Genuinely appalled at these comments from the writing tutor! With it being so difficult to make a living from writing, so many people will have to take on something else just to pay rent. I'm sure we'd all love to sit and do it full time but that's fantasy land. How much better to say to them that they should aim at consistency of time, maybe in small chunks, and that persistence is a great tutor for development and improvement. Ugh.
Ugh indeed! I was absolutely fuming. I love your words of kindness and comfort - persistence is a great tutor. I hope young writers get to hear advice from you 💞
This reminds me of my Dad (may he rest in peace) when he asked me, "Why do you write?". I replied, "Because I have something to share... it may make a difference to at least one reader." So, what does that make me: a hobbyist or a serious writer? I write when my thoughts crystallize and I'm moved to pen them down. Sometimes, I don't get to at will due to other responsibilities. I am serious about getting those helpful thoughts clearly across. But it may take my "sweet time" writing them down. My thoughts come out "right" only when I am relaxed and happy. At least I think so. So, which am I?
That's such a great point - it isn't a binary choice, they aren't opposites or even on a spectrum. We all write - that's what we have in common and we all deserve to have our writing taken seriously by others - however often we do it.
Thank you for this post. I am 68 and have been writing all my life, including earning my living from it for many years, but I STILL SUFFER from feeling that I am not a real writer because of belittling gazes and responses from other more ‘real’, ‘better’, more ‘serious’ writers than me and at times it makes the one thing I need to do (write) an agony rather than a joy.
That's tough Emma - and you are not alone! You are a writer and how you get the writing done works for you. I salute you and your wonderful solution of writing from the agony. That'll show 'em.
Genuinely appalled at these comments from the writing tutor! With it being so difficult to make a living from writing, so many people will have to take on something else just to pay rent. I'm sure we'd all love to sit and do it full time but that's fantasy land. How much better to say to them that they should aim at consistency of time, maybe in small chunks, and that persistence is a great tutor for development and improvement. Ugh.
Ugh indeed! I was absolutely fuming. I love your words of kindness and comfort - persistence is a great tutor. I hope young writers get to hear advice from you 💞
A "hobbyist" or "a serious writer"?
This reminds me of my Dad (may he rest in peace) when he asked me, "Why do you write?". I replied, "Because I have something to share... it may make a difference to at least one reader." So, what does that make me: a hobbyist or a serious writer? I write when my thoughts crystallize and I'm moved to pen them down. Sometimes, I don't get to at will due to other responsibilities. I am serious about getting those helpful thoughts clearly across. But it may take my "sweet time" writing them down. My thoughts come out "right" only when I am relaxed and happy. At least I think so. So, which am I?
That's such a great point - it isn't a binary choice, they aren't opposites or even on a spectrum. We all write - that's what we have in common and we all deserve to have our writing taken seriously by others - however often we do it.
Thank you for this post. I am 68 and have been writing all my life, including earning my living from it for many years, but I STILL SUFFER from feeling that I am not a real writer because of belittling gazes and responses from other more ‘real’, ‘better’, more ‘serious’ writers than me and at times it makes the one thing I need to do (write) an agony rather than a joy.
That's tough Emma - and you are not alone! You are a writer and how you get the writing done works for you. I salute you and your wonderful solution of writing from the agony. That'll show 'em.