Are you a writer?
Depends on what you're doing with that piece of paper
After all my travel (to LA for baby boy’s graduation, NYC to see the folks, DC to settle my baby girl into her summer apartment; Vegas for the conference), I have a blissful few weeks of nothing. Not going anywhere (except maybe another NYC jaunt) and the husband is doing a bit of traveling, so I have lots of days for reading, researching, and writing. Maybe I’ll finish this next novel yet.
In the meantime…
You’ll think of something…
about misplaced confidence and insecurity (a rant)
As you know if you read my last newsletter, I recently went to the Historical Novel Society Conference in Vegas. It was a magical whirlwind of presentations, readings, chats, meeting new people, drinking, and immersing myself in the world of Hist Fict. I’ve discovered so many amazing books that I hadn’t known about and writers I can’t wait to read.
While I was there, I met many self-proclaimed aspiring writers.
Aspiring writers. This is an interesting term to me. I’ve met so many people who say, “Oh, I’m a writer too,” yet when pressed on what they’re writing, say, “Well, nothing yet. But as soon as the baby goes to school / I retire / the government collapses / fill in far off event that may never happen, I’m going to write my book. I have an amazing idea!”
I’m sorry, friend, but if this is you, you are not a writer. The misplaced confidence of these wannabe writers always amazes me. They believe it’s as simple as picking up that pen when they are ready, and the words will simply flow onto the pages, which they’ll then send to publishers, who will promptly turn their books into a bestsellers.
Don’t we all wish.
Yet when I go to places like this conference, so many attendees say they are “aspiring” writers. However, these folks will happily tell you all the projects they’re working on, from 14th century historical fiction to a memoir about their relationship with their grandparents to a fantasy with fairies and witches to… you name it! They’re outlining or querying agents or on their fourth draft. These are people who will tell you they wake up early to write before their job or squeeze in moments after kids are asleep or (shhh!) take a few minutes of work time to jot down sentences. These people—these aspiring writers—are putting words on the page.
You, my friends, are not aspiring writers. You are writers. If the words go from your brain to the page, you can and should call yourself a writer. You don’t need validation from a reader, an agent, an editor, your mother, your best friend. The only validation is your page of written words. That makes you a writer. Writers are insecure creatures. It’s a fact. But it doesn’t make you any less of a writer.
“…I am assailed with my own ignorance and inability. Honesty. If I can keep an honesty to it… If I can do that it will be all my lack of genius can produce. For no one else knows my lack of ability the way I do. I am pushing against it all the time. Sometimes, I seem to do a good little piece of work, but when it is done it slides into mediocrity…” —John Steinbeck, from the diary he kept while working on The Grapes of Wrath
So, to recap, you may be aspiring to be agented or aspiring to be traditionally published or aspiring to self-publish or aspiring to hit the bestseller lists… but if you are turning letters into words, words into sentences, sentences into paragraphs, paragraphs into stories, you are writing and therefore you are a writer.
Those of you with “amazing ideas” that will “definitely become a bestseller” are not writers. These are the aspiring writers. You could be a writer someday. But until the words hit the page, you’re just someone with an idea. Call me when you have actual chapters I can read.
about Vegas
Vegas with my baby boy was a success. Did he keep me away from the ATMs that only dispense hundred dollar bills? Nope. Did he prevent those servers from handing me free drinks at the blackjack table? Nope. Did he tell me when it was time to cut my losses and head to the room? Nope. In other words, it was a blast. I’ll go back to Vegas with my baby boy anytime!
about what I’m reading
From the stack of books above, I chose this one to read first. I didn’t know I liked gothic fiction until I read The Colony of Lost Souls by Kelsey James. What drew me to it was the 1930s-era cult. I love a good cult story.
After missing for two years, June finally sends her sister, May, a letter. She’s been living at the Kinima Theosophical Society in Southern California. May heads down immediately and is taken with the society’s leader, Rex. Jane, however, is traveling, so May must wait at the facility.
Oh, the gambits and deceptions in this novel, as May tries to discover where her sister really is. Rex teaches that enlightened people can bring back the souls of the dead through the Ocean of Light. May, who has been unable to have children, is willing to believe, and she lets herself be drawn in. Of course, when have things turned out well for a cult? May comes to her senses and that's when things get really going. The supernatural elements aren’t at all overwhelming and were quite convincing. I read this book in three sittings. The characters were compelling and the ending satisfying. Unexpectedly fun.
Up next is The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton.
about Bailey
Most of my pictures are of Bailey being docile. But here you can get a slightly muted effect of a Bailey barkfest (she’s usually louder and it goes on much longer), with the husband describing some of the things Bailey dislikes.
Until next time, make good choices.
jennifer
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Loved this! Was so great meeting you at the conference and thanks for shouting out The Colony of Lost Souls ❤️
Mexican Gothic trigger warning: I didn't eat mushrooms for three years after reading that book!!! (Loved the book!)