Tuesday, January 03, 2012

A Writers Life




heres something neat i read from my writers book that miss dianne gave me.
(Spilling Ink: A Young Writer’s Handbook by Anne Mazer & Ellen potter.)


A Writer's Life

Is this your idea of fun...

...sitting in a room by yourself all day?
...staring at blank pieces of paper while you cast about for ideas?
...writing and rewriting the same sentences over and over?

Yes?  Well, have I got a career for you! To be a professional writer, you will need the following skills:

...time wasting
...day dreaming
...a knack for noticing things that annoy other people
...a delight in playing with words
...stubbornness
...a slight touch of insanity

Nobody feels sorry for writers. If we want to write in the middle of the night in a tree house in the backyard, wearing an electric lime green and orange ball gown, a beanie cap, wool socks, and Elmo slippers, that's our business. No one tells us what to do, or how to do it.

It's a dream job, so we shouldn't even think of complaining. Nevertheless, I'mgoing to complain. You should at least know what you're getting into.

1. Writing is some of the hardest work in the world. I call it "mental rock breaking."
2. Writing is lonely.
3. It takes a long time.
4. Even if you spend years on a project, you still might not succeed.

But, I also don't want to lie to you. Writing is one of the world's greatest jobs. Let's talk about why.

1. You're in charge. You set you hours: all day, half a day, three hours four times a week, or on weekends only.
2. You choose your working space: tree house, basement, closet, cafe, or the biggest and best room in your house.
3. You choose your method: by hand, by typewriter, by computer, by dictation.
4. You choose what to write: science fiction, fantasy, mystery, romance, historical fiction, nonfiction, technical writing, children's books, biography...
5. You choose the characters, the setting, the conflict and the style. (Okay, maybe some of them choose you, but still...without you, they'd never breathe or speak or have a life.)
6. You choose whether to write in first person or third person. You choose whether his eyes ar blue or gray. You choose whether she has a temper or is just too sweet to be believed.
7.You can create a universe from the smallest seed of an idea.
8. Your words, written in a solitary room by a single person, have the power to touch millions. They might turn someone who hates reading into a book lover. They might change the course of someone’s life. I once read a story about a famous actor who spent his teens lying, stealing, and beating people up – until he read Shakespeare.

I'll tell you the truth. Here's the best part of being a writer:

Your words can
Change the world!

WOW! how cool is that!

...hugs from lenny

42 comments:

  1. It is cool! Thanks for sharing this Lenny! You never know who your words might affect.

    Happy New Year! :)

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  2. Definitely VERY cool! There's a lot of great stuff in there. I especially like how she calls writing, "mental rock breaking". Awesome. :-)

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  3. Very inspirational, Lenny! Thanks for posting this :)

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  4. I love this! Words are powerful tools.

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  5. Very cool, Lenny! Thank you for sharing with us. :)

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  6. YAY! I'm so glad you're getting some good stuff out of that book! I like that list of skills. I think I have all that.

    My family probably thinks I have a double dose of that last one!

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  7. Awesome post, Lenny! The perfect thing to inspire everyone for the beginning of the new year. WTG! Happy New Year! (hug)

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  8. It is the coolest thing ever! I couldn't think of anything better in this whole world.

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  9. Lenny, this is awesome. You always share the best things. Happy New Year!

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  10. What a great post! That describes writers to a tee! I'm going to share this post with others.

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  11. I love that last part--Your words can change the world! Thanks for the inspiration, Lenny. Being a writer has all the ups and downs you describe, but I couldn't stop even if I wanted to.

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  12. I loved your post Lenny. All of it is so true--the good and the bad. And you really have a good way of saying it all.

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  13. You are already doing that, Lenny by your contact with others. x

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  14. Thank you for this very inspirational post, Lenny! Happy New Year Hugs!

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  15. What a great writing "kick in the butt!" It's good words of encouragement! I hope you had a great holiday! :)

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  16. Well I am definitely stubborn and insane! This list is the truth! <3 you!

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  17. Neat post Lenny. I don't mind staring at a blank piece of paper if there is a hope that it will have a few of my words.
    You do a great job at your age. How inspiring.

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  18. That is way cool! I really love the idea of touching someone's life with my writing. So many books and movies have inspired me, now I want to do the same for others. :)

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  19. Lenny, you are so right! (Maybe I should say, you are so write!)

    Love your words of writing wisdom.

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  20. Great words of encouragement! Thanks for sharing!

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  21. Happy New Year, Lenny. Go and change the world with your wise words!

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  22. LENNY!!! awesome!
    not only did this post make me think, it made me happy, and laugh too!
    HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

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  23. Lenny, you are the coolest, most awesome writer I know. I love you bunches. This book speaks the truth. Love the very last sentence. Our words really CAN change the world. What I love most about writing is this: We can be anyone, anything, and go anywhere with our stories. How cool is that? I heart you. <3

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  24. Happy New Year Lenny! This is such awesome, inspiring advice.. and truly reminded me of why I love writing so much.

    And you're very right... you can change the world with your words.. I know you will.

    Now I'm thinking about how cool it would be to write in a tree house!

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  25. I think this is the best post ever! Such the motivation I need right now. I want to change the world too. :o) Perhaps our words will do that one day, Lenny. Let's plan on it. :o) Thanks for another great post! Big Hugs!

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  26. You're the most honest and loving person I've ever met online.

    You and I are gonna be great friends Lenny, so send me a line whenever you want, bud! ^_^

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  27. GREAT POST! LOVE these tips.

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  28. Well said! It's nice to know I'm not alone:)

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  29. I think being a writer is the best job in the world. We can make anything happen, live any event we can dream up and for a short time, become other people. What other job allows this freedom?

    Hope you had a wonderful Christmas Lenny, and thank you so much for the Christmas card! I was my favorite!

    Hope your 2012 is full of great things. :)

    Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

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  30. Hahaha! Love this: ...a knack for noticing things that annoy other people. I'm with you. I want to change the world, even if it's only for a few hours in someone's imagination.

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  31. All those points are fabulous and true. But the one that always gets me, the one I often extend to others is that our words can change the world! Yes they can. Bravo!!

    Great post, Lenny.

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  32. AWESOME post, Lenny! Our words can change the world. I like that!

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  33. Awesome! I definitely have the stubbornness and the touch of insanity - so I'm all good! :) Hope you 2012 brings you all kinds of joy and laughter, Lenny!

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  34. What an excellent selection you chose!

    I don't have an electric lime green ball gown or Elmo slippers, but I do wear a watch cap, wool socks, and fuzzy slippers 'cause it's cold up here!

    Enjoy your day-dreaming, and thanks for making the writing life less lonely. :-)

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  35. Hi Lenny .. you are so right: YOUR WORDS AND BLOG CAN (and should) CHANGE MANY OF US .. you are an inspiration to all of us aspiring writers and bloggers ...

    You'd have trouble concentrating with your critters around, the birds, Mr Racoon, lying by your cousin's pool day dreaming .. sounds kinda fun - perhaps I can rewind the clock a little .. and spend time letting my mind wander.

    Love this Lenny - and what a great book to be given by Miss Dianne .. excellent reference book .. happy days and cheers - Hilary

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  36. Your words change the world every day, just through your blog! I can't wait to read one of your books :)

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  37. Yes, your words can change the world, and that truly is the greatest thing about writing! I can only dream that someday my words might change someone like other writers have changed me. Great post, Lenny!

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  38. Hi Lenny, Just stopped by again to say hello and thank you for coming over and following my blog. I'm glad you came to see me! Have a good weekend! :)

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  39. Definitely cool, Lenny! Great post, and thanks for helping to make the world a sunnier place through what you write.

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  40. Lenny, this is my favorite post of the day!!! So true. Writing is harder than anyone told me (so not cool...they should have warned me), but it's also the best job ever! And I agree, your words have already changed the world. <3

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Whatever wonderful, witty and wise words you manage to come up with!