Comments on: When Writers Don’t Write

By: Maria V. Snyder

Maria V. Snyder — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:42:16 +0000

I like what Anne Groell (Bantam editor) said about writing in a panel once. “Writing is a disease, you either have it or you don’t.”

Lyda, I’m afraid I’ve some bad news….You have it. Oh - and there’s no cure….sorry.

By: Chris Onymous

Chris Onymous — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:46:55 +0000

Try the flip-side questionnaire for a moment:

1) Did you pass up an opportunity (an idea, a resolution of a difficult chapter) to write when you knew you had it?

2) Did you postpone writing - for fun, work, whatever - in favor of aimless wandering of malls or redecoration of external calciferous digital extensions?

No, and no? Okay, you’ve still got the monkey. No one here gets out so easily.

By: Bob Charters

Bob Charters — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:11:00 +0000

The folks at AA advise their people to go on calling themselves acoholics long after they’ve taken their last drink. As long as there is the lingering weakness for the stuff that can spring back to life the moment you catch a whif of it, you’re an acoholic.

I’d say the same goes for writing — unless you’ve managed to write the story to end all stories, and you know you’ll never have the urge to pick up the pen again, I’d advise you to continue prefacing your remarks with, “I’m Lyda, I’m a writer.”

By: SQT

SQT — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 05:42:19 +0000

Funny, I just put a post up about this same topic on a friends blog last week.

I certainly consider you a writer. It’s something you have been successful at and continue to do. I don’t know if 5 days without writing should even make a dent in your identity. Don’t writers frequently have writers block? I don’t think that makes them less of a writer, they’re just struggling along like everyone else.

By: Charles

Charles — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:45:21 +0000

My own personal definition is as follows:

Someone who writes is a writer (me).

Someone who writes and has been published is an author (not me…yet).

But then again when asked what I do, I answer: “Network Administrator” since that is how I earn a living. But I follow that up with: “I like to write.” which sounds kind of silly but I do feel strange saying: “I’m a Network Admin and I’m also a writer.”

I guess I fluxuate between:

*I like to write
*I am a writer

I suppose once I’ve got a finished manuscript out there seeking an Agent/Publisher I will be able to comfortably drop the “I like to write.” part.

I get the feeling we attach more importance to how we label ourselves than how others may react to those labels.

By: SMD

SMD — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 05:38:33 +0000

Don’t fret it. I didn’t write for the last 8 days. Why? I was in England on vacation/holiday. Nothing wrong with taking a break, unless you’re taking a break when you’re SUPPOSED to be writing.

Doesn’t make you a bad person or a bad writer. Sometimes your brain needs a break. Nothing wrong with that at all!

By: Paul Lamb

Paul Lamb — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:02:32 +0000

“A writer” is what I let other people call me. I don’t worry about such things. I simply get busy writing. I don’t think one has to make a living to be a writer. I certainly don’t think one has to write fiction to be a writer. I don’t even think one has to be published to be a writer. All one has to do is write. Franz Kafka wanted all of his writing burned upon his death. By some definitions, he would never have considered himself a writer given that expectation of his. Yet he wrote and wrote. Harper Lee wrote only one novel, but I don’t think anyone would suggest she isn’t a writer because her output is low.

I think the craft of writing is getting sullied when people think that being a writer is somehow validated by selling lots of books. I think that’s marketing, not writing.

By: Barry Holmes

Barry Holmes — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:30:07 +0000

I don’t stop being a programmer when I put away my development tools.

I may not be programming right now, but that doesn’t change the core of who I am or what I can do.

By: Radish

Radish — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:46:11 +0000

Whether one should [or has the right to] call oneself a writer is the same dilemma that artists have to confront on a regular basis. Are you allowed to classify yourself as a writer or an artist, or must you rely on external validation [and permission] for that status?

Hmmm — noms for thought.