I am not a part of the Starbucks going, sitting in a loud place with my mac laptop, trying to write that next bestseller-type individual.
But I know people who are.
Recently I've been trying to write a novel, hopefully the first of four well planned out sagas because I have a love for writing, I love storytelling, and with a shortage of jobs for college students like me during this debt-crazed recession period, it's the one thing I know I can do without my having to send out a resume and:
1) not get a response
2) get a response only to find I am not qualified for said position
3) go to an interview only to be told the position is filled
4) be told I need a masters degree for something as ridiculous as a babysitting job
etc...
So, I've forced some of that pendant le semestre discipline and forced myself to study the structure involved in storytelling. Lots of books were read in order to help me become well versed in the functions of, how stories are structured with specific plot points in specifically marks sections of every novel, character arcs and development, etc. And it is daunting to see how many of my initial ideas have been tweaked or thrown out before the story has even started, before I've even put the pen to paper.
And this is where my slight condescension comes in for Starbucks addicted don't-I-look-cool-with-my-mac-laptop-while-the-barista-loudly-makes-her-seven-hundredth-frappachino type NYC writers. How can you focus with so much going on around you? How can you pay attention to your protagonist when he's just found out that person who murdered his wife was not the jealous mother but his overly affectionate adoptive mother? You can't unless you possess the amazing power of completely muting the world around you, a gift I certainly don't possess.
And I find a parallel between these people and people who share an English Major with me. I've found since starting college that the most "slacker" degrees out there are Philosophy, Psychology, and English. I feel that this is because with a moderate talent for bullshitting (excuse my French) one can pretty much "skate on by" an entire semester.
"Those are the majors people pick when they don't know what to pick. Those are the majors people pick when they don't have a plan."
And while I can see how this may somewhat be true, the same could be said for the flux of business majors graduating from colleges who chose their majors not for joy of the subject or any prominent skill in business but simply because they want to thrive in a capitalist driven society.
So I'm a little frustrated with Joe Shmoe telling me that he's going to write a book. I'm a little irritated with Hannah Montana and Lizzie Maguire and every other celebrity who decides they can write a teen fiction novel on the side, and for being one of those "aren't I such a hipster, I write stories- wait, make that a venti" type people. Not because I want to stereotype and not because I want to discourage them from writing - I don't! I think everyone should try their hand at writing because you'd be surprised to find what you come up with and how expressive you can be - but because I feel like there's some beatnik type fascination with the idea of write and not the process or the writing itself.
Like "I'm so deep and creative man, I'm writing a book and stuff".
And worse, to fuel my distrust of New York writers who don't belong to magazines and newspapers, I have no friends with a shared passion for storytelling, which only facilitates my apprehension.
So if you're a writer or an aspiring writer like me (a legitimate one) please let yourself be known. Let me know what you're into, what you're working on, if you'd like to get together for some creative synergy.
Hoping to hear from you soon!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After post conversation to get the juices flowing:
But I know people who are.
Recently I've been trying to write a novel, hopefully the first of four well planned out sagas because I have a love for writing, I love storytelling, and with a shortage of jobs for college students like me during this debt-crazed recession period, it's the one thing I know I can do without my having to send out a resume and:
1) not get a response
2) get a response only to find I am not qualified for said position
3) go to an interview only to be told the position is filled
4) be told I need a masters degree for something as ridiculous as a babysitting job
etc...
So, I've forced some of that pendant le semestre discipline and forced myself to study the structure involved in storytelling. Lots of books were read in order to help me become well versed in the functions of, how stories are structured with specific plot points in specifically marks sections of every novel, character arcs and development, etc. And it is daunting to see how many of my initial ideas have been tweaked or thrown out before the story has even started, before I've even put the pen to paper.
And this is where my slight condescension comes in for Starbucks addicted don't-I-look-cool-with-my-mac-laptop-while-the-barista-loudly-makes-her-seven-hundredth-frappachino type NYC writers. How can you focus with so much going on around you? How can you pay attention to your protagonist when he's just found out that person who murdered his wife was not the jealous mother but his overly affectionate adoptive mother? You can't unless you possess the amazing power of completely muting the world around you, a gift I certainly don't possess.
And I find a parallel between these people and people who share an English Major with me. I've found since starting college that the most "slacker" degrees out there are Philosophy, Psychology, and English. I feel that this is because with a moderate talent for bullshitting (excuse my French) one can pretty much "skate on by" an entire semester.
"Those are the majors people pick when they don't know what to pick. Those are the majors people pick when they don't have a plan."
And while I can see how this may somewhat be true, the same could be said for the flux of business majors graduating from colleges who chose their majors not for joy of the subject or any prominent skill in business but simply because they want to thrive in a capitalist driven society.
So I'm a little frustrated with Joe Shmoe telling me that he's going to write a book. I'm a little irritated with Hannah Montana and Lizzie Maguire and every other celebrity who decides they can write a teen fiction novel on the side, and for being one of those "aren't I such a hipster, I write stories- wait, make that a venti" type people. Not because I want to stereotype and not because I want to discourage them from writing - I don't! I think everyone should try their hand at writing because you'd be surprised to find what you come up with and how expressive you can be - but because I feel like there's some beatnik type fascination with the idea of write and not the process or the writing itself.
Like "I'm so deep and creative man, I'm writing a book and stuff".
And worse, to fuel my distrust of New York writers who don't belong to magazines and newspapers, I have no friends with a shared passion for storytelling, which only facilitates my apprehension.
So if you're a writer or an aspiring writer like me (a legitimate one) please let yourself be known. Let me know what you're into, what you're working on, if you'd like to get together for some creative synergy.
Hoping to hear from you soon!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After post conversation to get the juices flowing:
me 2:43 am
Sadness. But seriously though, this writing thing is no joke and I feel like no one takes it seriously.
Sadness. But seriously though, this writing thing is no joke and I feel like no one takes it seriously.
me 2:44 am
A bit disappointing really. Especially when I need to defend novels to Business majors who say that the arts contribute nothing to society
A bit disappointing really. Especially when I need to defend novels to Business majors who say that the arts contribute nothing to society
friend 2:44 am
It's a lot to do with the strange hipster phenomenon that is sweeping society.
And those Business majors aren't going to make any money ever.
Art is the only thing that society needs it's the constant (other than obviously people).
It's a lot to do with the strange hipster phenomenon that is sweeping society.
And those Business majors aren't going to make any money ever.
Art is the only thing that society needs it's the constant (other than obviously people).
me 2:46 am
True but any business major will tell you that math and science is the place to be right now and that an arts degree is pointless as it hinders society by luring away people who could be doing something more useful.
True but any business major will tell you that math and science is the place to be right now and that an arts degree is pointless as it hinders society by luring away people who could be doing something more useful.
friend 2:47 am
ugh.
ugh.
me 2:47 am
That's generally when I look at them and say that science and history are ridiculously linked with literature because novels record history. For example, The Great Gatsby (classic example of the 1920's)
Or how science always tries to imitate what science fiction writers imagine in their novels.
That's generally when I look at them and say that science and history are ridiculously linked with literature because novels record history. For example, The Great Gatsby (classic example of the 1920's)
Or how science always tries to imitate what science fiction writers imagine in their novels.
friend 2:48 am
Yup.
Or we can look at the numbers.
Who makes the most money other than people who literally make money; entertainers.
Yup.
Or we can look at the numbers.
Who makes the most money other than people who literally make money; entertainers.
me 2:49 am
Exactly. And these sorts of things are some of the few that the U.S still produces itself
Exactly. And these sorts of things are some of the few that the U.S still produces itself
friend 2:49 am
Yeah.
Yeah.
* Let me know your thoughts on the matter!
Cool post. Screw Starshmucks
ReplyDelete"4) be told I need a masters degree for something as ridiculous as a babysitting job
ReplyDeleteetc…"
This right here sums up my hatred for Middle America.
And Don't worry. If you care, and you love your work, you'll be good.
perception is key. in western culture, we are taught to idolize appearances more than substance. it is all a grand show.
ReplyDeletelet the elitist starbucks robots live in their world of paraded superficial deception. those who succeed, often do so without praise or adulation.
as for the public view that pursuing a future in literature is "the easy way out", the hardest thing to do is to change someone's mind. the next time someone says something like that to you, kindly remind them that without "writing", we would still be stuck living in caves with no set language, electricity, or form of plumbing. it all came from written communication. business has done so much more harm than good. it is only second to religion for leading cause of wars, and atrocities.
This is why I’m an accountant.
ReplyDeleteI don’t have a creative bone in body, and I'm not a slacker, and not unemployed. I leave the book writing to the NYU grad who went into English for easiness sake and now is unemployed and talentless. Bad combination if you ask me.
NASM