Epimetheus, everyone here has given you very good advice. I’d just like to add one of my pet peeves about attitudes toward art. This arrogant fuck has confused talent with skill.
It may be true that you are born with an unchangeable amount of talent. But all the talent in the world with no skill will get you nowhere. Lots of people seem to think that you’re just born a good musician, a good writer, a good painter, when in fact what you see is the result of years and years of hard work and practice by the artist.
Also, you rarely hear about the importance of talent in other kinds of work–but a person might have a real genius for fixing cars, or building chairs, or whatever. Of course, if that person never actually learns anything about fixing cars, that talent is worthless. On the other hand, someone who works hard at learning the skills will do a good job, maybe even a great one, by virtue of their hard work. I think writing and music are the same way. Sure, you might get farther if you have this nebulous “talent” to back you up, but talent by itself won’t get you far.
And who’s to say how much talent you have or don’t have? It’s not like there’s a blood test you can take that shows you your talent levels. One’s talent for writing novels (or whatever) is certainly not obvious from a few short message board posts. I agree with other posters, you’ve unintentionally hit some nerve with this guy–ignore him. Keep working–it’s obvious you’ve worked very hard and made a lot of progress already. Keep going.
On a related note (talent/encouraging one to go after their dream), my husband (who they would NOT ALLOW to sing in the school chorus) is about to quit his day job as a corporate Vice President to make a living playing his guitar and singing. He is a man of enormous talent and drive, and if he’d listened to some dumbfuck like that years ago, he would not be going after his dream.
His music was pretty good a year or two ago, so-so before that, and now (after a long period of LOTS of practice and working out the finer details), he is an outstanding musician.
I think of your circumstance in the same way. You have this thing (writing) that you want to develop. You have some great points (maybe story content or voice), some points to work on (spelling and grammar), and the drive to succeed. So get to work and never, EVER let someone tell you that you’re not good enough.
This guy has what I call “crab in the bucket” syndrome. Like crabs will claw back an escaping brother, so will people at times. Don’t let them do it to you.
This is technically correct. Stylistically, however, the full stop here is too strong. Better to use an em dash: “I’ll give you the best advice you could hope to get–find another profession.”
The juxtaposition of the same word in tandem is rather jarring. A better construction would be “The first requirement of good writing is talent and talent comes with birth.”
Insert comma: “If you don’t have it, it’s absolutely…”
There’s also a dangling preposition that the absolutely anal grammarian will be quick to point out.
For the record, I think your innate writing style is respectable, Epimetheus. Sure there are a few spelling and grammatical mistakes, but nothing that a good editor can’t fix. And practice. Practice, practice, practice.
I wanted to write, but I was afraid of failing, of appearing like a failure. Of flopping. Bugged me for the longest time. Hell, more than that. It drove me wild. Suspended between two worlds, I was.
That was 20 years ago. It took me this long to get old enough not to give a damn anymore. I write what I want, work hard on it, make it as good as I can and let someone else worry about whether or not it’s good. (Of course, I’m trying to sell it as well, but at the moment I’m writing, all that doesn’t matter. Just make it good.
Looking back, I wish I had 20 unsellable novels than what I have now. At least I’d have something to show for all that time.
And if that wingnut who gave you the advice could tell the future good writers from the future bad writers, he’d be making millions as an agent, instead of pulling his pud in front of you.
Private thought:
This isn’t a football game where EVERYONE watches you flub the handoff.
One of the little beauties of writing is you don’t appear to be a failure to anyone when you get a rejection slip. A rejection is a private affair.
Anyone around here collect rejection slips?
A fellow I know named Leon Metz collected a trunk full of rejection slips before his first Western history got published.
look, you go for it, do what you love, write the way you think and make it so that other people can enjoy it.
grammar and punctuation and spelling are important…but in the end it’s the style and the content that make something readable. the rough edges can be polished off after. that’s why they have proof readers.
Not to harp on Stephen King, but the man does have a lot to say about writing, and I happen to think a lot of it is on target.
(Incidentally, ZRudeDog, where on earth did you get that bit about King not liking to read? He’s a voracious reader, and has said so several times.)
King once said that a talent for something was a gift, akin to a knife. God gives everybody a knife, but nobody gets a sharp one. (Some folks might get an almighty BIG knife, but not a sharp knife.) The only way to sharpen that knife is to practice. Practicing with that talent is like a whetstone sharpening the knife, and eventually the knife is sharp enough to cut whatever you want with it.
I like that allegory, and I think it’s accurate.
Sounds like the OP’s message board buddy has a rusty knife.
ZRUDEDOG, You don’t know what you’re talking about.
From King himself, in On Writing p.145:
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all else: read a lot and write a lot.”
and
“I’m a slow reader, but I usually go through seventy or eighty books a year, mostly fiction. I don’t read to study the craft; I read because I like to read.”
and
“Every book you pick up has its own lesson or lessons, and quite often the bad books have more to teach than the good ones.”
Epithemus: I also recommend Elements of Style and I think King’s On Writing is worth the read for potential writers. Read everything you can get your hands on, but especially the kind of writing you want to do.
I’m not a writer, but I felt like chiming in.
I agree with all of the previous posts regarding grammar, spelling, etc. But most of those comments have been about how you communicate. I think what’s more important is what you communicate. Your perspective, your attitudes, your reactions to life - that’s what counts.
I totally disagree with the troll’s opinion that talent only comes as a gift of birth. -Ridiculous.
BTW, I wouldn’t bother responding to the troll - either to critique the post or to flame him (or her). Not that the troll doesn’t absolutely deserve it. Trouble is, trolls seem to like that kind of head-bashing, shit-slinging flamewar. If you just said something like, “Despite your opinion, I’ve decided to continue attempting to improve myself. Thanks, anyway.” Imagine how deflated the little troll would feel.
Or you could totally fry the pig-licker. Either way would be cool. As long as you don’t let him get under your skin.
oh you’re so cute. i dunno if i wanna pinch your cheek or slap you.
remedial life: style is everything. it lets you get away with any multitude of sins, in person or on paper.
I believe you are putting too much pressure on yourself to “get published”.
Now I understand that every artist (and writing is an art) wants to eventually gain recognition for their love. But this recognition is not the be all/end all. The enjoyment of writing comes first… and this you have!
My advice would be to write, write, and write if that’s what you love to do. And when you are comfortable with the material yourself, then have your friends and family read it. Get feedback, weigh it, and make changes. Get to the point where you are your biggest fan.
I’ll tell you what’ll happen then:
You will love your own writing so much, that you’ll find you don’t care what others think and the moment you feel that way, that’s when others will come around, and you’ll be published.
Remember, writing is not the means to an end. It is a process and a journey. Trust yourself and have a good trip!
As long as you don’t let him get under your skin.