I find myself periodically wondering where are they now...
In my personal life, I have met a gang of folks, from '78-99 we travelled the world,
Moved twelve times, met a lot of people,
Try as I might, I couldn't keep up, though there are a few,
Yvette, in Columbus, GA, hadn't had my eyes on her face since '92, but keep in touch,
Have a running communique, that's my GURL...hey YY...
Then of course there is music,
We all know, they come, they go,
I remember this song from maybe 1970, 'I know that I'm in love' by ChiChi and Pepi,
Loved it, never heard from them again...
Anyhoo...
Now the writer's game...
I have read a lot of books,
There were years when I was in some little European outpost,
With no American TV and a sleeping infant and it was nothing for me to read a book or two in a day...
Then,
There is my own short tenure as a writer,
I realized the other day that in March it will only be two years since I took up a place,
In cyberspace, joining groups, etc.
And in that very short period of time, I met a lot of writers, writers to be and wanna be writers...
And many have gone on to parts unknown...
Where are they?
What caused this nosiness,
Is one of said writers sent me an email the other day,
Telling me they had happened across my blog,
Saw me on the APOOO Author Salute....woo hoo,
And wondered what had made me stick it out,
After asking her why she stopped writing,
She told me a number of things, mostly how tired she was of the game,
Lack of sales, less than favorable reviews, etc.
So I told her, 'I stick it out because I am a writer, and writer's write. Long before I ever stepped into cyberspace, I was a writer, long before I published, blogged or did anything I was a writer. Not only that but I am a longevity kind of chick. Write or Die. I know that most things worth having or doing, takes patience, training, perseverance and a VERY THICK SKIN, when it comes to reviews or opinions on your work...mmm hmm. I was non-delusional, un-illusional, which didn't cause me to be confusional....so I can hang around and do what I do. Not only that, I take most things with a grain of salt, tossing the remains over my shoulder... I only expect things of and from myself, though I am most appreciative of what is offered me in terms of support or advice, I know that at the end of the day, getting my work to stick is up to me. I also told her that there is a huge world out there beyond online and a writer can find ways to sell books, if selling books is the aim.' Silence....
Finally she thanked me, moving on...
So I guess the answer to the Where Are They Q, at least in the writer's game is many people leave when they discover it isn't easy, fame and fortune isn't automatic, that some people will love your work, others will not, and most importantly, that no one can do those things for you that you aren't willing to do for yourself...
Just Rambling,
Smooches,
Angelia
9 comments:
I've heard many reasons why people leave the game... Sometimes I try to talk them out of it, sometimes I let them go their merry way...
When I was in school last year, my instructor asked everyone what their ultimate career goal was... I told the group I wanted to write for a living... of course there was silence... I was comfortable with it, but my instructor commented on it...
She said... that's a very hard job. Some people will look at you like you are just another young black girl who wants to sit at home and do nothing because you like to write... they'll think you don't want to work a REAL job... but understand... she (me) has to have a certain level of motivation to sit down and write things... she has to believe in her work because no one else will, at least not as much as she believes...
That was it in a nutshell... that was all I needed to hear. It was validation that some people really do understand that writing takes much more than putting words on paper. It takes strength, courage, get-up-and-go, vision and... like you said, thick skin!
Thanks for this post... I need to write
luv ya
G-Nice
Thanks G-Nice,
that is just it, if a writer writes to become famous, rich or loved...chances are they are going to have some disappointments, also the thick skin is a neccesity particularly if you are going to have an online presence or have your work reviewed and read by others...not only that, there has to be a willingness to reinvent, if something does not work, be willing to try another way...as my mom once said, 'There is more than one way to skin a cat'...So surely there is more than one way to write a book...market a book, sell a book...finding what works for you is the challenge...
Blessings,
angelia
that no one can do those things for you that you aren't willing to do for yourself...
Girl, you done said it now. This is the truth. This is a great post, sis. All I can do is co-sign ;-)
Gwyneth
Thanks Lady Gwyneth,
Blessings,
angelia
Yea.(Again I'm nodding my head in agreement.) Writers, write. As New Age as it seems, "Who you 'be', is what you do." (smile)
NickyJett,
You Do Be What You Do! giggling
angelia
"I was non-delusional, un-illusional, which didn't cause me to be confusional...."
I love this quote. Well I want to share my stories because I believe I have something to tell and share with others. I may not be the greatest writer, but I know I am not the worse. But I heard a saying last year, "some will, some won't, so what."
I know that most things worth having or doing, takes patience, training, perseverance and a VERY THICK SKIN, when it comes to reviews or opinions on your work...mmm hmm.
yep, yep
xoxo
Thanks Jen, Yas,
I appreciate my APOOO Sisters!
smooches,
angelia
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