So being a wannabe author like I am, I tend to write a lot and read a lot. So when a friend of mine raved about how amazing Stephen King's book was called "On Writing" I had to check it out and for the most part it was time well spent. I agree with a lot of the things he says and the process he went through writing various books. It was nice to read about an author who wasn't afraid to admit he didn't come from the swanky area of town and just happen to make it big. Knowing that there are authors who fess up to having had to actually work to be able to write for a living and all the struggles he faced was inspiring to me. I could read through and identify that I had been in a situation like that and it sucks but it doesn't mean the sky is falling or that you should give up on writing.
The one issue I did have is how in part of his book he declares that you are as good a writer as you will ever be. He says that it is impossible to make a competent writer out of a bad writer and equally impossible to create a good writer out of a competent one. This irked me the wrong was as it does many because I look down at my work and if this is as good as it gets I should just stop trying to write a book and create a pseudonym to write erotica for life. Most of those readers don't care how well it's written.
Thankfully I am in a position where I don't believe that. Not at face value anyway. I am using my write to interpret his words to come up with a different meaning that is implied. Some people just get it. Have you ever met one of those kids that picks up an instrument and starts to play and it sounds beautiful despite the fact they can't tell you what they are holding? I think writers have those people too. I think that is where you get people like Yeats from. They pick up a pen and it just works for them. That doesn't mean that if you can't do that you shouldn't write. It means you shouldn't expect to grow into be a savant or grand master. You may just have to settle for being a good writer. Or in the case of some people (like Stephanie Meyers) you should just get down on all four and thank god and your publisher/advertisers for gullible high school kids and their mothers trying to reclaim their youth.
I might go on a rant as to why the Twilight series is bad for society but that is for another day. Right now I'm trying to talk about an author worth reading. So as I was saying, I am taking my time to interpret his words. If he disagrees then he should have been clearer on the subject. I would probably have a rabid fan girl moment if he commented on this to tell me I'm wrong.
At any rate I feel I am starting to flake away at you. So here's some end notes. This past month I have submitted my short stories to see about that whole publishing thing. We'll see how it goes. I think I might have some pretty new rejection notices to hang on the wall but that is ok with me. Writing isn't for the faint of heart. It takes a thick skin, knowledge that if you have a five percent acceptance rate you are doing it right, and that if at first you don't succeed try and try again. It's all about the persistence and pigheadedness when people tell you there isn't money to be made in writing.
Crossing my fingers to be published,
Corset signing off.
