Stupid Seasonal Changes and Writing Meta

[originalpuck]

So it's been pretty warm up here. Into the lower fifties and all of that (according to my dad, at least). But one thing I hate about the different seasonal shifts is that I tend to either

Comments

[moondancerdrake]

Wow I hadn't considered that the temp change might be what has turned my allergies (or part at fault) to a sinus infection over the past few days. It's frustrating with all the writing projects I have going on. Here's to hoping we both get some release soon.

[originalpuck]

A definite 'good luck' all around! From what I hear, the weather will probably even itself out again for a few weeks, so we should get some relief. ^^

[floorcandy]

I hope you feel better soon and that it's just allergies. >.<

As for your point about being a storyteller over a writer, I agree 110%. In fact I even wrote an article about just that on Wibbly Press way back when if you're interested in reading it.

It's hard for some people, like myself, to slot themselves into this crowd of writers who know how to dance with words and seem to draw a more intellectual crowd, even if the story itself is very flat. That kind of thing is frustrating to someone like myself who I think has fantastic ideas, but not the skill set to have it elevated to some fine standard. Sometimes I want to say screw it all, but you know as a storyteller that these things have a life of their own and just need to be let out.

[originalpuck]

I'll have to go hunt for the article ASAP. I tend to agree with your last paragraph a lot. For me, it's not even necessarily the knowledge about how to dance with words that I find troublesome, but the desire to dance with words over telling a vivid and engaging story. ^^;;

[floorcandy]

Well, here it is. (I thought I'd save you a long hunt.) http://wibblypress.net/shimmer/shimmernews/mewriter

I can absolutely relate. Still, I console myself on the thought that a good story is all that counts. :P

[readthisandweep]

This is interesting - I find the suggestion that a storyteller & a writer may not be quite the same thing, fascinating.

The oral tradition, from its myriad sources tends to suggest you have hit on something. I define as a writer, & of course, I'm 'telling a story' when I write it down. But if I simply 'tell' the story, without writing it down, that has to be something different, surely?

And once we commit our stories to paper, do we becomes 'writers' rather than storytellers?

I'm confusing myself! But it really is thought provoking. :)

[originalpuck]

I'm still formulating my thoughts on this, so forgive me if it sounds confused and/or rambling. Also, I've elaborated a bit to Sora here, so there might be something more that I've mentioned there that I didn't think of here.

And once we commit our stories to paper, do we becomes 'writers' rather than storytellers?

I don't think the two have to be mutually exclusive. They can be (as is the case with storytellers who use art, dance, theatre, sculpture, etc as their medium, or writers who prefer to play with the written word than really tell any sort of story), but they don't have to be. Instead, I think it denotes a lens through which one enters the medium -- and also, to an extent, whether that medium is something they work-in exclusively.

I'll have to think on this a bit more, and see about maybe making another post on the topic. ^^

[sora_kainomori]

"You are a wordsmith. Like a goldsmith bends and molds gold into jewelry, you bend and mold words into works of art." This is what my hip-hop theatre teacher has said, and these are what I live by.

When separates a story-teller from a writer? Isn't a writer a storyteller first, then a writer once those words are written down? Hmmm, an interesting topic.

[originalpuck]

Warning: This is a long and rambling comment, written as I thought about it on my wife's computer. It's probably not the most articulate, and I might later gather my thoughts and write an essay on the differences as I see them.

I also think that it's worth noting that some of you seem to be talking about writing in the broad sense, such as "anyone who writes is a writer," where-as I'm referring to it in a specific, wordsmith-esque way. That said, here I go:

When separates a story-teller from a writer? Isn't a writer a storyteller first, then a writer once those words are written down?

Well, I think that depends. This is also a bit related to the quote you showed, but not entirely. I think your quote is interesting, sure, but I think that while some people would consider themselves 'wordsmiths', others might consider themselves 'storytellers.' They aren't necessarily mutually exclusive, but they denote a different intent when turning to the written word, IMHO.

For me, writing prose is my medium, but it's not my only one. I could (