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I agree with him. Writers possess both sides. I definitely flip between supreme confidence punctuated by sudden bowel-loosenig moments of high anxiety of "what the hell am I doing...where do I get off thinking anyone would read and enjoy this."

When they hit, it's terrifying and I think probably healthy to keep nudging you, keep your toes on the ground, keep you focused on how can I make this better, more exciting, more pacy.

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I suffer only from the latter. I do not believe others will like my writing... but I hope they will.

I am not sure I have talent and I am worried that Stephen King is correct - "Writer's are born not made" if that is the case then I may be deluding myself that I can write.

But, I am going to give it a go... and hope for the best. All I am certain of is that over the last few months I feel the need to write. I think that makes me a writer... alas not an author.

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I agree whole heartedly.


No I don't.


Yes I do.

Don't.

Do.

etc etc etc....


And on a more serious note...

Quote:

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As said by Steve
But, I am going to give it a go... and hope for the best. All I am certain of is that over the last few months I feel the need to write.

---

Honestly, I think that's all any of us do. I still don't think of myself as a writer. I write, that is all. But that's just me. hrug">

..............................
"the universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference - Richard Dawkins
Asteroid B-612

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Lisa

I have read your stuff. I think you are a writer, because you (and Brad) have stories coming out of your ears. Youw rite about all sorts of things.

I don't, I have one story... a big story to be sure but it is only one story idea... the only other stuff I do is for Tafe (college) or because soem little kids want a story.

By the way I love your characters and the little fairy getting squatted made me chuckle... you touched me with that story... so keep that one going... I look forward to more.

I think you will not only be a writer... but an author.

Can I come to your first book signing?

Cheers Steve

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Lisa

It may be semantics... but to me a writer is someone who writes... even press notices ... diary... newsletters...

I think you and i want to be authors... we want to be writers of novels etc... for me that is the difference.

And I love that fairy... reminded me of Petalwing from ELFQUEST.

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Haha, I guess I never thougth about people who write those things.

Hmm... how about we practice some of that conceit 'writers' have in spades and call ourselves novelists?

..............................
"the universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference - Richard Dawkins
Asteroid B-612

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Kij Johnson said at a lecture that all writers have 2 sides to them. One is strongly arrogant. We have to be. We're putting forth our scribblings with the supreme confidence that others will like it; love it, in fact.

The other side is this fearful, needy person. We're unsure of even the best of our writing and are surprised when someone gives our stuff praise.

I find myself vacillating between the two extremes quite often, and sometimes I feel both at once.

Anyone else experience this?

Brad.

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Steve, I started with one idea. A huge idea, as it turns out, and it was what got me going. We all have to start from somewhere. I can remember thinking when I started it, "What if this is the only idea I have?" Rest assured, as your writting grows, so does your imagination. You might have an idea for a scene that doesn't really fit into your current story, but you really like the idea... hey presto! Another story idea can grow from that.

Or, my other favourite source of inspiration... conversations. My friend and I were talking about endings one day (book and movie endings), and from one little thing my friend said, whamo! Story idea. (not gonna say what the thing she said was, because that would give away the whole concept of the book...hehe).

You can be certain that the fairy squishing story will be worked on until either it or me is dead (most likely me). Thank you for enjoying it! And you may certainly come to my first book signing. I'll make sure they have wheelchair access... "> (in other words, we're ALL going to be oldies by then...)

Not to disparage your compliment at all... but what is the difference between writer and author? I know I feel they're different, mainly because to me 'author' smacks of being published, while writer is ambiguous. Didn't King mention something about wondering why people called themselves writers and not authors these days?

..............................
"the universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference - Richard Dawkins
Asteroid B-612