Is this (f**king) "normal"?!

[kkbe]

I recently responded to a post asking if x was normal. I commented how we writers tend to wonder if what we're doing, or not doing, or thinking/not thinking about or worrying/not worrying about, is normal behavior. For a writer, I mean.

Then I thought, I'm a writer, so am I normal? Let me see:

1) I sit at my computer, chewing my cheeks incessantly whilst staring at the blank screen.

2) Amazing stuff flows out of me like a shit through a goose. It's a gift from God--His mind, to my hand, to keyboard, to screen. . .

It's a religious experience. Has to be.



2) I love my writing.

3) I hate my writing. And hence, myself. And hence, everybody else.

4) But I care what they think.

5) Except when I don't give a crap what they think.

6) But I want to influence what they think in a deeply meaningful way.

7) I am incredibly creative.

8) I have no creativity. I can't think of any ideas. At all. My mind is a vast and barren wasteland.

9) I am a really good writer.

10) I suck.

So, what's the verdict? Normal, or ?

Questions? Comments? Concerns?

[allmywires]

Heh. Sounds like me.

But to be honest I don't worry too much about 'is x normal'. I just write. *shrug*

(I worry more about 'is x absolute sh*te but that's another thing entirely)

[Maryn]

I don't have a lot of myself invested in being normal. I just want to be able to pass for normal when it's necessary or desirable, you know?

Maryn, odd and then some

[beautiful letters]

Well if your not normal then neither am I. Aren't all writers a little off their rocker?

[Shadow_Ferret]

What's normal?

[Susan Littlefield]

Normal is a setting on a washing machine. In other words, there is not normal.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[benluby]

Sorry. We're writers. We're usually the walking epitome of split personality syndrome, with dozens of characters running about throwing our shit out the window and peeing in the cooler.
If normal shows up, they typically duct tape him to the brain stem and tell him if he utters a word they'll castrate him with a pencil.

[mrsvalkyrie]

Originally Posted by benluby

If normal shows up, they typically duct tape him to the brain stem and tell him if he utters a word they'll castrate him with a pencil.

Not me. I slit his throat so I wouldn't have to worry about him coming back ever again. Too extreme, ya think?

[benluby]

Originally Posted by mrsvalkyrie

Not me. I slit his throat so I wouldn't have to worry about him coming back ever again. Too extreme, ya think?

We can't slit his throat. He's the only one that can order pizza and beer!

[srgalactica]

Originally Posted by kkbe

I recently responded to a post asking if x was normal. I commented how we writers tend to wonder if what we're doing, or not doing, or thinking/not thinking about or worrying/not worrying about, is normal behavior. For a writer, I mean.

lol. I was the OP on that post. I know I'm not normal. I was wondering if those fears an insecurities were normal amoung writers. It seems the answer is YES!

[buzhidao]

It's human to wonder if you are like other humans or alone in your experiences.

Everything you described sounds normal.

Here is what would be abnormal.

1) Illegally obtain an anaconda.

2) Tattoo intricate magical symbols all over it that represent, in a detailed fashion, various plot trajectories, themes, archetypes, character types, flaws, obstacles, settings, and random descriptions.

3) Repeat process with an alligator.

4) Fill a baby pool with sacred bull urine.

5) Place alligator and anaconda in the baby pool and wait for them to become locked in a deadly epic battle.

6) When one finally wins out, parse out the meaning of patterns in which injuries were sustained over the symbols.

7) Wait for the winner to poop out the remains of the loser.

8 ) Interpret the tone of the story from the nature of the excrement.

9) Kill the winning creature, stuff it, and implant a typewriter in its open jaws.

10) Drink laudanum and bull urine.

11) Pierce your lip with a sharpened crochet needle to heighten your senses and flood your brain with alertness.

12) Start writing.

[Mclesh]

KKBE, Can I just say, all of the above with reference to your original post?

[benluby]

Originally Posted by buzhidao

It's human to wonder if you are like other humans or alone in your experiences.

Everything you described sounds normal.

Here is what would be abnormal.

1) Illegally obtain an anaconda.

2) Tattoo intricate magical symbols all over it that represent, in a detailed fashion, various plot trajectories, themes, archetypes, character types, flaws, obstacles, settings, and random descriptions.

3) Repeat process with an alligator.

4) Fill a baby pool with sacred bull urine.

5) Place alligator and anaconda in the baby pool and wait for them to become locked in a deadly epic battle.

6) When one finally wins out, parse out the meaning of patterns in which injuries were sustained over the symbols.

7) Wait for the winner to poop out the remains of the loser.

8 ) Interpret the tone of the story from the nature of the excrement.

9) Kill the winning creature, stuff it, and implant a typewriter in its open jaws.

10) Drink laudanum and bull urine.

11) Pierce your lip with a sharpened crochet needle to heighten your senses and flood your brain with alertness.

12) Start writing.

Isn't that chapter one in 'Clive Barkers magical book writing course'?

[quicklime]

there is no normal. That's why Joyce Carol Oates doesn't write any normal people.

[kkbe]

Mclesh: KKBE, Can I just say, all of the above with reference to your original post?

By all means. You have my blessing! !

Buzhidao . . . I truly bow at your feet, assuming. . .

ETA:

quicklime: there is no normal. That's why Joyce Carol Oates doesn't write any normal people

Indeed! Was not it she who said,

“Our doubt is our passion, and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art.”
― Joyce Carol Oates

[mrsvalkyrie]

Originally Posted by benluby

We can't slit his throat. He's the only one that can order pizza and beer!

Shit. I never was one to think ahead... Well, I've got enough beer to last me the night while I stitch him up. No worries. He'll be up and running in no time!

[Amadan]

Normal, abnormal, meh, but incessant navel-gazing and seeking external validation for every stray thought is probably not terribly productive.

[Medievalist]

Varieties of Insanity Known To Affect Authors should be mandatory reading, as should the comments.

[Putputt]

Kkbe, all those things on your list describe my writing process perfectly. Except the one where you chew your cheeks. I don't do that. I just scratch my ass and play with my boobs.

[dfwtinman]

Here's me. I've posted this in the Share Your
Life forum. I want honest critting.
Unless I don't come off as all writerly
and sh*t 'Cause then, I'm all about My Work, the hell with the audience.
But let me know if that sounds right.

[Brightdreamer]

Eh, normal's overrated. Don't worry about it, and keep writing.

[rwm4768]

Originally Posted by kkbe

I recently responded to a post asking if x was normal. I commented how we writers tend to wonder if what we're doing, or not doing, or thinking/not thinking about or worrying/not worrying about, is normal behavior. For a writer, I mean.

Then I thought, I'm a writer, so am I normal? Let me see:

1) I sit at my computer, chewing my cheeks incessantly whilst staring at the blank screen.

2) Amazing stuff flows out of me like a shit through a goose. It's a gift from God--His mind, to my hand, to keyboard, to screen. . .

It's a religious experience. Has to be.



2) I love my writing.

3) I hate my writing. And hence, myself. And hence, everybody else.

4) But I care what they think.

5) Except when I don't give a crap what they think.

6) But I want to influence what they think in a deeply meaningful way.

7) I am incredibly creative.

8) I have no creativity. I can't think of any ideas. At all. My mind is a vast and barren wasteland.

9) I am a really good writer.

10) I suck.

So, what's the verdict? Normal, or ?

Questions? Comments? Concerns?

That sounds pretty normal to me. At least for a writer. I think we're strange by definition.

Originally Posted by buzhidao

It's human to wonder if you are like other humans or alone in your experiences.

Everything you described sounds normal.

Here is what would be abnormal.

1) Illegally obtain an anaconda.

2) Tattoo intricate magical symbols all over it that represent, in a detailed fashion, various plot trajectories, themes, archetypes, character types, flaws, obstacles, settings, and random descriptions.

3) Repeat process with an alligator.

4) Fill a baby pool with sacred bull urine.

5) Place alligator and anaconda in the baby pool and wait for them to become locked in a deadly epic battle.

6) When one finally wins out, parse out the meaning of patterns in which injuries were sustained over the symbols.

7) Wait for the winner to poop out the remains of the loser.

8 ) Interpret the tone of the story from the nature of the excrement.

9) Kill the winning creature, stuff it, and implant a typewriter in its open jaws.

10) Drink laudanum and bull urine.

11) Pierce your lip with a sharpened crochet needle to heighten your senses and flood your brain with alertness.

12) Start writing.

Have you been spying on my writing process?

[srgalactica]

Originally Posted by Amadan

Normal, abnormal, meh, but incessant navel-gazing and seeking external validation for every stray thought is probably not terribly productive.

I could be considered guilty of this with needing external validation from my boyfriend, whose writing I consider to be far better than mine.

I have to work very hard to keep myself in check, or else I think I might drive him nuts with it.

[jaksen]

Everyone likes to think they're special.

Writers, especially.

[DanielaTorre]

Originally Posted by jaksen

Everyone likes to think they're special.

Writers, especially.

Writers are the most pretentious lot I know.