On being a damned fool

[pjthompson]

With all the brouhahaing on LJ over whether or not to quit writing, I thought this quote popped out of the random quote file at a rather ironic time:

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no use in being a damned fool about it."

—W. C. Fields

Although I love Fields, irony and synchronicity, I much prefer the quote from Octavia Butler posted by norilana a few days back:

"One of the things I just told the class was not to worry about things like talent and inspiration and luck because the real ability that you need in writing is the ability to persist, to learn from your mistakes and keep working, even though you're being rejected all over the place."

—Octavia Butler

Vera also referred her readers to the interview which contained that quote (and many others equally inspiring).

I guess, by Fields's standard (and others), I'm a damned fool because although I have nothing to show for years of writing except hundreds of unpublished manuscripts, a few honorable mentions, and several attaboy letters, I have no intention of giving up. I have to write. I will always write as long as I have brain cells left to write with.

I do seriously consider giving up the quest to get published. I've been doing quite a lot of that lately. But giving that up presents problems, too. There's that whole "writing in a vacuum" issue. I'm not really looking for money and glory and fame—I'm looking for readers. I suppose fame is a corollary of gaining readers, but it's not my motivator. I just want people to read my stuff; I just want to tell cranking good yarns that make people keep turning the pages.

There is the whole self-publishing route, but that's not really viable, it seems to me, without a reputation ahead of time. It means, for the most part, trading laboring in obscurity and having your friends read your manuscripts to having a garage full of unsaleable books and forcing your friends to buy those. Kind of like Girl Scout cookies or those awful chocolate bars your friends are always asking you to buy so their kids' school can buy new trombones for the marching band or the troop can head off to Camp Weegeesqueegee in the summertime.

So, I keep trying the traditional publishing route. I keep my expectations low, and I think—if it ever comes to that and I do give up on the traditional publication game—that I'm going to slap my stuff up on a website somewhere. That way nobody's forced to buy inedible chocolate or cardboard cookies.

True, no youngsters will benefit from the free inedible writing...except maybe my inner child. And she's always been a damned fool. That's not likely to change.

P.S. I loved this quote, too, from Ms. Butler:

"When young writers want to know the "secret," I'll generally say there isn't any. You have to find your own secrets."

Comments

[vayenne.livejournal.com]

"...if it ever comes to that and I do give up on the traditional publication game—that I'm going to slap my stuff up on a website somewhere."

In my opinion, the only thing worse than writing stories that no one else ever sees is writing stories, putting them in a public place, and living with the knowledge that no one wants to see your stories. :/ More rewarding than a website is one of those casual writing communities. Then, when you do post your writing online for people to see, you at least get a few friendly comments and general acknowledgement of your effort. Personal sites are fun and all, but in the end, they tend to just sit on the internet, quietly gathering dust.

Then again, maybe you can coerce the LJ community here to keep your site well-trafficked. :)

Good luck with the publishing route. I think you've definitely got an excellent hand for writing, so I'm sure you'll find an acceptance letter down the road. Don't give up before you get there!

Free Support,
~Vay

[pjthompson]

Thanks, Vay. I'm not throwing in my hat yet, but I do go through the periodic reexamination thang. That can be healthy, too.

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry. I was going to say something useful here, but then I saw you badmouthing Girl Scout cookies and my brain shut down.

*g*

[pjthompson]

Oops, sorry! I used to sell them when I was trying to get to Camp Weegeesqueegee as a tike. I think I od'd for life. The coconutty ones are pretty good, though.

[affinity8.livejournal.com]

I love that quote by Fields.

And it's true: there's no secret. There's talent, which is less important than persistence. There's skill, but that's less important than persistence. There's persistence, and that's more important than anything.

If you think of writing as a means toward publication and fame and money, I think you will always be dissatisfied. If you think of it as a lifelong process of discovery, happiness is much more likely.

[pjthompson]

If you think of writing as a means toward publication and fame and money, I think you will always be dissatisfied. If you think of it as a lifelong process of discovery, happiness is much more likely.

Yes. If there's any secret to writing, that's it.

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you can't quit, because if you tried, we'd have to have words.

[pjthompson]

Dude. :-)

[congofriend.livejournal.com]

It always boggles my mind when someone whose work blows me away says that they feel like giving up. Your time will come, and when it does I'll be there to applaud you.

[pjthompson]

Thanks, Jeanne. I'm a long ways from quitting, but everyone gets the funk now and again. I think it comes with the writing territory.

[frigg.livejournal.com]

I believe in 1% talent 99% hard work. I think you're almost there, which is why it might seem so discouraging right now: Your writing is up to standard, but you have no takers. Still, I believe it'll only be a matter of time before you get your break, so I'm pleased you're not giving up. :)

[pjthompson]

Thanks, May. I'm glad I'm not quitting, too. ;-) It's good to periodically reassess and fortify for the next round of battle, though.