tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post5899809137170627540..comments2023-10-30T15:13:22.680+00:00Comments on Strictly Writing: 10 Myths About WritersDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803989273524731892noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-58268194902096326912009-06-07T14:46:11.201+01:002009-06-07T14:46:11.201+01:00Thanks, Derek!Thanks, Derek!Geraldine Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01575892095296317266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-25075070127039272012009-06-07T13:12:37.724+01:002009-06-07T13:12:37.724+01:00Great to see those myths held up to scrutiny and n...Great to see those myths held up to scrutiny and nailed once and for all!Derek Thompsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-62109488801945031482009-06-07T10:14:57.799+01:002009-06-07T10:14:57.799+01:00Lydia, those statistics from WW are staggering! I...Lydia, those statistics from WW are staggering! It's a huge boost to my confidence to read the figures as I sell most of my stories to that particular magazine!<br /><br />I think I knew too that writing was the thing I would always get into, but no one comes out of the womb a fully-fledged writer, is what I should have said. It's only by practice and by having a thick hide that you will eventually get there, wherever "there" is. <br /><br />I have come across people far more talented than me during the years I've been writing, in writing classes and writers' groups etc. But they've either lacked the perseverance or they've been unable/unwilling to cope with failure and have given up, if not at the first hurdle, then certainly a few jumps round.Geraldine Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01575892095296317266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-71843731103310390002009-06-06T17:06:05.083+01:002009-06-06T17:06:05.083+01:00Fantastic post!Fantastic post!Sarah Foxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-86381195866013815182009-06-05T22:17:53.446+01:002009-06-05T22:17:53.446+01:00Lots to identify with here, Geri. I think that we&...Lots to identify with here, Geri. I think that we're "born" in that we feel a need to set stuff down. Not everyone feels this need to capture in words whatever it is. However, we can learn our craft and in particular how to make it marketable. We are definitely all several cans short of a six pack though. This month's Writing Mag says Woman's Weekly receives 14,000 stories per year and only publishes 300 - if you're not mad why would you set yourself up against those odds? And the stats for novels are even worse. Don't even think about it - I'm going to play with my imaginary friends!Lydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15580243616937466192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-86889633963286252092009-06-05T22:13:42.798+01:002009-06-05T22:13:42.798+01:00So true, Geri.
I do think that everyone has a book...So true, Geri.<br />I do think that everyone has a book in them. Just that in some cases it would take a ghost writer to actually get it on the page.<br />SusiexSusie Nott-Bowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08428000582406338267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-19133604048712876342009-06-05T18:12:50.347+01:002009-06-05T18:12:50.347+01:00What the hell? "I think I'll stick to my ...What the hell? "I think I'll stick to my DIY learning curve." WHere did that 'sat' come from?!Fionnualahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12275984316414726884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-43670101891492571202009-06-05T13:45:39.377+01:002009-06-05T13:45:39.377+01:00"I’d much rather play with my imaginary frien..."I’d much rather play with my imaginary friends than go and work in an office with a lot of nasty grown ups."<br /><br />Oh me too!<br /><br />All of these things resonated with me but especially the one that implies we all have to be mad as a box of frogs to put purselves through this.<br /><br />I've often wondered about the writing 'qualifications'? There seem to be so many people around who have MAs and more in creative writing that sometimes I do feel a little daunted by it. In the end though the best writer is the one who keeps writing. And I've never been very good at writing to order. So I think I'll sat on my DIY learning curve.Fionnualahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12275984316414726884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-87460869080800160422009-06-05T12:14:39.655+01:002009-06-05T12:14:39.655+01:00All so true, Geri!
I hope your Napoleonic hat is ...All so true, Geri!<br /><br />I hope your Napoleonic hat is lined with tinfoil, otherwise I'm afraid it will offer no protection at all from the alien thought rays.Caroline Rhttp://writingandallthat.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-3033373295055105652009-06-05T12:06:02.640+01:002009-06-05T12:06:02.640+01:00Great stuff Geri.
Ouch to number 2. How true. Al...Great stuff Geri. <br /><br />Ouch to number 2. How true. Already today I've nicked two ghastly stories from the news delighting in their dramatic possibilities.Susannah Rickardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14533371458667245083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-71999961980632930972009-06-05T10:33:09.159+01:002009-06-05T10:33:09.159+01:00Sam, I was shocked when I saw how small Napoleon h...Sam, I was shocked when I saw how small Napoleon had come up! But they say he was a little man, don't they? <br /><br />Olivia, I think my last remark makes it clear that I'm not really taking issue with number 10!Geraldine Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01575892095296317266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-48472520556961463282009-06-05T10:17:50.872+01:002009-06-05T10:17:50.872+01:00You stole that Napolean hat...give it back! Me and...You stole that Napolean hat...give it back! Me and my chimp need it!<br /><br />Great stuff, Geri, and so many of these resonated with me.Caroline Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04708248040141519582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-65749616966831970302009-06-05T10:14:25.297+01:002009-06-05T10:14:25.297+01:00Whaddaya mean we aren't glamorous??:)
You are...Whaddaya mean we aren't glamorous??:)<br /><br />You are absolutely bang on with these, Geri - although i think we are born to write. Sounds pretentious, doesn't it? But i always knew that one day i would get around to being a writer, it just took me several decades to actually do it. <br /><br />I'm sure it does stem from an intense love of reading in childhood, but what makes some of us read like that and others not...?<br /><br />Great post (and possibly the smallest picture we have ever had on SW:))Administratorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13894920115299109640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-73388183156740109962009-06-05T09:56:47.036+01:002009-06-05T09:56:47.036+01:00Hi, Geraldine. Loved the post and it all rings so ...Hi, Geraldine. Loved the post and it all rings so true with me. I did a creative writing course in 2007/2008 and for a while it did stifle my creativity dreadfully. I did the course really to gauge if someone else, who knew what they were taking about, thought my writing was any good or not,<br /><br />After getting initially embarrassingly low marks I was all for jacking it in and never writing again. My marks improved, but I felt I wasn't writing what I wanted and it became an exercise in writing something just to please the tutor. I know this is essentially what for we do for editors, but it was clear my tutor's and my opinions were very different, and my writing wasn't to her taste. I think it wasn't 'literary' enough for her. Well I'm not a highbow, literary writer - so that would be why!<br /><br />But I didn't give up. I thought *** you tutor and just soldiered on regardless! I don't think that some of these courses are as good as they are cracked up to be. I think people think if they have a couple of writing or English qualifications behind them, somehow their writing will be tons better and looked at first by editors/publishers over someone who hasn't got the qualifications.<br /><br />Although courses can help us pick up good advice and writing techniques/devices, the writing will always speak for iself. Writing courses aren't for everyone!<br /><br />But a sense on insanity is!<br /><br />Julie xxJulie Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06546678603569056691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-29424581564813658002009-06-05T09:39:23.924+01:002009-06-05T09:39:23.924+01:00All so very, very true, Geraldine! Like you, I cou...All so very, very true, Geraldine! Like you, I couldn't bear the thought of doing a BA in creative writing, or any sort of writing class. I'd be terrified I'd find out all sorts of things I'm doing 'wrong' and would never be able to write another word. The only point I disagree with is the last one. We ARE all mad!! We must be! Look at all the odds against us, and still we say we love what we're doing! We're completely barking!Sheila Nortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13997206301877289623noreply@blogger.com