(no subject)
Addendum to the preceding post:
In #3, I'm basically talking about people who refer to themselves as writers/authors outside the context of fandom, or other such body of like-minded individuals. The point is basically 'don't lose perspective when you aren't still making a living at it', like all those waiters in Los Angeles: yeah, we know that you're "really" an actor, now just shut up and give us our latte and save being discovered for your lunchbreak, okay?
People can develop huge, gigantic writerly egos without ever having a word published; amazingly enough, this doesn't really tend to help anyone's efforts at getting published. I've done this (I got better), and I've seen a lot of other people do it. Standing up for one's right to call oneself a writer and the dignity of the amateur and all that is a noble, noble thing - as long as it does get to your head and fuck with your process and make you arrogant. Of course, this can happen to published authors as well: see Anne Rice.
Basically, I'm advocating a bit of humility, a lot of perspective, and as much of a sense of humor as one can muster.
And now, orks and cookies.
In #3, I'm basically talking about people who refer to themselves as writers/authors outside the context of fandom, or other such body of like-minded individuals. The point is basically 'don't lose perspective when you aren't still making a living at it', like all those waiters in Los Angeles: yeah, we know that you're "really" an actor, now just shut up and give us our latte and save being discovered for your lunchbreak, okay?
People can develop huge, gigantic writerly egos without ever having a word published; amazingly enough, this doesn't really tend to help anyone's efforts at getting published. I've done this (I got better), and I've seen a lot of other people do it. Standing up for one's right to call oneself a writer and the dignity of the amateur and all that is a noble, noble thing - as long as it does get to your head and fuck with your process and make you arrogant. Of course, this can happen to published authors as well: see Anne Rice.
Basically, I'm advocating a bit of humility, a lot of perspective, and as much of a sense of humor as one can muster.
And now, orks and cookies.