On her website, artist and writer Keri Smith generated a lot of blog noise with her list of 10 ways an artist can feel miserable (h/t to agent Rachelle Gardner for referencing the post).
I thought the list perfectly applicable to writers, and wanted to see what you think. I’ve changed the wording slightly to reflect the writing life:
1. Constantly compare yourself to other writers.
2. Talk to your family about what you do and expect them to cheer you on.
3. Base the success of your entire career on one book.
4. Stick with what you know.
5. Undervalue your expertise.
6. Let money dictate what you do.
7. Bow to societal pressures.
8. Only do work that your family will love.
9. Do everything your editor asks you to do.
10. Set unachievable, overwhelming goals — to be accomplished by tomorrow.
So what do you think? Any of these resonate? Anything you’d add?
4. Stick with what you know.
This one hits home, Jim. I had so much pressure from others who will remain nameless to write contemporaries. After all, what did I know about the Regency period in history.
I decided to write what I love, what I was interested in, what I wanted to learn more about, take a risk, and turn it into something unique. I’m glad I did or maybe I wouldn’t have sold my first series.
Nice list. Oh and that compare yourself with other writes can be a real killer.
RE: #10
Have you been reading the goals list on my desk? *-)
I have fallen into all these misery holes at one time or other!
I’m guilty as charged on all counts. But somehow the writing gets done and I move on. What a crazy business to be in.
Jillian, that’s why you got published. You wrote what you loved.
BK, look behind you. The hidden camera is in your copy of Plot & Structure.
Thanks for sharing these gentle reminders, many of which are easy to do, and are then a never-ending source of frustration!
It’s a big club, Clare.
And Joe, would we be writers if we weren’t a little nuts?
I would add-
Feel you have to be perfect.
Let any of the above cause you to give up or quit.
Thanks for sharing that list, James. It could apply to anyone in any profession.I think we all fall into one or another of those pitfalls occasionally. The winners are the ones who climb out (or around, or through them) and keep moving forward.
James asked: And Joe, would we be writers if we weren’t a little nuts?
Answer: A lot nuts.
http://www.johngilstrap.com
This list resonates with me as well. It may be tongue-in-cheek, but definitely true. When my mother realized I was pursuing writing again, she told me she was going through her old mementos & scrapbooks to throw away anything I might find & use because “we don’t need that sort of stuff getting out.” WWWWHHHAAAAATTTTT???? That really took the steam out of my sails for a while. I recently told her that anything I make up will probably be WORSE. 😉
Find it funny how not one, but two rules are about what your family thinks/what you tell your family. I think this is big. Talking too much about your story and getting too many biased opinions would definitely lead to a few problems.
Some people who write thrillers/scary stories tell stories about their mothers/grandmothers critisizing their work. My mom hasn’t read my first novel, yet, but both my grandma’s love it. I’m thankful for that. 😉
Nice work again this week, Mr. Bell.
I totally agree with this. Being a newbie writer, I felt hurt when my husband said to me, honestly, that he probably won’t be reading my book. I had to remind myself that the guy just isn’t a reader–I should expect him to read it. Besides, what I’m currently writing isn’t even remotely close to anything he’d be interested in.
I’m a musician, too, and in the past 3 years I’ve been coming out of my shell, not worrying about what other people think. And it’s been so liberating!
I really like #4, Stick with what you know. I find I am leaning more towards what I know, but trying to branch out. My idea for my next project is way out of the ballpark from what I’m used to and it excites me.
Art is art and if you aren’t willing to explore every facet of it, whether you do well in it or not, then it might not be for you. If you’re constantly going to bend over backwards to make other people happy, you have to think if you’re making yourself happy–most like, you wouldn’t be.
As for the one about letting money dictate what you do, I recently met a writer who had two books out who said that she wasn’t going to write a third unless there was a movie deal on the table. I bought her book out of curiosity, but wondered why anyone would be so high on themselves to think this. Not once in my 8 year music career have I told people that I wouldn’t release anything else unless I had a record deal. I do it because I love it. I don’t make very much money off of it, but for the few people who listen to my music and love it? Well, they make it all the more worthwhile.
I will always create whether there’s money in it or not. I have to do what I love and what challenges me. I hope other artists and creators are like that as well.
Sorry for the huge novel! 🙂 Great post, though!
Every single one of these has a caveat.
1. Don’t constantly compare yourself to other writers, unless, for whatever reason, your goal is to imitate their career and success.
2. Don’t talk to your family about what you do and expect them to cheer you on, unless they always cheer you on regardless of what you do.
3. Don’t base the success of your entire career on one book, unless you’ve only written one book, or, you subscribe to the philosophy that you’re only as successful as your last book.
4. Don’t stick with what you know, unless you’re a creature of habit, write to a formula, and see no reason to change said formula because it works for you.
5. Don’t undervalue your expertise, provided you actually have any.
6. Don’t let money dictate what you do, unless your modus operandi, specifically, is monetary gain.
7. Don’t bow to societal pressures, unless you actually should because what you’re doing would be considered obscene or inappropriate by any unit of measure and would torpedo your career should it make it into print.
8. Don’t only do work that your family will love, unless your family have varying tastes and love books covering a wide variety of subjects.
9. Don’t do everything your editor asks you to do, unless you can understand their logic and can somehow split the difference between their vision and yours.
10. Don’t set unachievable, overwhelming goals–to be accomplished by tomorrow, unless you have a TYPE A personality, in which case, setting these types of unattainable milestones is what drives you and the constant forward motion is what’s most important, not the goal itself.
In her post I found it interesting that she has gotten a far amount of negative response to what is a fairly common-sense list. It was probably her references to breaking away from family that got folks riled up.
My, now former, husband knew where my soft spot was and knew how to go right for it. “Face it, you’re not Stephen King and never will be,” was a favorite. Or sneering about my “little stories.”
Now, in retrospect, I can sensibly analyze this statement and can totally agree with it.
Stephen King is much taller than I am.
I love my Sunday writing lessons. Keep it up!
So you’re saying that the expectation that in three weeks I can write a trend following vampire genre novel that can be compared in literary quality to say, Haruki Murakami (at his peak) and Margaret Atwood (ditto)and will be so monumental in every way that I need never touch finger to keyboard again and that will touch my family and make the masses want to buy it and bow at my feet for the privelege is perhaps a tad unrealistic??! And I had that Nobel acceptance speech all prepared ;-).
The family components are what really ring true for me–especially since I’m (and I imagine quite a few artists/writers are) a black sheep. Family can be far worse than a peanut gallery, because they share your blood and their criticism can draw blood like no other.
Just like someone said above–“write what you love” is one of the most important pieces of advice I’ve ever gotten for maintaining momentum and passion for my writing. I wouldn’t have written a single novel if I’d tried to please my family. It’s okay that my grandmother can’t read my work–at least it will be out there for someone else to enjoy!
Re:Writer’s being Nuts
It’s okay to be nuts as long as you come across as a crazy genius. And as long as there are no squirrels about.
Also remember, that if you possess too many nuts, not only are you a target for hungry squirrels, but you’ll walk funny and not be able to outrun the blasted things….doubly bad if they hire the chipmunks as backup.
damn those mercenary chipmunks…bain of my life
Number one hits me right off the bat, there are so many times I find myself intimidated, especially at writer’s conferences, by other writers, I become certain I will never measure up, never be as polished, never as successful. Have to remember my style is my own and I do love what I do.
Aye, yiy, yiy!!! Bingo!
Most of these resonate, probably the strongest being number one. But thank God, #2 really doesn’t—most of my family is very supportive of my writing. Of course, this might have something to do with the fact that my husband is a composer and my two younger children also love to write.
I would add to the list, “Obsess about the fact that people less talented than you are getting published all the time while you are not.”
Great list. I would also add: Promote yourself by trying every marketing technique used by other authors and know that whatever you do is never enough.
Fantastic list! I often have to remind myself that I’m the only person who can write the story in my head. Nobody can do it better. And not every book is for every person. My science fiction book might have some nerdy worldbuilding, but you know what? It’s for science fiction readers. So yes, do what your love, and don’t tell your parents more than you can handle them knowing.
— Kate at Rhemalda Publishing
Excellent list, and yes, I can relate. I’d also add “undervaluing accomplishments.” Thanks, James!
Great list. Spot on. Every writer can relate.
#5 hits me hardest, though I think I’ve done all of them at one time or another.
This is definitely going on my wall, behind my computer.