So You Want To Make A Living Writing? 13 Great Truths

Is this your blog? =/

Nope. It's a link to Bob Mayer's motivational site. Which has some interesting stuff, but should probably be taken with healthy skepticism.

I read through with a kind of "meh" reaction, then got to "New York is hanging on to its antiquated business model instead of embracing change." and decided that's not a person to pay any more attention to...

Can you tell me, OP, what you took away from that that was new or different? It looks like a lot of recycled schlock to me, but (and I mean this sincerely!) clearly it spoke to you, so I'd like to know which element you thought was new or revelatory?

I personally don't think that "the only person standing in the way of your success is you" is true or works very well--not everybody's cut out to be a professional writer, not everyone can tell a story that speaks to enough people to make a living, not all books can or will sell. And I get really bothered by the "It's all you!" rhetoric that attaches to this sometimes--as if anybody can do it, so the fact you didn't means you're a failure as a human as well as a writer. They get you coming and going that way!

Not very original and pretty much not very helpful. Sorry, maybe for someone brand new...

Jeff

Haven't read the blog; have seen Bob Mayer give talks, and I've read Who Dares Wins.

He's got an interesting mindset and slant on writing, and it's one that isn't common among writers. I think he's worth listening to just because his advice doesn't approach the craft quite the same way others have. Anything that stretches your brain is good for you, and his mini-seminar, at least, did stretch my brain.

I agree with the others. These are all things I already know. And I agree with Red and not everyone is cut out to be a writer. People can go through all the motions and still be stuck at where they are at, not getting published. Or getting published and not selling books.

And I can NOT stand when people say just keep writing story after story after story. I know some writers that have been doing this for twenty years plus and they still make very little money.

Undercover said:

And I can NOT stand when people say just keep writing story after story after story. I know some writers that have been doing this for twenty years plus and they still make very little money.

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Oh yes - the "widget mentality".

Practice cannot, in all cases, make perfect. Some folks will just never get there. I've seen it in art, too.

Filigree said:

Practice cannot, in all cases, make perfect. Some folks will just never get there. I've seen it in art, too.

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Do you think that these people never achieve "success" because they never rise to a sufficient level of competency, or because they're never in the right place at the right time?

It seems to me that with enough work on your craft, you can become "good", but success may allude you because you're good at writing stuff no one wants to read.

Success - however one defines it - can elude a writer for so many reasons. Some of it is basic competency, some is luck. I tend to take a dim view of 'luck' as an excuse for negative outcomes. I've seen too many writers who essentially made their own luck, by making the most of opportunities that other writers may have missed. I've messed up spectacularly at times, but at least I can put about 90% of the fault on my shoulders.

Storytelling is just one of those words thrown around a lot I tend to ignore, as I see it in "advice" tweet a bunch. You can tell a story with anything, but writing is writing.

I have nothing against storytelling, but it's driving me nuts seeing that word thrown around a bunch. If writing were as easy as storytelling, more people would be writers. Not saying it's a bad class, just not a great first impression.

JustSarah said:

Storytelling is just one of those words thrown around a lot I tend to ignore, as I see it in "advice" tweet a bunch. You can tell a story with anything, but writing is writing.

I have nothing against storytelling, but it's driving me nuts seeing that word thrown around a bunch. If writing were as easy as storytelling, more people would be writers. Not saying it's a bad class, just not a great first impression.

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you and me should have dinner together.

shadowwalker said:

I read through with a kind of "meh" reaction, then got to "New York is hanging on to its antiquated business model instead of embracing change." and decided that's not a person to pay any more attention to...

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Yeah, when you hear that, it's time to stop listening and go look for someone who knows something.

Sargentodiaz - that's an interesting link. Thanks for sharing it.

Naturally when we read advice like that there will be much that we have already heard. I have lost count of the number of blogs that I have read that tell me "the X things that every aspiring writer needs to know". Each one repeats a lot of what I've already read but sometimes adds some new thoughts as well.

That doesn't diminish its important or relevance. Each of us will take what we need from a piece like that.

Thanks for sharing it.