Some Wise Words

Feb 21, 2012 20:14

As I read my friends page this evening, I read Catherine Schaff-Stump's post on writer disappointment called  In for a Penny .

My favorite part:
"It's nice to have the award. It's nice to feel validated. But you know why people get awards? Because someone has decided to give someone an award. It's not necessarily a validation of quality (it can be, but it isn't always. Ditto on the whole book making money thing...). Lots of skillful musicians and actors haven't won the coveted awards of their profession. It doesn't make them any less skillful."

Would I like to have an award? Yes! I'd love to have a book with my name on it have one of those neat emblems that proclaim it won this or that award. Everyone would want one of those, but not everyone can have them. There's only so many guys. Worse, there is no such thing as an impartial human. The human type judges have their own likes and dislikes, preferences and prejudices, so that sometimes, oh okay-often, the book they chose makes you go huh? or even WTF?

I have such little sanity left after my life gets done that I can't spend any on awards. My goal is to write a book so good it sells lots of copies. Because how good the writing is really all I can control.

writing biz, writing, writing frustrations

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