If you can’t get along with others, you’re in for some hard times as a writer. There will be deadlines to meet. If you don’t meet them, you inconvenience others. There will be people who want your help and support with their writing. If you can’t do that, then don’t expect others to help and support your writing. Then there will be the public, the people who read your books. If you you can’t interact with them, so that they enjoy meeting you, do you think they’ll look for your next book? Quite possibly not.
Don’t forget to visit my Featured Follower of the Month, J.H. Moncrief, if you haven’t already. And are you up for some free books? Say so in the comment section.
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If you haven’t heard the great news, The Insecure Writer’s Support Group is now in the top 101 best websites on Writer’s Digest!
Quote of the Week: “No performer should attempt to bite off red-hot iron unless he has a good set of teeth.” Harry Houdini (This is true of writers, too! Don’t you think?)
Alexa from Summer Snowflakes says
Nice and so true. It's funny what non-writers think being a writer actually is. :p The only reasons I can think of to get into writing are because you love it or you have a story tell. Otherwise you're gonna run into these (or something else) and be thoroughly disappointed.
Alexa
thessalexa.blogspot.com
verbosityreviews.com
Robert Bennett says
All great points. I remember sometime back thinking writing was a 'get rich quick' kind of thing. I realized otherwise. Now I just need to master my terrible re-writing abilities.
Julie Flanders says
I'm still working on the taking criticism part. I can't deny a bad review can still send me over the edge LOL. The making money on vacation bit is the best. Yeah, that would be great, wouldn't it?
So thrilled about the IWSG news!! I can't think of a more deserving site.
J Lenni Dorner says
Well said.
"If you think writers don't have to learn marketing in order to get sales," could go on the list. (Assuming it's aimed at writers who are out to sell, not just ones writing for themselves and never sharing with the world.)
Congrats to the IWSG for the WD list placement!
Patricia Lynne says
I definitely agree that if you can't take criticism then stay away from writing. Not everyone will love your book and you have to accept that. (They won't always be nice about it either.)
Mark Noce says
Lol, people are crazy sometimes. I've heard of people who refuse to read fiction because it's "not true." My response is that their non-fiction is typically plenty "untrue" as well.
Michael Di Gesu says
Hi, Lee,
You said it! The YEARS and DETERMINATION it takes to get books out into the hands of the public is astounding. Not to mention the THOUSANDS of hours…..
Hopefully the people you wrote this for will get the REALITY CHECK they need. LOL…
Hope all is well…
C. Lee McKenzie says
They'll never read it, Michael. They never see what I do in this part of my life. Interesting, isn't it? They're great friends, but they have little to no interest in my passion for writing.
Bish Denham says
Perhaps another reason to not be a writer is that you have to keep practicing, keep learning. You are never "done."
C. Lee McKenzie says
Absolutely. If you're the kind of person who likes to see finished and tidy projects, I'd say don't be a writer.
Botanist says
Yes. So very true. And then there's the writing itself. If you're not prepared to spend hours banging your head against a brick wall, willing those words onto an empty page when they just won't co-operate, don't even think about it. A lot of the time writing is not a vacation, it's hard work!
C. Lee McKenzie says
And doing it is one way to truly understand. Thanks for the visit, Mr. Botanist.
Lynda Dietz says
Such truth in your words. Writing may feel solitary at times, but everything about it is designed for interaction at every stage. I hope you never give it up.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm smiling. I love to write, but I have a sense that there will come a time when my ink runs out. It has run low a few times, so I understand the signs. Thanks, Lynda.
Nana Prah says
That was a great piece. I would add that writing takes motivation, tenacity, and sacrifice. Awesome words don't just always pop into our heads, we have to work at it and give up some of the things we love doing in the process.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I believe the word, tenacity, was coined by the first writer! 🙂
Annalisa Crawford says
I had a brief "I'd love to write a book" conversation with someone recently. Well, she said that, and I smiled politely 🙂
My friends are often surprised that I'll happily spend my Saturday evenings writing – I think people who like their spare time probably shouldn't write a book 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Nodding and smiling is the only way to get through those conversations. If only they knew what was going on inside our heads.
When you're doing what you love, your heart's at peace and your brain is sending off the most amazing sparks! Here's to spending more Saturday nights in bliss.
Mason Canyon says
As a reader I think we sometimes get lost in the stories so that we don't stop and think about all the hard work that goes into creating that story. I'm very thankful for all the hard work you writers go through to bring us a story.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I know that I read much differently since I started writing my own stories. Seeing both sides of the process has been very instructive.
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – life and what we do involves meeting friends and neighbours, growing a group of like-minded souls … some not so keen on writing, others not on reading … and yes we all have those imbalances of life – til we try and keep trying we'll never know – cheers Hilary
C. Lee McKenzie says
It's the trying that's important, like it's the journey and not the destination that's the fun.
DEZMOND says
twould be nice if editors would actually fix most of the rubbish we read 🙂 like in the old days! Today's editors are mostly stupid school girls who think Harry Plopper is serious literature. Or Jane Austen…. pfffttt…. they wouldn't see a problem in a book if you gave them million dollars to do so.
C. Lee McKenzie says
This is what I love about your visits, DEZ! You never pull those punches. I agree we need some more insightful and intelligent books; however, that means we must cultivate more insightful and intelligent readers. Good luck.
Liz A. says
Good list. People have no idea what it takes to write a book. But people have no idea what many things take to do, so I guess we shouldn't be surprised.
C. Lee McKenzie says
We simply must understand where they're coming from, an idealized movie version of being a writer. Then we must forgive them and smile.
Beverly Stowe McClure says
I saw the Writer's Digest article. Well deserved.
Great article. Everyone, writer and non-writer should read it.
If I wrote for the money, I'd have quit long ago. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
We both agree on that.
Sandra Cox says
Non-writer friend comments….Awkkkkkk.
It's a harsh business. I had a bud who's been writing for several years. She made $10 last year and finally decided enough was enough and hung up her quill.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It's discouraging, and if you're intent is to make the big buck, writing isn't the easiest choice.
Natalie Aguirre says
Had to laugh because so many are true. Now that I work as a contract writer, I'm glad to get a paycheck every month but it doesn't totally support me.
C. Lee McKenzie says
You're a writer and you're earning from what you love to do. That alone spells success to me.
Birgit says
I love it that the IWSG made the list! I find the statements you have heard so very judgemental actually because they many think writers are like the people portrayed In Film…Jack Nicholson in As Giod Ad It Gets. They don't realize you have to sell your book and meet with many, many people. I think of the people who think that, because you have no kids, you have more time to do things for people. If you don't swell, you must not have pain…stuff like this. Today is 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and look how long it took for this lady to try to sell her books to have them published. She is now in the 2% who are successful where she is famous and does not have to worry. Most writers are way, way, way away from that:)
C. Lee McKenzie says
It's just a lack of understanding, I know for sure. I guess if I tried to talk about being an engineer (any kind) I'd have it all wrong.
Heather R. Holden says
Found myself nodding a lot while reading these reasons. Have known for years how true these all are…but am still creating things, anyway. Guess I'm stubborn. XD
C. Lee McKenzie says
And how great is that?
Elephant's Child says
No, no, no, no.
NO reasons to stop writing. Please. As a greedy reader I am so grateful to all of you. So very grateful.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Without you, the world wouldn't need writers! You're the best.
Sarah Foster says
Being a writer is definitely not easy! I would say don't be a writer if you think you're going to bust out book after book after book in the blink of an eye. Sometimes one book can take years!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I know what you're saying. Some books seem to finish themselves while others just sit and molder even while you're applying antiseptic and bandaids.
Juneta Key says
Wahoo, Writer's Digest that's awesome.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It's very exciting.
Shady Del Knight says
Hi, Cheryl!
As a producer I wrote copy for television news programs and later wrote commercials and documentaries. I cringed whenever the news anchors, my boss – the news director, the client/advertiser or the a.e. representing the client, handed my scripts back and asked for changes. Therefore, I probably do not have the right stuff, the right temperament, to be a writer of books. It is not a matter of having thin skin, it's just that I hate do-overs. That said, I agree that a first draft is rarely as good as it can get and, if you are unwilling to do the work of making revisions, you probably aren't cut out to be an author.
Thanks for the tips, dear friend C-Lee!
C. Lee McKenzie says
You learned that you can never please everyone easily. Your job sounds interesting and demanding.
Karen Lange says
This is excellent. There's so much more to writing than most people realize. Not for cowards, that's for sure. Congrats to IWSG!
C. Lee McKenzie says
It's complicated to be a writer, that's for sure.
Barbara Fisher says
I always knew NOT being a writer was a good idea. 🙂
Congrats to IWSG!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I didn't listen to myself.
Shooting Stars Mag says
Definitely all true! People often have a skewed idea of what it means to be a writer, among other professions.
-Lauren
C. Lee McKenzie says
Even after you try to explain, they don't get it.
Jacqui Murray says
I agree with every one of those. And didn't know about IWSG–woohoo! It is well-deserved.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks. The team is super-charged.
Chrys Fey says
Criticism comes from everyone, everywhere. Considering my depression, it's surprising that I publish, but I'll do anything for my passion and dream, even learn to steel myself from criticism. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
It is depressing to read no so much!
Pat Hatt says
lol yep, always amuses me too. "Oh I've got a million dollar idea." or "I just need to find the time." are two I often hear. Pffffffffffft and an eye roll is all they get from me.
C. Lee McKenzie says
And that's what they deserve.
Michelle Wallace says
What L.Diane said!
C. Lee McKenzie says
LOL
Yvonne Ventresca says
Great pointers, Lee.
Congrats to IWSG!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks.
L. Diane Wolfe says
If you hate to read, you probably shouldn't be writing either.
C. Lee McKenzie says
So hard to imagine that, but it happens.
Cathrina Constantine says
There is a lot more to writing than people realize. My family doesn't think of it as a job or work… 🙁
Congratulations to IWSG!!!!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Interesting, isn't it?
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
If you think it's easy, then definitely stop writing.
I still can't believe we made the list. So awesome!
C. Lee McKenzie says
IWSG is amazing!