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Post by Zab Jade on Sept 2, 2018 12:48:40 GMT -8
Writing is a passion. It is an art. And if you listen to a lot of people, it's also insanely hard to make it big with writing, to the point where you might as well not even try. Don't listen to those people. Yeah, it's hard to make a good living writing. So what? Do it anyway.
Write as it calls to you. Create worlds and people who live in them. And then do whatever you can to share those words. It doesn't matter if it's hard to get published. Write anyway. Keep writing and keep submitting. Reach for the stars. Because if you don't, you're guaranteed to never reach them. But if you keep at it, you always have a chance. With practice and skill and a good butterfly net made out of luck, you could catch a star.
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Post by Zab Jade on Dec 4, 2018 10:46:36 GMT -8
Thought I'd dust this off and say a few more things. Something I come across a lot is people scared to write and put it out there because they think what they've written is bad. Even if you think what you've written is horrible (and a lot of well-beloved writers feel that way about their own work), so what? It doesn't matter if you're right, because it's okay to suck.
Writing is a process. It's an art. If you gave someone several skeins of yarn, some vague tips, and a pair of knitting needles, would you expect them to knit a perfect, intricate blanket on their first try? No. Maybe it will turn out that they have a natural knack for it and can turn out a nice little potholder without much trouble, but it's equally likely they'll manage to tangle the yarn to the point where they've somehow tied themselves to the ceiling fan. Even if they don't have a ceiling fan. The thing is, both types of people have just as much chance to succeed. It takes practice and dedication. And also a lot of listening and reading. Take in the world around and translate that into words on the page.
And if those words suck? So what? Just untangle your word yarn and try again.
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Post by Zab Jade on Dec 5, 2018 10:40:12 GMT -8
So, you've been writing for a few years, and you're starting to feel like you have enough skill to make something enjoyable (chances are that you managed this far earlier than you think since the average writer is their own worst critic). It's not perfect because perfection is a journey, not a destination. There is always something more to strive towards and always room to grow. But you've gotten to a place where you're comfortable saying that what you write is good.
There will still be people who don't like it. This is normal. Art is subjective. Taste is subjective. Even when talking about actual taste buds. Let's say that you absolutely adore cheese. You've been studying the art of cooking with cheese and have been practicing tirelessly for years. And then one day, you do it. You manage to make a true masterpiece of a grilled cheese sandwich. Everyone who tries it loves it. They gush over it and moan in ecstasy over the thought of eating more. "Cook more, I need it!" they cry while talking about how the flavors come together and the various ingredients that just make it work. Even the ones who normally aren't fans of cheese love it. They tell you that cheese isn't usually their thing, but they decided to trust you with it.
Then there's Uncle Frank, to whom all cheese in all forms tastes like rancid goat piss. Uncle Frank does not like your grilled cheese sandwich. Uncle Frank will NEVER like your grilled cheese sandwich. And that's okay. It doesn't mean your grilled cheese cooking powers are lacking in any way. It just means Uncle Frank doesn't like cheese and never will.
Uncle Frank doesn't need the grilled cheese forced on him, and you don't need him to like it. Those who love cheese or just need it prepared the right way to like it will love it. Make your grilled cheese for them while the Uncle Franks of the world happily devour something else.
Now, if Uncle Frank decides to berate you for making grilled cheese sandwiches and talks about how gross they are and how gross you are for making them and the other people for eating them, then Uncle Frank is an annoying troll monster who thinks the world revolves around him. Pay no attention to his words.
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Post by Zab Jade on Dec 23, 2018 12:08:14 GMT -8
Those familiar with my stories will have probably realized that I don't write the most normal stuff ever. I write odd things. I've had people tell me I shouldn't. People thought I shouldn't write Thursday's Child because it was weird. Loyalty actually popped into my head a two or three years ago, but I was strongly discouraged from writing it. I've had other stories swirling around in my head that I just didn't write because of people discouraging it for being "weird."
You know what? A lot of people love Thursday's Child and the whole series it spawned. A lot of people loved Loyalty, as well. Does that mean they weren't weird ideas at all? Nope. It just means there are people out there who like weird ideas.
Don't smother your weird or let anyone else do it. Write it out. Embrace your weird. If you don't feel comfortable putting it out there after you've written it, that's okay. If you eventually do, there are probably going to be some people who just don't get it. Hopefully they'll just accept that it's something that's not for them and move on to something that is. Sometimes, though, you'll get some unpleasant feedback. It will probably hurt. You're also likely to get some really good feedback, because everyone is at least a little weird in some way.
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Post by Zab Jade on Dec 28, 2018 11:55:03 GMT -8
I believe in you. Whoever you are, whatever you're trying to accomplish, I believe in you and in your ability to reach reasonable goals. And by reasonable, I mean reasonable specifically to you. Based on your own personal time constraints, energy levels, and amount of experience with what you're trying to do. It's okay to have big, lofty goals. Just remember to set little goals along the way.
And remember that there's at least someone out there who believes in you.
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Post by Zab Jade on Jan 17, 2019 16:15:26 GMT -8
Sometimes, when we write and put things up, we don't get a lot of reviews or end up with ones that just don't seem to understand what we wrote. It's frustrating when that happens and can make you wonder, "why am I doing this again?" Yeah, writing for yourself is important, but, honestly, most of us who write are storytellers, not just writers. We are the Bards of the Nerdverse, the music of our stories played across our keyboards. Sharing our stories is part of it all.
And sometimes, we get that one perfect comment or review that suddenly makes it all worthwhile. Keep those. Make a file on your computer and keep those things. It's not about stroking your ego. It's to remind yourself that there are those who appreciate and get what you do. They help kindle purpose and desire to write. Cherish those comments and keep them where you can see them when other things get you down.
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