The external validations are really interesting, and they do often seem to serve as a catalyst, not just for more writing, but for self identification as a writer. For you, getting an agent; for me and Sharon, getting an EC on the OWW; for Mike, winning a prize in the WotF; for others, their first publication. We really do need others to tell us that we don't suck, which is one reason, I guess, why our community is so important.
Thank goodness our community is not full of people who tell us that we suck!
Oh the EC for me was a wonderful experience, as well. Unexpected and inspiring, and I recall being elated for weeks after. So in some sense, Charlie is basically responsible for everything I've done.
But I'm a very materialistic, pragmatic person. :( I probably won't actually consider myself an okay writer until something sells through its first printing. Who knows when it will happen.
Oh yeah, Charlie's been a wonderful mentor for me, too. I still go to him with all my questions.
And materialistic, yes! My family didn't really start asking me about writing until after the first time they went to Barnes & Noble to buy a magazine with my story in it.
Maybe we keep setting ourselves new markers of validation: the first EC, the first published story, the agent, the first book deal, the first sell through...
I think entertainment industry professionals are shortchanged in the validation department. We have no minimum standard of quality but if we fails to deliver, there is hell to pay. A human resources generalist might proudly point to the number of people he hired. And accountant can demonstrate the amount of forms filed. We have only the most vague of quality markers: reviews and sales. One is almost forced to turn to sales as an indication of performance, because the reviewers so often tend to be at odds with themselves and sales figures*. But even sales are a poor indicator: Crichton sells a ton of books, yet I can't stand his writing.
In other words, Holy writing, Batman, we're so screwed.
Ilona
(*Which means in my case that I will have to wait almost two years untilt he first sales reports. I will go mad. )
7 - pen and paper
12 - typewriter (manual not electric)
19 - word processor
21 - PC
Have been at it ever since. When did I get serious? Very hard to say. I just sort of sank into it.
When did I start thinking of myself as a writer? When I got an agent. It went somewhat like this, "Huh. I guess I don't suck thaaaat badly."
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Thank goodness our community is not full of people who tell us that we suck!
Reply
But I'm a very materialistic, pragmatic person. :( I probably won't actually consider myself an okay writer until something sells through its first printing. Who knows when it will happen.
Reply
And materialistic, yes! My family didn't really start asking me about writing until after the first time they went to Barnes & Noble to buy a magazine with my story in it.
Maybe we keep setting ourselves new markers of validation: the first EC, the first published story, the agent, the first book deal, the first sell through...
Keeps us going, I guess!
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In other words, Holy writing, Batman, we're so screwed.
Ilona
(*Which means in my case that I will have to wait almost two years untilt he first sales reports. I will go mad. )
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