Thanks, Alex J. Cavanaugh and his mighty helpers:
LG Keltner,Donna Hole, Lisa Buie-Collard and SL Hennessy!!!
“Writing is something you do alone. Its a profession for introverts who want to tell you a story but don't want to make eye contact while doing it."
[Thoughts from Places: The Tour, Nerdfighteria Wiki, January 17, 2012]
The last month has reminded me that this quote isn't quite true. We might spend many hours. . .okay, a plethora of time. . .putting down all those words, pulling out our hair, staring at the computer screen or simply mumbling to ourselves. But this is not a job we can do alone (even if most of us are introverts to the highest degree).
We need others to give suggestions, critical eyes or simply lend an ear as we talk things through - even if it's basically to ourselves. CPs and Betas are worth their weight in gold, but even more valuable are the people who believe in you when you cease to believe in yourself.
Those are the people a writer really can't do without.
Thanks for the post! I agree, writing can be super lonely! So lonely that sometimes you feel like you're the only one doing it. Thanks for the reminder that there are so many of us out there, and we're in this together, and we can't do it alone. Eye contact optional...
ReplyDeleteI love the quote, but you are right, we can't do it alone.
ReplyDeleteWe can't do it alone at all! We need help at every stage.
ReplyDeleteSo, so true! It really does take a village to raise a book. And I certainly wouldn't exist as a writer if I didn't have wonderful friend and betas like YOU! :-D <3
ReplyDeleteGoing it alone would be too much for this kid. Thanks for reminding me of that!
ReplyDeleteJonathan - maybe quick glances ;)
ReplyDeleteJenn - Luckily, we don't have to.
Alex - Good thing there's a lot of us then!
Ilana - Aw! Ditto :)
Joylene - Just remembering it seems to add a nice little shove in the right direction.
This reminds me of what a writing professor told me in college. You might write on your own, but you have to come out of your shell in order to share that writing. We really can't do it alone!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. Sometimes we need alone time, and other times we need support. Happy blogging!
ReplyDeleteYes, I completely agree. I may write most of my work alone, but I need critique, encouragement, and help. Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteIt does make a difference. Even if it's just my siblings reminding me of how often I freak out. We forget these things. And even just trying to explain what my story is about to someone else helps me tremendously. It organizes the old brain, you know. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is so true. I'm definitely an introvert, but every writer needs feedback. We're too close to our own work to look at it objectively. We need an audience to point out where our work excels and falls short.
ReplyDeleteWriting is about wanting so badly to tell a story that we introverts will risk looking someone else in the eyes just to get them to read it. And yes, CPs and beta readers are super important.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you fully. Writing can be done alone, but we all need help perfecting our written work. That is a lesson I have learnt recently. The feedback was invaluable and helped my writing so much. Thank you for stopping by my blog and for commenting.
ReplyDeleteLove the quote! But I love your take on it more, we really can't do it alone. I'm feeling stuck at the moment and I think this was the reminder I needed, I must turn to my support buddies for a lil input. You rock! :)
ReplyDeleteS.K. Anthony: My Writing Quirks—IWSG (16)
Yes, we can't do it alone, and while many of us are introverts, we don't have to be lonely and we can learn to make eye contact, too. ;)
ReplyDeleteI agree full heartedly that we can't do it alone. That's why critique groups, writing classes and conferences is essential!
ReplyDeleteI can actually really relate to that quote; I don't' want to look ANYBODY in the eyes! :-)
ReplyDeleteI am so bad at eye contact! People probably think I'm sneaky.
ReplyDeleteMichelle - smart professor!
ReplyDeleteS.L. - Lol! Without at least a few minutes of alone time, I'd never get anything done.
Tyrean - Where would us writers be without that :)
Krystal - I just talk at my hubs about my stories. I don't think he listens one bit, but that's okay. It's just hearing myself talk which helps.
L.G- It is impossible to step back, isn't it?
Ken - good thing there's internet. . .not so many eyes to look into.
Murees - Those extra eyes are the most important help we can get.
S.K. - But those buddies!
Dianne - But only a little at a time, okay?
Donna - They are kind of fun too. ;)
Mina - Eyes are scary.
Elizabeth - Oh...you aren't sneaky??? :)
I think it's something a lot of us would like to do alone - wouldn't it be lovely, scribbling away in our garrets and just feeding our output to someone else to sort out the horrible stuff, the marketing and talking to people and everything? But, you're right, without support and feedback our work would probably not be as good as it could or should be. (Even if we'd like to think otherwise)
ReplyDeleteThat is SO true! We may write alone but we need a support system around us to get us through those tough times.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! It's similiar to something my Creative Writing professor used to tell us.
ReplyDelete