Thursday, August 4, 2011

Things I Never Considered About Being a Writer

When I decided to do this, I had certain expectations. I expected I would have to take writing seriously, commit to treating this like a "real" job, learn to look at it like a business, actually do the writing, and continue to read. 


Those are pretty reasonable expectations. And they all hold true. The things I DIDN'T know could fill a book, however. And you know how I like to keep my posts relatively short, so let me try to summarize:

  • The Interaction. I never would have dreamed of being able to communicate with others not only in my position, but real authors - ones I enjoyed reading! And then there are the agents and editors that so generously give of their time on Twitter and blogs, even workshops. What other industry has such an open and sharing network of kind and like-minded people at your disposal? 
  • The Reaction of Family and Friends. I figured my family would be supportive (they better be). But extended family? Friends? I held back on telling people for a long time. Then came my first publication. A short children's poem called "Ode To Mud" in Stories For Children magazine. Suddenly I had enough confidence to whisper to a few people what I was doing... And wow! I'm lucky to have such supportive people in my life. I believe there was only one person who looked at me like, oh no, you think you can write? I still hesitate when others ask what I do, but I've trained myself to say "I'm a writer." Because I am. Of course I now have my fair share of people asking me to proofread their reports and things. But I don't mind.
  • The Depth of Learning Involved. I joked with my husband recently that I probably have the equivalent of a self-taught Masters degree. But really, it's probably true. I'm not putting down anyone's graduate program, I'm just saying, I've put so much effort into studying craft over the last few years that I'm amazed at the amount of information swimming in my head. I love that part of it though! And I look forward to continuing my education.
  • The Emotional Rollercoaster. I was an actress for a time, so I'm no stranger to the whole expect rejection thing. But this is different. For one thing, it takes more time to get that rejection, which is probably what I personally have had the hardest time with. On an audition, you know pretty quickly whether you made it to callbacks or not. But wow, when you DO get an acceptance? Or a good review? I'll take a smattering of those soaring feelings in exchange for all the waiting any day.
  • The Friendships. I've made some of the best friends of my life doing this. They really "get" me and I get them. I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world. It might sound sappy, but it's true! You know who you are.
I could go on, but I promised to try and keep it short. What did you never expect when you started writing? Share!

34 comments:

  1. What a great post. I still can't really even whisper, "I'm a writer," but I'm getting closer. What I didn't expect: the community. When I started writing, I had no idea that I could share the experience with all these people who were going through the same thing. It's been awesome and unexpected.

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  2. I know exactly what you mean about the relationships - I've been amazed how many writers, editors, agents out there that are sharing their advice and experiences. And how friendly everyone is! The greatest thing I've learned from starting my own writing story is that people are amazing and worth believing in - for every bad egg there are at least a hundred good ones.

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  3. Awesome post, Lisa!

    I agree with you 100% on the relationships, learning and interactions. Everyone in this industry is always friendly. They're ready and willing to give their advice, tips and tricks.
    To me, similar to those who practice yoga, you're almost always a student. Writers are always learning more about the craft from others writers, which is one of the many reasons why I love this industry. It doesn't matter if you're published or not...there's always room to grow in your writing. And regardless of the rejections, I will never stop writing in hopes for that *one* acceptance.
    My husband always knew, but it took me a few years to finally tell my family and they've been very supportive. My friends though...only a select few know about my 2nd job, but that will change with time.

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  4. Yes, yes, 1000 times yes to all of this. Writing is a hard endeavor, full of heartache and self-doubt, but there are SO MANY positive aspects to it. The YA community in particular is such a supportive environment that it's hard to stay down for a long time. I love it here. :)

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  5. Love this post! The accessibility to methods of improvement just blows me away. I mean, there are tons of people out there who WANT to help you! From the forums on AW to the agents/editors who participate in things like WriteOnCon to the Secret Agent Contests on Miss Snark's First Victim...I just had no idea about those things when I first started. It's such a supportive community. And it's cheaper than golf. I wish my hubby would take up writing too :)

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  6. Whoa. Get out of my head, Lisa. Lol. I feel the exact same way. (well, except for the having something published bit) :D

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  7. Meeting you was one thing I never expected! The support of the writing community, both local and online is a close second. The depth of the joy in creating words on a page, probably tied with suppport for second. The continuation of the expansion of "self" to absorb life around me not only as a possible story theme or character, but in my own life.

    After more than a half-century of making up the story of my own life, I know get to enjoy the process of doing that with others on the page.

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  8. Once again you guys are AWESOME! I love hearing your experiences, they make me :D

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  9. Everything you said! And maybe the undertaking. And organizing my life to look at writing as a career - just one I don't get paid for yet. :)

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  10. I've learned so much too, I know exactly what you mean! I never expected the friendships either but they have been probably the best part. It's touching how wonderful the writing community can be, and you my dear are a big part of it. :)

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  11. Agree with all points -- especially the depth of learning. Forget masters, this is more like a PhD! :-)

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  12. I love this post. The depth of learning is phenomenal. I think the level of dedication required is what has hit me hardest. It wasn't that I didn't KNOW that you have to keep writing, writing, writing, day in and day out; it's putting it into practice that has humbled me.

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  13. I try to avoid mentioning I'm a writer because then all those awful questions happen that make me feel an inch tall. I wrote my first book without a clue about blogs and agents and the like, but the last year as I've written my other two, it's been like a whole new world was out there that I get to discover a piece at a time.

    I could do without Rejection Island, though. That place blows.

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  14. Cool, I didn't know you were an actress. :)

    When I first started, I thought it would be just me and the pen -- a lonely existence -- so I'm very happy that I was wrong about that. And it's great to find a supportive group.

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  15. I agree with everything you said. It's been such a huge journey, very educational, and very worth it. :)

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  16. Love your list, Lisa. I was a drug rep in my previous life. Talk about rejections. I would have preferred a form rejection any day to some of the snarky comments I occasionally got. ;)

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  17. I never knew how much of writing a novel is rewriting. I like that I learned early on from another writer that she considered rewriting/revision as an opportunity. If you think of it that way, instead of as a pain in the ass, it takes you to deeper, more creative places.
    Your list is great. I couldn't agree more.

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  18. Your blog is one of my favorite "Unexpecteds," Lisa. I'm glad you work so hard studying craft, and then share it all so clearly. We write pretty different stuff, but I always get something from your posts.

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  19. I have an MFA in theatre design, and I can attest that the density of information I've learned about writing since I made the commitment eighteen months ago to treat it as my second job, is indeed at least equal to what I learned in the same time span in grad school. The loveliest surprise has been the writing community. Wow. Big hearts and mad creativity.

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  20. Love you heaps.

    I never expected to be so accepted either. Cos my brain? It goes way off on a tangent sometimes!

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  21. I'll expect to find more unexpecteds when I get more into it.
    I haven't been published yet, but I already tell people I'm a writer. Since high school, I've gone back and forth and looked into a bunch of different areas because I didn't have a clue what I was going to do for a career. And I never found anything I really liked until I decided to take my writing seriously (I had been writing before that but didn't think I would make it more than a hobby). It still remains to be seen whether I can actually make something like a living doing this. I guess that's an unexpected that I really hope to find. It kinda seems hopeless with such tiny "odds"*, but I've got to try.
    (*Why do we call it 'odds' when it isn't something that depends on chance?)
    -David

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  22. Right on about having the masters degree from self-study. Honestly, I don't think I could have learned everything that I have in the past year in a single college course. Maybe over the course of four years. I also feel like I'm still just scratching the surface of what can be learned.

    I can totally see you as an actress, Lisa. Gregarious and high energy, it would be great to see you on screen.

    Peace.

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  23. Great post.

    I think my biggest surprise was the support from those in the industry already or still writing away and querying. I really never have seen any industry where so many people want to help others get ahead. It's a refreshing change.

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  24. Thank you all for the AMAZING comments! Since I'll be at SCBWI LA I don't know if I'll get a chance to visit you this week! My apologies....

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  25. SO TRUE. I love that you really can talk to the author of the book you just poured over, and reactions from people you know about your passion? Really surprising. Great post!

    From your newb follower :)

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  26. Excellent post, Lisa! You covered so much of how I feel, but the biggest shock and the one I'm always the most grateful for is the community. Despite the fact that every other writer out there is "competition" in one form or another, everyone is always so supportive and willing to help. That, to me, is beyond awesome and it feels even better to give back!

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  27. Your first bullet hits it beautifully! At home, I have a signed copy of a book by an author who asked me for my address so she could send me that book. It reflects a kind of exchange the me of even a year ago would have been startled by. What makes it all the more beautiful? There are so many like, wonderful exchanges.

    Unlike law school, where folks hoarded information the better to enhance their grades, this is a world full of information-sharing. I'm grateful to be a part of it!

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  28. Wonderful insight and so true. What I didn't expect is that writing would become a lifelong passion. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't write. What a journey.

    Kathi

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  29. I can relate to all of these points. You're right about the learning, and there's no end to it, but we love it! It's been an amazing journey, and that roller coaster ride is something else, isn't it? The writer friends I've made over the years are like gold and some have become my best friends. Being a writer has enriched my life way beyond my expectations.

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  30. Yes, to all of these. I want that sign for my office!

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  31. Yes! Exactly! I didn't tell anyone but my husband and my cousin that I was writing for about 2 years. Then I decided I really had to get serious, so when I started attending conferences, I started telling people I write. Friends and family have mostly been supportive, and that has been great. So is the support you find in this online community.

    I am so glad to be part of this community and this life!
    -Vicki

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  32. This is a great list. I agree with these. I didn't expect to be part of such a supportive and awesome community of writers, and I'm grateful for it! :)

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  33. Ditto, ditto, ditto! You said it perfectly. And they were all great surprises to me when they happened. I'm glad I didn't know beforehand, it's made the journey even more wonderful and worth it:)

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  34. Love this post. This is why its about the journey, not the destination.

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