydream while appearing to pay attention. If I hadn't been a dedicated reader I might have learned nothing at all. When I decided to be a writer, some years ago, I bought a standard English book and The Elements of Style, and taught myself how to write well.
I can sympathize with leaving school uneducated. When I graduated high school my 5 years of English classes had taught me nothing more than how to daydream while appearing to pay attention. If I hadn't been a dedicated reader I might have learned nothing at all. When I decided to be a writer, some years ago, I bought a standard English book and The Elements of Style, and taught myself how to write well.
I've been writing and telling stories as long as I can remember. They mostly faded away after about 50 pages, so I did something practical for a living and ended up writing all the time any way. Even when it's a technical topic, it still must tell a story. Recently I returned to fiction and now my problem is keeping control of the page count.
E.G.The page count will tighten up if you have a beta reader and your own sensibilities regarding what's necessary to tell the story..and what's a tangent that dilutes the focus, the forward motion of the tale.
A good professional editor someone impartial will help when you get to that point.
I wrote my first story in secnd grade, at age of 8. But before that I had wild imagination I could hardly notice dofference between things that were really there and things that I have made up.I triedbto "write" my first book at the age of 9(took 10 blank papers and made "hardcover" with my friend. What a hope!) When I was nearly 12 I started taking it a bit more seriously and started wriing Twilight fanfiction. It was badly written, main character is was a Mary Sue and I never finished it, but I'm not ashamed of it. When I was 12 and a half I started writing my book, and in between wrote o ther syories to practice my writing.
I haven't published anything yet, but I hope I will someday :)
Arabella wrote: "E.G.The page count will tighten up if you have a beta reader and your own sensibilities regarding what's necessary to tell the story..and what's a tangent that dilutes the focus, the forward moti..."
You are so right. I have a great beta reader/creative editor and it makes all the difference!
Posted this on your blog:I was just telling someone else that I feel I've come full circle. When I look back, I can see the clues that were there along the way. I was a reader from a young age. Loved books and libraries. English and Reading were always my favorite subjects in school. Anyone remember racing through the SRA color-coded reading system? Competitive reading! :-) I loved it! My degree is in Journalism, so the writing has always been there, but writing fiction has brought me right back to . . . books!
Darlene wrote: "Posted this on your blog:I was just telling someone else that I feel I've come full circle. When I look back, I can see the clues that were there along the way. I was a reader from a young age. L..."
I went through the SRA system super fast, but I never thought it was a competition, just an opportunity.
Stan wrote: "Darlene wrote: "Posted this on your blog:I was just telling someone else that I feel I've come full circle. When I look back, I can see the clues that were there along the way. I was a reader fro..."
Stan, I'm sure it wasn't meant to be a competition, but in my school, there was a bit of a race to move to the next level! :-)
What was the question....Oh yes... has fate marked me out to be writer?
This is a very decent Shiraz... only 12.5%... oh look a picture of a cat... I wonder if I can claim industrial injury for repetitive strain on the 150 words I have just written... oh a puppy in a hat... this Shiraz gets better by the glass.... my gay dwarf character is really fleshing out well.... Who Would Fardles Bear, what a brilliant book... I must find the writer and leave a bad review on Amazon.....
I started creative writing in gradeschool. Been a storyteller all my life. Began writing novels at 14. Nevertheless, I have never been so naive to believe I was "meant" to be a writer. Nothing is meant to be. Writing is never ordained nor predestined by some delusional divine decree. It's a simple choice to sit down and do the work.
If you turn to writing when you feel something welling up inside of you that can only be put to rest with pen and paper, you are a writer.
I don’t know if I was meant to be a writer. But I do know I’m at my happiest now that I am. :)
I don't think I was meant to be a writer! I always loved sports, especially tennis. However, I just started writing a few years back and now I love it. In fact, I combined my love for sports with writing! I'm currently writing an inspirational sports book right now, kind of similar to the Blind Side. Can't wait to share it with you! I'm glad I became a writer.-Nihar
www.niharsuthar.com
Writers have certain mental characteristics.They are observant and cognizant of small details.
They can absorb a large quantity of data and boil it down to essential and pertinent facts.
They have ideas they are compelled to share.
They don't just act and react in life; they think, consider, analyze, comprehend and imagine.
If you were to list all of the characteristics of the typical writer, and then consider that some people are born with all or most of these characteristics, then you could say some people are born to be writers.
It may never occur to them, or they might not embrace the idea. Writing is much harder than a non-writer would assume it to be. They may find other outlets in which to employ their curse—I mean, gift.
I wrote a tribute to storytellers that you can view on my GR blog if you think the legacy of storytelling might interest you.
I agree with LoukiaIf the only way to express what's welling up inside is by writing...instead of music or painting, let's say...I think you're born to be a writer
The rest of us find writing one way to express or interact with the world outside and the inner world of our imagination..
Interestingly enough, someone just asked me a variation of this same question in my Author Q&A here on GoodReads, and I eventually turned my response into a blog post. For what it's worth, here's a link:http://lageose.wordpress.com/2014/02/...
I was born to never shut up. Whether it be words or other art. Can't stop me :)
Dannielle wrote: "I was born to never shut up. Whether it be words or other art. Can't stop me :)"LOL, Dannielle!
Ken wrote: "Paul wrote: "I believe I created stories (not lies, honest) before I could read and write. I left school uneducated and spent years developing my skills (not quite there yet) . My philosophy is. ..."How fortunate WE were to learn how to day dream properly whilst the rest of our class mates were constantly interrupted by teachers. I suppose they didn't want to wake the sleeping tiger (I was a brat) and left me to it... I do regret not learning spelling, grammar and punctuation BUT as we are advised to enlist the services of an editor anyway, I suppose it matters not.
no I was meant to be a bassist in a punk band, though I would write the lyrics. Didn't happen. Then I turned my hand to writing plays for the theatre, but they were way too out there for the thespians bless 'em. They didn't like that my plays were about manipulating their bodies to shape the 3-dimensional stage space. So I turned to novels and seeking to pursue similar formalist innovations and you know what, I think I've finally found my place :-)
Paul wrote: "I do regret not learning spelling, grammar and punctuation BUT as we are advised to enlist the services of an editor anyway, I suppose it matters not. ..."
Well, I disagree there. You not only should learn all the tools of your trade, but you should WANT to learn them. After I honed my writing skills I also honed my editing skills writing short stories. I'm always looking for something to cut, something that could be said more economically, and I'm not sure that an editor other than the writer should do that for fear that it'll change the focus of what the author was trying to say. If you absolutely can't edit your work, then by all means hire an editor, but don't take his opinion as the final word.
Well, I disagree there. You not only should learn all the tools of your trade, but you should WANT to learn them. After I honed my writing skills I also honed my editing skills writing short stories. I'm always looking for something to cut, something that could be said more economically, and I'm not sure that an editor other than the writer should do that for fear that it'll change the focus of what the author was trying to say. If you absolutely can't edit your work, then by all means hire an editor, but don't take his opinion as the final word.
Ken wrote: "Paul wrote: "I do regret not learning spelling, grammar and punctuation BUT as we are advised to enlist the services of an editor anyway, I suppose it matters not. ..."Well, I disagree there. Yo..."
interesting point. I find that some other writers complain about the challenging language in my writing and needing a dictionary. Now I totally get that having to refer to a dictionary pulls you out of the book, but really why wouldn't an author be interested in discovering new words? Part of the craft even if you never use any of them in your own writing.
When you're writing you don't even have to leave your MS if you need a definition or a synonym for a word you just used. Just right click on the word and it's there at your fingertips. Writing is so much easier now, there's no excuse for not taking advantage of the right tools.
Ken wrote: "When you're writing you don't even have to leave your MS if you need a definition or a synonym for a word you just used. Just right click on the word and it's there at your fingertips. Writing is..."that's very true, though there are certain words that even online tools don't provide
I wrote my first short story when I was twelve and wrote many more throughout middle school and high schoolto the delight of my fellow students and teachers. I then went out into the job market and forgot everything I had ever learned in school. Ten years ago, after becoming unemployed, I decided to try and get back into the writing. I have failed miserably, even though I've written several books. I just cannot seem to get back the style and imagination I had when I was younger, or maybe I never really had it, and they were only impressed back then because I was so young, yet I wasn't too lazy to not finish a story.My hard-learned lesson: The ability for one to write a story, or to tell a story, does not automatically translate into the ability of others to enjoy said story. Just because you can read and write and talk and spend your time telling stories, doesn't mean you're a good writer or even a decent storyteller. And that isn't likely to change if you don't continually evolve your education. Even with a thesaurus and dictionary at your fingertips, you still have to put the words in the perfect order to make them flow for the reader. I think it is likely that many people who believe themselves to be really good writers will simply never develop the skills to become an accepted writer, no matter how long and hard they try.
Dalton wrote: "I wrote my first short story when I was twelve and wrote many more throughout middle school and high schoolto the delight of my fellow students and teachers. I then went out into the job market and..."This is true Dalton, but for many of us, the satisfaction of finishing that first novel is greater than all the rest of what we have achieved. I have ran across terrible writing that has been written by writers who are totally satisfied with their work, and for them, that is enough.
That is true, Stan. I remember how excited and proud I felt after I finished writing my first novel. It was a feeling of accomplishment I had never felt before and wouldn't have believed possible. After my fourth, however, as an unemployed writer who was still not selling many books, I found myself eying my depleted bank account and wondering how I was going to feed myself the following week. I wasn't trying to discourage anyone. I just wonder if there should come in all of our lives, a moment of self-realization and evaluation when we make the decision to either stop striving for a possibly unattainable dream, or continue to delude ourselves. Saying "I am a Writer/Author" is not the same as being able to say "I am a famous writer/author" or "I am a well-read author" or even "I am a good Writer/Author". While saying "I am an writer" may be enough for me, it is hardly enough for the numerous readers out in the world who must tirelessly sort through masses of garbage to find the rare, overlooked gems.
I started writing dialogue for my stick-figure cartoons when I first got out of diapers. I put together my first novella in sixth grade, and began writing sagas after graduating eighth grade. I nearly published Hezbollah in the 90's, but remained unsuccessful until Tiara went to press in 2003. I'm sure that if a kind soul was to put a tombstone on my resting place, it will have an epitaph: AUTHOR.
Dalton wrote: "That is true, Stan. I remember how excited and proud I felt after I finished writing my first novel. It was a feeling of accomplishment I had never felt before and wouldn't have believed possible. ..."Very true, Dalton. I wish we could all say, "I am a writer who doesn't have to hold down another job!"
I'm luckier than most, because I am retired.
I don't really think of it as I was always "meant to be a writer." But I've wanted to be a writer since I was 7 (grade 2). Creative writing was my favorite part of school. I remember a bunch of my stories still. The Heart that Got Lost, The Land of Shapes, The Bird with No Nest. But I was an excellent math and science student more than anything else, so I went on to study engineering. I always planned to write a novel one day and started the first one when I was 24 (which will never see the light of day).
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Books mentioned in this topic
The Elements of Style (other topics)Girl on a Train (other topics)
The Evil Beneath (other topics)
The Blog of A J Waines: author of Girl on a Train and The Evil Beneath:
Both reached No 1 in 'Murder' and 'Psychological Thrillers' in UK Kindle charts.