Writing

Chan790

(20,176 posts)

2. Narcissism.

Sat Aug 10, 2013, 08:47 PM

Aug 2013

"I went to law school, I write legal briefs all the time, how hard could it really be? I really always wanted to be a writer, I wish I'd pursued it more diligently. Well, it's never too late."

I appreciate their desire and agree, it is never too late...most novelists don't hit their stride until they have some life experience behind them: over 30, usually closer to 40 or older. What they miss is that their newfound desire means they should take a class and start writing, start doing exercises, start jotting down their thoughts for the day, start reading...not sit down and write Shitty Moby Dick which is a lot like Moby Dick only unoriginal, meandering, long-winded, pretentious, pointless, uninspired, transparently-trite, plagued with bad prose and tired.

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Why do people who hardly read books think they can be authors? [View all] mainer Aug 2013 OP

I think it must be part of the Great American Dream. CaliforniaPeggy Aug 2013 #1

Narcissism. Chan790 Aug 2013 #2

These days I read legal briefs nadinbrzezinski Aug 2013 #16

actually, it is wired into us I think. Good or bad, I hail writers. roguevalley Sep 2014 #27

LOL. Neoma Aug 2013 #3

As Chan 790 says, narcissism. SheilaT Aug 2013 #4

When I was starting out decades ago, I found a writer's group helpful mainer Aug 2013 #12

Worse yet, I write science fiction. SheilaT Aug 2013 #13

SF is, if anything, unpredictable! mainer Aug 2013 #14

Sheesh. DavidDvorkin Aug 2013 #15

same rule applies to aspiring screenwriters.... TeamPooka Aug 2013 #5

I think almost anybody thinks they can be a writer. If they can write a grocery list, they think raccoon Aug 2013 #6

Anyone can write and I don't think that's a bad thing. hunter Aug 2013 #7

The New York Times best seller lists. SheilaT Aug 2013 #8

Another problem with best seller lists... Thespian2 May 2015 #37

I liken it to wannabe musicians who hardly listen to music mainer Aug 2013 #9

You're in good company Olive Birch Apr 2016 #41

Before audiobooks got big exboyfil Nov 2018 #51

The wannabe musicians who won't deign to learn how to count rhythm, how to play in tune, fierywoman Nov 2018 #52

What inspired this OP was a doctor who handed me his "book" mainer Aug 2013 #10

I write for fun and have no illusions about becoming published or about my work being good. valerief Aug 2013 #11

I guess my experience is different than many here. I agree with you, Valerief. roguevalley Sep 2014 #28

Absolutely. There's more narcissism in having children (I want a mini-me!) than in wanting to write. valerief Sep 2014 #30

Just happened to me again. ANOTHER doctor tried to hand me his manuscript, mainer Aug 2013 #17

Another reason so many semi-literates think they can be a writer, SheilaT Aug 2013 #18

Bubonicon sounds like fun. Great name for a conference! mainer Aug 2013 #19

Yes, it is a great name. SheilaT Aug 2013 #20

I was injured in 1991, nilesobek Jan 2014 #21

Please do press "send"!!! mainer Jan 2014 #22

It would be awesome to be able to inspire someone. nilesobek Jan 2014 #24

Far better that YOU get it published. It's your story. mainer Jan 2014 #25

Curiously enough, it was reading that started me writing. Savannahmann Jan 2014 #23

I love to read and cntrygrl Feb 2014 #26

try it anyway. tell it on paper like you are talking to someone. Start small, then roguevalley Sep 2014 #29

Just do it JennyD Feb 2015 #33

I never wrote a masterpiece... Thespian2 May 2015 #38

This message was self-deleted by its author dreambeliever Feb 2015 #31

In the strictest sense of the word, you're correct that SheilaT Feb 2015 #32

Message auto-removed Name removed Apr 2015 #34

hard to finish Zippyjuan May 2015 #35

Here's another problem with the world of on-line publication. SheilaT May 2015 #36

Another thought sam_i_am Jul 2015 #39

Yep. Ideas are a dime a dozen SheilaT Jul 2015 #40

This pet peeve transcends many professions. Olive Birch Apr 2016 #42

Good point. SheilaT Apr 2016 #43

I guess it's for the same reason that people think they are experts raccoon Dec 2016 #44

I'm someone who loves to read, and who reads a lot. PoindexterOglethorpe Dec 2016 #45

Those who hardly think they are authors Goose3 Aug 2017 #46

Yes. Academic writing is another problem. PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2017 #47

Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2017 #48

Ignorance Separation Oct 2018 #49

There really is this sense out there that anyone can write. And be published. PoindexterOglethorpe Nov 2018 #50

You make a good point. LaelthsDaughter Feb 2021 #53