Writer Arrogance

[raefinlay]

We sometimes encounter writers at the OWW who believe they will shatter market records and win a Pulitzer with their current WIP. They are generous with advice, but attached disclaimers make it clear that such advice is akin to receiving a magical blessing. Their reviews are full of "I" and "My". They ignore criticism. If someone doesn't appreciate their work, it is because that person is incapable of recognizing genius.

I envy them.

It would be nice to have a long stretch--say, three months or so--when I could look at my WIP and not see crap. I would love to consider it saleable, would die of ecstasy to believe my premises original, my prose flawless, my characters irresistable. Writing would be so much easier if I thought, even misguidedly, that my writing would make me famous or rich or self-actualized. What an incentive! To know that fortune is just a finished novel away!

Alas, my motivation is vastly different. I write because I must. Some nights, it is sheer discipline. I write to finish this novel, so I can start a better one, and then another one after that in the hopes that by novel 3 or 4 I might have something worth selling. But even more, I have too many thoughts and emotions and stories chasing each other around in my soul and I must write to make them concrete, identifiable. I need to look at them on paper and say, "I see you! I understand you! You are no longer my mystery."

So, you OWWers with blinding arrogance, I fear you not at all, and I sincerely hope you submit to all the same agents as my honestly-laboring writer buddies. But I envy you your confidence and your hope-driven inspiration.

Now...moving on to chapter 17...

Comments

[dragonmyst.livejournal.com]

good gosh, people are actually posting that???

Well, I guess I should pop over and view their, ahem, masterpieces. I can't imagine being that vain. My writing stinks but is improving and thats all I really worry about.

[jmeadows.livejournal.com]

You. Rock. Dude.

Seriously, it must be so nice to not realize that you're not all that.

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear, they don't say it outright, but it's very, very clear how they feel. It's worth a laugh. Sometime on yahoo chat, I'll give you a couple of names (privately) to check out. Just for kicks. You'll see what I mean!!

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

So nice! Maybe we should have an arrogance fest for a few days. We can tell each other our WIPs rock and mentally spend our six-figure advances! *huge grin*

[jmeadows.livejournal.com]

Hey, that might be fun!

[cricketshay.livejournal.com]

That does sound like great fun. A mutual appreciation society! You stroke my ego while I stroke yours!

Wanna know a secret Rae? I think all my words suck too. But I'm driven. I write because if I don't my head will explode not only killing me but taking out whoever happens to be within the vicinity. Someday our novels will be finished, all bright and shiny. Maybe I should try OWW again. If anything for a good chuckle!

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

...if I don't, my head will explode...

ROFL!!! I soooo understand what you mean! *dies*

[britzkrieg.livejournal.com]

Chat with me, too -- cineybrune.

[greenlight711.livejournal.com]

I've seen a comment on a user bio that says something like "I'll return your crit if your story moves me. So they're an editor now? Arrgghh!

[dark-geisha.livejournal.com]

"...if your story moves me..."

Eh? What?

[greenlight711.livejournal.com]

Sorry, maybe didn't do a good job of telling this. I just had to laugh at the gall of this person to actually say (essentially), "don't expect a return crit from me if I glance at it and it's not up to my standards." Well, duh--we all need help. That's why we're there!

[greenlight711.livejournal.com]

If someone doesn't appreciate their work, it is because that person is incapable of recognizing genius.

Yep, ran into one of those once ... I got reprimanded over e-mail for not "understanding" the story ... only in much more harsh terms.

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Hee!! Dude, we've all been there. Which leads me to another question... Social grace demands a certain restraint. Why do they think it's ok to be blatantly arrogant? Do they think they will win fans with this tact? Sheesh.

[arcaedia.livejournal.com]

This is such a refreshing post. It seems to me far better to be on a journey rather than achieving fate-given success (oops, sarcasm). Much more satisfying. Personally, I think most publishing professionals probably prefer to work with "honestly laboring writer buddies" than those with "blinding arrogance." Of course, you could say that in a lot of work places - like, say, I.T. departments.

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... I'm not sure there's ever a point where an honest writer can look at their work and say, "It's perfect." Or, I should say, there's no point where a decent writer can say that. (There are a few big name examples of that.) So don't feel bad about that. I think it's a sign that you're serious about what you do, and that's always a good thing. (Look at how often Michael Jordan practiced, and he was the best of the best.)

And then again... just the other night I was critting someone that didn't even know dialogue with a tag should end in a comma, not a period ("That's right," he said.), and all I could think was, "Shouldn't you at least learn the basicest basic rules before posting?" Does that make me one of the arrogant people?

[dark-geisha.livejournal.com]

Eh, sorry, I understood just fine. Apparently my reply wasn't clear either. That was more of a "Eh? OMGWTFBBQ!" reaction, but I try not to use ironic l33t speak unless it's Aaron's livejournal.

[jmeadows.livejournal.com]

I don't think so. Grammar and punctuation and stuff... that's easily learned. It's not like telling a story. That... I don't know that the telling a story part of writing can be learned.

[aaron-mag.livejournal.com]

I think I ran into the same personality, but before you did. It was a very, very short crit relationship. The only OWWer I've ever exchanged angry emails with...

:D

[aaron-mag.livejournal.com]

Okay...this is interesting. I've run into such people on OWW before as well. But, for the most part, OWWers are good and giving people. I've had like one bad apple in the entire bunch. Most of them really want to give good advice and receive it.

But not really that interesting because what I *really* want to discuss is MORE Unmagicked on OWW. Dude...I've been reviewing like a mad man. Clearing out my telltales. All for the expressed purpose of getting ready for a posts from you, Heather, and perhaps Ilona if she gets down to it.

So quit stalling dang you. Post more of Unmagicked on OWW!!!!

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you're right. For the most part, everyone's a class act.

Eee! Aaron, I ph33r the OWW! I haven't done yours or Kev's reviews yet...and you want me to post??? *thinks Aaron is crazy* *decides to keep him anyway*

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

You arrogant swine!!!!!

:p

[aaron-mag.livejournal.com]

So what? Am I yelling at you, "Where is my review?" Post away. People who want to review will review. Those that want to wait for you to return will wait.

If you don't get to mine for awhile that is cool. But you *will* get to it. You WILL!!!! Or I'll stake out the local bookstores in Modesto, wait for you to walk by, run up with my post, force you to sit down, and stare and pace while you read/write comments...

*maniacal laughter*

:P

[jmeadows.livejournal.com]

Better watch out, Rae, he's serious! :D

[everyonesakitty.livejournal.com]

and Holly? *pouty, trembly face appears* you weren't preparing for me? *tears burst forth*

:D kidding of course. I know I never post. :D

[everyonesakitty.livejournal.com]

I am SO into this idea!

[aaron-mag.livejournal.com]

Bah, you just posted...and I've given up on begging you to run your chapters through OWW. Begging just doesn't work with you. :D

But if you did do it with this Formerly Drimm, I'd read it!

-Later

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Yes, I plan to savor the "journey" since that's the only thing guaranteed me! And those cocky I.T. folks aren't so bad--if you use them for character inspiration... *writes furiously*

:p

[katallen.livejournal.com]

I'm going to confess that someone had to remind me about punctuating dialogue tags when I joined the OWW. For some reason I'd just stopped doing it properly - I've earlier work where I did it right, but a few years before joining I seem to have started using full stops instead of commas. It's a mystery.

Someone pointed it out, I checked it, and nearly died of shame :o) Then I thanked them.

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Hiya Kat. My moment of shame came with adverbing. Someone pointed it out, I did an edit/replace for "carefully" ... 15 times in one chapter! I thanked my reviewer too. :o)