tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32085591.post7819766741663952222..comments2023-11-07T21:12:19.852-06:00Comments on Wyrdsmiths: A Writer by Any Other Nametate hallawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631759014508937940noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32085591.post-17282648238279667052007-10-21T16:52:00.000-05:002007-10-21T16:52:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Magenta Griffithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01865509319904520666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32085591.post-62812455166762428652007-10-19T14:18:00.000-05:002007-10-19T14:18:00.000-05:00I'm going to mildly disagree with Lyda, because I ...I'm going to mildly disagree with Lyda, because I think definitions are important in using words, and we all strive to understand those definitions and use our words in corcert with those menaings. I do think that all of us come to some kind of determination about the meanings of words--in my case, "writer" is one who writes (in an ongoing fashion), and "author" is a published writer.<BR/><BR/>However, before we get too sticky on those points, it's probably important for us to recognize that "writer" is widely defined (and here I mean in dictionaries) as being "one who writes"--occasionally "one who is engaged in writing" and even more occasionally with addendums such as what they are writing. "Author" is defined mainly as the writer of a specific work or works, and derives from the Latin "auctor"--which means?<BR/><BR/>You guessed it: writer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32085591.post-66389053255217143982007-10-19T13:56:00.000-05:002007-10-19T13:56:00.000-05:00Yeah! What Lyda said!Yeah! What Lyda said!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32085591.post-56823583049741931202007-10-19T13:19:00.000-05:002007-10-19T13:19:00.000-05:00Someone else on a different blog I posted this to ...Someone else on a different blog I posted this to tried to make the distinction between "author" and "writer" to me also, but I think that's just another artifical way of disrespecting the process. <BR/><BR/>Neil Gaiman may be more famous than me (and thus an "author",) but last time I talked to him, he still had to sit on his a** and write word after word just like I do. <BR/><BR/>Finished or unfinished, published or unpublished, what we do is _write_. We're writers.lydamorehousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03193266008038604325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32085591.post-86885123727620689722007-10-19T09:36:00.000-05:002007-10-19T09:36:00.000-05:00When I started this journey to literary greatness,...When I started this journey to literary greatness, I was told, "A writer is anyone who writes, but an author is someone who has published."<BR/><BR/>For now, I call myself an undiscovered writer.<BR/><BR/>For five years, my mother-in-law has called me a bum.<BR/><BR/>Since I don't have a regular paying job and none of my novels have been picked up, I guess both definitions work for now.<BR/><BR/>It's a situation I have to change soon one way or another. ;-)<BR/><BR/>-rick<BR/>http://www.muse-needed.blogspot.com/Rick Bylinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10493557860835710721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32085591.post-89235449337716515132007-10-18T19:10:00.000-05:002007-10-18T19:10:00.000-05:00You know, the truth is that most people just don't...You know, the truth is that most people just don't actually care what you do for a living unless you are rich, famous, or bizarre. I mean they ASK you what you do because it is a social nicety, but rarely does anybody really want to know what you do. When I was an English professor the conversation inevitably went like this:<BR/><BR/>Him: So, what do you DO?<BR/><BR/>Me: Oh I'm an English professor over at Podunk U. (tentative smile)<BR/><BR/>Him: Really? Hahaha I guess I'd better watch my grammar then! I never liked English class much. Hahaha. (Looks around for someone more interesting to talk to)<BR/><BR/>This conversation happened so often that I began to flinch when meeting people for the first time.<BR/><BR/>I find that saying I am a writer is just more of the same. Person asks what I do, I tell them, they ask a question, ascertain that I am not rich or famous, politely let me know I am not important to them, and we move on. LOL.<BR/><BR/>Fortunately I am interested in what everyone else does and I listen well so I still am able to have conversations at parties.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32085591.post-59370897351870503542007-10-18T16:12:00.000-05:002007-10-18T16:12:00.000-05:00Hey, Doug, that's a great subject for a longer pos...<I>Hey, Doug, that's a great subject for a longer post if you have the time to put one together.</I><BR/><BR/>Hey, that it does. :) I'll see if I can whip one out in the next day or so (lots going on at home, so I can't guarantee time to sit & process like I normally would). I'll get it up soon, though.<BR/><BR/>Michael-<BR/><BR/>Good luck. Let us know when it is "official" so we can check it out.Douglas Hulickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04221190213829107139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32085591.post-21445082832331597992007-10-18T15:38:00.000-05:002007-10-18T15:38:00.000-05:00Thanks Doug and Lyda.I’m really excited about this...Thanks Doug and Lyda.<BR/><BR/>I’m really excited about this project, and I’m chomping at the bit for it to be officially announced. The small press is known to at least one of the Wyrdsmiths.<BR/><BR/>Lyda- It’s not just you. I’ve had a lot of trouble explaining Archangel Protocol to people when I’ve been recommending it.Michael Damian Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14801106830378983906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32085591.post-86742074062241076132007-10-18T15:11:00.000-05:002007-10-18T15:11:00.000-05:00Hey, Doug, that's a great subject for a longer pos...Hey, Doug, that's a great subject for a longer post if you have the time to put one together. God knows, even though I do it too, I'm terrible at doing "out loud" pitches. I tend to want to explain everything, which is, as you point out, the exact wrong thing to do.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and great insight, Kelly. I wonder if the difference isn't the fact that Europeans respect process more? (Note to self: I should have probably have said "American" in my post when I just said "society.")<BR/><BR/>And, Michael, congrats from me as well!tate hallawayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06631759014508937940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32085591.post-7681685701766292872007-10-18T13:52:00.000-05:002007-10-18T13:52:00.000-05:00This is especially problematic for me since my fir...<I>This is especially problematic for me since my first professional non-fiction writing will be in a guidebook about a cult television niche for a small press. I end up taking minutes to explain what it exactly is and people tend to get more confused than interested.</I><BR/><BR/>First, congratulations! Second, I'd suggest you come up with a simpler way of describing it. Give them quick, easy facts. If they want to hunt it down, they will ask for more details; if not, you've given them enough to give them the idea that it is a specialty small press kind of thing.<BR/><BR/><I> I likewise hate talking about my fiction writing. I get tongue-tied when people ask me 20 questions about the entire outline of my in-progress novel.</I><BR/><BR/>This used to get to me as well; then I began putting together either "pitch lines" or "movie trailer descriptions." Basically, a one to two sentence overview of what the book about and who the main character(s) is/are. This saves you a lot of grief and lets you give the same answer to everyone. Again, if they want (or you feel like giving) more, you can spin out from there.<BR/><BR/>I tend to not go super-deep in to plot if I can help it when talking about a book (unless I am brain-storming, looking for suggestions, or pitching to an interested party in the industry). Most people don't want the guts and gore of the plot anyhow, I find. And if they insist and it doesn't seem like a good time/idea, I politely tell them that I don't like talking about it <I>too</I> much because I would rather write it than tell it (which is true), and I don't want to spoil the story for myself.<BR/><BR/>In short, don't feel like you have to justify or explain everything about your writing. It's hard not to, I know, but once you get used to it, it relieves a lot of stress. Just make sure you are gracious, since you have to figure you are always talking to potential readers.Douglas Hulickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04221190213829107139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32085591.post-748958653637026822007-10-18T13:23:00.000-05:002007-10-18T13:23:00.000-05:00Thank you, Kelly, Sean and Lyda.I guess that I can...Thank you, Kelly, Sean and Lyda.<BR/><BR/>I guess that I can call myself a writer who is becoming a working writer. :)<BR/><BR/>I’ve always been wary about identifying myself as a writer until I was professionally published. I think that people who presented themselves as writers even though they hadn’t actually written anything have made me cautious about applying the label to myself. <BR/><BR/>I also tend to squirm from all of those questions and explanations that Lyda hates. This is especially problematic for me since my first professional non-fiction writing will be in a guidebook about a cult television niche for a small press. I end up taking minutes to explain what it exactly is and people tend to get more confused than interested. I likewise hate talking about my fiction writing. I get tongue-tied when people ask me 20 questions about the entire outline of my in-progress novel.<BR/><BR/>This has been very helpful to me. You guys are great. This blog is such a great resource.Michael Damian Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14801106830378983906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32085591.post-84778614141859061602007-10-18T09:56:00.000-05:002007-10-18T09:56:00.000-05:00A quick addition, the publishing question being th...A quick addition, the publishing question being the second question is primarily an American phenomena--we are incredibly job oriented here. In Europe the second question is usually "What do you write?" At least that's been my experience and I've heard the same from others. It's an interesting cultural contrast.Kelly McCulloughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06399122960869198042noreply@blogger.com