tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post5497932669114089346..comments2024-01-12T11:26:35.176-05:00Comments on Working Stiffs: When it comes to writing, throw everything in the pot and let it simmerWorking Stiffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270595837074553752noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-33098963279325934632007-10-20T12:00:00.000-04:002007-10-20T12:00:00.000-04:00As I read through all these responses, it occurred...As I read through all these responses, it occurred to me that that the question of “age” is more of a byproduct of the answer than the answer itself. As some noted, it’s a maturity level that grew. The accumulation of life experiences that contributed to better writing. If age were purely the answer than we’d all be experts and gurus after hitting the 40/50/60+ milestones. The fact is some (dare I say “many”?) do not persist in their endeavors like the GOOD writers do (and this can pretty much be applied to anything). And, yes, “luck” (however defined) does play a role in success. But, persistence, it is said, is the key to success. If you do anything long enough, you’re bound to get good at it. Perhaps. I’m still trying to prove that point, myself. But like being good at anything, short of the few phenoms in the world, it takes time. Like Donnell said, things have to simmer--again, barring the geniuses in the world, cause there’s always someone out there who likes to throw off the Bell Curve (pardon the pun!). I also think that there are quality, not to mention metaphysical reasons why some make it and others don’t, and it has nothing to do with age.<BR/><BR/>I always like to think of what Diane Mott Davidson said, years ago, when she just got her big break into the biz, when speaking at a writers conference I attended. She ignored any of the things that would or could hinder her success, she just did what she did and took a positive approach. Some may consider this Pollyanna and overly simplistic, but I think that could well serve all of us, be it relating to age, gender, genre, or anything else!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-128230370593506372007-10-20T09:15:00.000-04:002007-10-20T09:15:00.000-04:00Hi Donnell! Enjoyed the post. I wish I could answ...Hi Donnell! Enjoyed the post. I wish I could answer your question about age and maturity. I guess the longer I live, the more experiences I have from which to draw. <BR/><BR/>If I ever mature, I'll let you know. *LOL*<BR/><BR/>CherylCheryl Normanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09990039633807567449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-73411076259128929622007-10-20T02:17:00.000-04:002007-10-20T02:17:00.000-04:00Love the entire article, Donnell! Thanks for inclu...Love the entire article, Donnell! Thanks for including me :)<BR/><BR/>Christopher Paolini was 17 when he wrote Eragon. I think age and experience is important, but not absolutely essential. George Lucas apparently was a difficult student, struggled through school, because he daydreamed all the time. And look where he is!<BR/><BR/>But someone like me . . . I chose a career and family and treated writing as a hobby until I realized that writing was part of ME. It took a lot of time and growing up to accept that and make the sacrifices to achieve my goals.<BR/><BR/>(Love your story, Laura! Especially about your patients being so shocked at your age . . . ;)Allison Brennanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05598446973999304028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-81771739112177633102007-10-19T22:36:00.000-04:002007-10-19T22:36:00.000-04:00Hi, everyone, I enjoyed being here with you today....Hi, everyone, I enjoyed being here with you today. Thanks to all the wonderful authors who shared their comments, young or old, whatever your passion, never give up on it. Thank you for blogging with me. Stay safe out there. ~ DonnellAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-36711899498595155402007-10-19T21:27:00.000-04:002007-10-19T21:27:00.000-04:00Great post Donnell. I was a nurse when I was 20 an...Great post Donnell. I was a nurse when I was 20 and my patients used to ring their call light and when I came in, they asked me if they could get their nurse. The look of horror on their face when I told them I was their nurse was priceless.<BR/><BR/>Just goes to show that any career at any age has their ups and downs, but overall it's very much how we approach the situation. I think I was still a good nurse, just a young one. I do think though, that I got a little better with experience.<BR/><BR/>As writers, our experience can come from contests, rejections and of course hopefully getting published. For all the writers out there, it's the experience of the process that really counts!Laura Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06145556682763073782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-68553507156887879932007-10-19T20:12:00.000-04:002007-10-19T20:12:00.000-04:00Great blog, Donnell! I'll be seeing Laura Iding t...Great blog, Donnell! I'll be seeing Laura Iding tomorrow at my chapter meeting, I hope. She's amazing!<BR/><BR/>I agree what so many of the others said. That my life experience goes into my books. I have more to write about now. My books have more depth, and my characters and plots come from what I feel deeply about.Edie Ramerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17084144940233965447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-57007828758682673372007-10-19T16:49:00.000-04:002007-10-19T16:49:00.000-04:00What a wonderful blog, Donnell! Each one of us ha...What a wonderful blog, Donnell! Each one of us has a unique perspective on life. That perspective is what makes storytelling so wonderful. <BR/>Thanks for sharing!<BR/>JeanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-54675076357653564932007-10-19T13:53:00.000-04:002007-10-19T13:53:00.000-04:00Wow, Sue, I don't think I could have said it bette...Wow, Sue, I don't think I could have said it better than that! <BR/><BR/>Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-91667877282436679792007-10-19T13:49:00.000-04:002007-10-19T13:49:00.000-04:00Donnell: Thanks for the enlighted article. Writers...Donnell:<BR/><BR/> Thanks for the enlighted article. Writers come in all ages and trying to convince schoolkids of this is like pulling taffy, some stick, others puddle, and the rest get it just right. But all end up with the sweet taste of victory for trying.<BR/> Writing is a vocation that an individual can do whenever she wants, whether she's 1, 8, 18 or 81. The best thing is every person's life's experiences are unique to that person at that point in the person's time, and as they mature, their experiences change, broadening, and expanding.<BR/> Thus, your point about having more ingredients to use in various ways as an adult is valid. Likewise, the enthusiam of a young cook beaming with success when serving her first cake to her family.<BR/> Writing is an individual activity that lasts a lifetime.<BR/> Don't believe me? Pick up a pen and try it for yourself.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07275424210001494822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-75442587927151021362007-10-19T12:28:00.000-04:002007-10-19T12:28:00.000-04:00Kristine, great comment! If you look back on the ...Kristine, great comment! If you look back on the authors and bloggers who commented today, I suspect you'll see they've always had a story to tell. Annette said she wrote stories with crayons, Kylie Brant said she could have started writing earlier but put her kids first, Allison Brennan said she wrote Stephen King when she was 13! Writers aren't made they're born. As for criticism, I judge a lot of contests. I can't begin to tell you how many high school and college students I've judged where their voice just sings. I gave you a list of people who used life experience as a tool, I can think of two people off the top of my head, Lisa Gardner and Lisa Keyplas, who were published in their twenties. (they obviously had a story(s) to tell ;) You mentioned something important, you're not only writing, you're learning. Listen to criticism only if it is well intended. If it is hurtful, consider the source and toss it. Thanks for writing. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-85276498699740464562007-10-19T12:12:00.000-04:002007-10-19T12:12:00.000-04:00What a great blog, Donnell! The wonderful thing a...What a great blog, Donnell! The wonderful thing about this career is that you're never too old to write! I know that when my youngest (now 10) is grown up and I'm an empty-nester, I'll never be bored or wonder what to do with my life. Writing is something I'll always have and I feel blessed to have found something I'm so passionate about!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-80053051788076246692007-10-19T11:57:00.000-04:002007-10-19T11:57:00.000-04:00Welcome back, Donnell! I really enjoyed reading yo...Welcome back, Donnell! <BR/><BR/>I really enjoyed reading your blog, and I think it raises an interesting question about age and writing.<BR/><BR/>I'm a fairly younger writer (early 30's) in relation to my peers and as a result, I have been criticized (not by anyone here or in our group, of course). Usually I'm the first to stand up for my generation when people criticize that writers my age are too young or don't have enough life experience to be a writer. I think we all write from where we are in life and while I may not have a lot of life experience, I write what I know and don't claim to have all the answers. <BR/><BR/>Having said that, however, I've been writing seriously for six years, and I feel as if I'm still learning where my comfort zone is and where my writing "fits." It's a journey, that's for sure, and maturity plays a BIG part.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-90152258798111098132007-10-19T11:24:00.000-04:002007-10-19T11:24:00.000-04:00I'm right on track! Good post, Donnell.I'm right on track! Good post, Donnell.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-137477468053442492007-10-19T09:56:00.000-04:002007-10-19T09:56:00.000-04:00Yeah, as much as I love old Snidely, I sure don't ...Yeah, as much as I love old Snidely, I sure don't want him in my books!Joyce Tremelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00498392016497131719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-83064351143931463082007-10-19T09:16:00.000-04:002007-10-19T09:16:00.000-04:00LOL, Joyce, did you have Snidely Whiplash villain?...LOL, Joyce, did you have Snidely Whiplash villain? Have you ever heard the remark, your protagonist is too perfect, he/she has no flaws. You gotta make them human, and life and years make us aware of how very human people are.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-89941294461124503332007-10-19T09:10:00.000-04:002007-10-19T09:10:00.000-04:00Thanks so much for this, Donnell!I definitely thin...Thanks so much for this, Donnell!<BR/><BR/>I definitely think age and maturity help my writing. As one of the authors said, you learn to see things in shades of gray instead of black and white. <BR/><BR/>When I look back at some things I wrote years ago, I cringe when I see how the heroes were ALL good and the villains ALL bad. Real people (or real characters for that matter) aren't one dimensional like that.<BR/><BR/>You have to experience life before you can write about it.Joyce Tremelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00498392016497131719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-20844322187863177732007-10-19T08:37:00.000-04:002007-10-19T08:37:00.000-04:00Tory, what you did to your music was layer. Well ...Tory, what you did to your music was layer. Well done! Have you ever noticed that the best writers take a simple statement and make it their own, leaving their own indelible mark on it? Thanks for the welcome!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-48104641423349015242007-10-19T08:25:00.000-04:002007-10-19T08:25:00.000-04:00Good morning, Annette, thanks for having me back.:...Good morning, Annette, thanks for having me back.:)) It's early where I'm at so I'm off to get coffee, but you make your point so well. Our life experience and *work* in my opinion is paid research. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-76394683287748321432007-10-19T07:03:00.000-04:002007-10-19T07:03:00.000-04:00Welcome to Working Stiffs, Donnell!What a great bl...Welcome to Working Stiffs, Donnell!<BR/>What a great blog.<BR/><BR/>Actually, your stories reminded me of playing violin. When I was in High School, I practiced an hour a day on classical music. In grad. school, I started playing folk music. Once I graduated, I didn't have time to practice much, but I noticed that I could take the simple tunes I played and make them sing. That had never been my strength in High School. While youth sometimes gives us impressive skills, it usually takes maturity to make them into real music!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-23595265359237102072007-10-19T06:15:00.000-04:002007-10-19T06:15:00.000-04:00Welcome back, Donnell!I started writing so long ag...Welcome back, Donnell!<BR/><BR/>I started writing so long ago that my first writing implement was a crayon. I wrote several "novels" longhand in bound notebooks while I was in school. But then I slipped into a 25 year writer's block when I thought life got in the way. Now, I realize it was a good thing because life gave me the material I needed to write something folks might be interested in reading. <BR/><BR/>Life experience is what gives our material its soul.Annettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02755947919433555176noreply@blogger.com