My Masterwork

[infanttyrone]

Occasionally I will lament that I have never made a career out of my writing, in spite of a rock-solid determination at the age of eight that it was the keystone of my future life. My ex-wife, parents and many friends over the years have tried unsuccessfully to shove me into any number of writing-related careers-- journalist, advertising,

Comments

[fuzzilla]

>I don't want to write just anything, I want to write what I like, what makes me happy.<

Yeah, I hear ya. I've been fairly happy with this short story class I'm taking. A kick in the ass and so far as the quality of feedback, it's been a nice middle ground. Prior to it, I felt like my only feedback sources were people who say everything I do is great or people who get off on being pricks.

[infanttyrone]

I've never taken a class-- in fact I've never been in an actual "writer's group" where strangers meet and swap or whatever it is writer's groups do. I did used to get together with a few writing pals and swap stuff and get drunk, but that ended when everybody moved away.
I've been asked to look at people's writing before and provide comments, and I *hate* the following discussion:
This part doesn't make sense.
Well, yeah it does.
But no, it doesn't.
Well then you just don't "get it".

Since I'm obsessed with long tedious po-mo authors who can be "difficult" at the best of times, my own fiction leans towards the obtuse. So I've given up on ever writing the sort of thing that would ever be vetted by a group, or editor or publisher. It's purely for personal consumption at this point, like the hooch I make under the sink.

[fuzzilla]

>This part doesn't make sense.
Well, yeah it does.
But no, it doesn't.
Well then you just don't "get it".<

Ha! Yeah. This guy chastised me because my character who witnessed a murder didn't try to save the victim from the pond the killer dumped him in. He was already DEAD by then, dude. The Main Character ain't Jesus.

Yeah, can be pretty fucking annoying, but I'll feel I'm cheating myself if I don't try to get published and reco'nized. I'll filter the opinions as best I can and play nice. Plus it gets me outta the house.

[bibliofile]

>I don't want to write just anything, I want to write what I like, what makes me happy.<

Yeah, and many working writers have different day jobs. When I worked as a tech writer, I did get some satisfaction that I was making a living with writing skills, but it's not quite the same thing.

Editing and criticism is a separate skill entirely, and more people think they can do it than actually can. Pomposity is not the same as taste or perception, alas.

[oblomova]

"criticism (shudder)"

Hey!

[infanttyrone]

I tried it briefly, and found out that I am very bad at it, because I hated it. I read other people's criticism, but I can't do it.

[bluebellrock]

That's an excellent doggie note! You are clearly a correspondent of the highest order. It wouldn't really occur to me to expect someone to report on my doggie's dirty deeds. I'd just assume he'd leave his message on as many tree trunks as possible (I'm generous and let him utilise as many as he cares to; that pooch telegraph is an important neighbourhood newsletter; it's what our walks are all about) and if he dismissed himself of a heavier load - well, he needed to! I suppose I don't live in a highrise unit in a freezing cold city, however, so it's easy enough for me to allow him last-chance rituals right before bedtime. Which I shall bestow upon him now. (Don't ever tell him I talked about any of this, btw. He's got much more class than me.)

[infanttyrone]

Oh, some people don't care, and others need me to use euphemisms because of their delicate sensibilities (the word 'poop' sends them into paroxysms of disgust.) And yeah, the whole idea is so the owner knows if the dog has number two'ed that day so that they can sleep safely without "surprises".

[alcippe]

bestowing his grace?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
That is awesome.

[infanttyrone]

Always looking for a good euphemism. "Checking his pmail" is another good one, as is "fulfilled his prime directive."

(Hey, have a fantastic time on your trip! I'm still pretty envious.)