Moth Orchid
Originally uploaded by teenytinyturkey
I've been thinking about writing a lot, where "writing" is a lot of different things.
It's the profession: I'm interning at two publishing companies (yeah bad choice, interning is already kind of terrible without having to do it twice concurrently). One is an agency, and another is a small independent publishing house.
It's the art: Some of the slush I have to read through at the agency is unspeakably bad. The agent I'm working with is known for representing Young Adult writers, which unfortunately means that people submit stuff to them that seems like it is actually written by (untalented) young adults. Don't get me wrong, I fully believe that young adults are capable of writing well, but the people who submit to us aren't young adults and don't write well, most of the time. I find myself using Harry Potter as my standard for good quality writing, but I re-realized while re-reading a bit of the sixth book last week that Harry Potter is amazing and JK Rowling is a wonderful writer. Maybe it is too high of a standard?
It is the act: In general, I want to write, and find the time to write, very badly. But I watched this documentary (about JK Rowling) and she says, in one of many inspirational epigrams, that she needs to write. I don't think I'm there yet. I don't have enough of any kind of story in me to need to write it. However, I do still try to write the few meager stories I have. They come out poorly and generally unfinished, because I haven't yet allowed myself to write for the story rather than for myself or the reader.
Thinking about writing might just be my sense of purpose trying to break out into the world and see where it might tentatively begin to dip its toes. Writing might not be it, but now's a good time to be thinking about it.
5 comments:
J K Rowling has magic writing powers! yay!
i'd say writing also counts as a release, like when you're all pissy (and by "you" i mean "me") and there's no one to orally tell about it, you can write it in a journal or in a not-intended-to-be-mailed hate letter ;) it's a good outlet for emotion!
... it's also sometimes a pain in the butt? like how right now i'm putting off writing a paper for class that's due in a week...
but i'm also writing right now! mostly to say "hi!" ... "hi alex!" ♥emma
I definitely agree, and I use it as a release also! I've also realized, though, that it's not quite the same as venting to a person! I need people to pretend my problems are important to them haha.
HI EMMA! ♥
skype me and tell me all your problems! i should be on at the normal time (but i'll have to leave after an hour, hour half or so to go see harry potter!)
p.s. why is it we haven't talked for real in a while?
p.p.s. i keep forgetting to ask about the special chocolate i sent to the b-day party... it was in the bag marked "share"...
It must be so interesting to read all those submissions! Do you find yourself constantly thinking "I could do better"?
Emma: Oh yeah, that chocolate got there fine! It melted after we put it in the hot car but then I freezed some again and it turned out great. :)
Sarah: Yes! Thanks for asking - I totally think I could do better, but at the same time I don't think I have the endurance to finish a whole novel. So in that sense, I admire these people. At the same time, I'm very intimidated by the agent I work with, and I constantly feel like my opinions/critiques are not up to snuff for him!
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