Cocky

[rowyn]

We are all so absurdly cocky.

I don't know that anyone really deserves this rant, but I was just thinking it as I was reading about someone else's creative process. I was thinking of saying something about my own, and then I thought: What the heck do I know about how to write? What do I really know? I'm not a published author. I haven't published so much as a single short story (well, wait, there's "The Bribe" -- thanks, Tufty and Greywolf! -- but that's not exactly the most impressive credential). I haven't so much as finished writing a single novel. The closest I've come is wrapping up the occasional plot thread on Sinai.

So what do I know about it?

Moreover: what do all these folks talking about it know about it? 'Cause most of the people I hear going on about "their process" don't have credentials any more impressive than mine. And yet they talk, with the most amazing confidence, about "what it takes to get published" and "what works" and "what doesn't work" and "pitfalls to avoid" and on and on and on. I can't blame 'em, exactly. I do it, too. We parrot what we've read or been taught by someone else, or our fumblings as we move forward, or backwards, or sideways.

It's hard to take any of us very seriously. Maybe we're right. But goodness, how would we know if we are? If I believe Richard Bachman -- who at least has credentials -- I ought to have quit writing Prophecy six months ago and finished Silver Scales instead. But here I am, still going ... wherever I'm going. Whyever I'm going. I don't even know where this entry's going. Up in my journal, I guess.

Comments

[rowyn]

The truth about publishing writing is so simple that people like to embellish it. The secret formula is: Write. Finish what you write. Send it out until someone buys it.

I want to thank you for this. I've been getting an earful of "you have to network to get published, you'll never get anywhere if you don't". And while I imagine there's some truth to this, I'm relieved to hear at least one person willing to stick up for the old "Just keep doing it" position. I've had trouble motivating myself to network, but writing up cover letters and sticking stories in envelopes ... I can actually manage that part. To some degree, anyway. :)

So I found your comment simultaneously encouraging and reassuring, and I appreciate that. I know I ought to at least try networking -- but this is a reminder that it won't hurt me to keep doing the write-mail-repeat method, either. :)

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

Networking is good. It's also (catch 22!) much harder to do unless you're already published. Getting into the big parties is easier if you're already established.

I didn't need networking to sell my first stories... and in fact, those whispers you always hear that editors notice you even in the slush pile appear to be true. So keep sending your work in, over and over. Trust me, someone's read them and is keeping an eye on you. :)

[rowyn]

In fact, those whispers you always hear that editors notice you even in the slush pile appear to be true.

That's good to hear, too. I've been preoccupied with working on my novel lately, and not trying to write short stories. I'd like to do more shorts, though. There's something satisfying about being able to finish a concept in a matter of days instead of years. :) And it takes lots less time to get a story rejected than a novel, too. :)