Okay, you're still here. Don't say I didn't warn you...
I've been getting some shit from other writers lately that's pissing me off. It's the "I can't possibly do X" whine, a particularly pernicious meme in the writer community.
I understand that there's a big difference between "I don't wanna do X" versus "I can't possibly do X."
"I can't possibly do X" translated means "I'm too fucking lazy or too fucking scared to try to do X."
And no, I'm not talking about self-publishing, though this rant could apply.
I've had someone say she could make money writing erotica like I do, but she can't write about kinky stuff. Who the hell said she had to?
Other people have mentioned that they love A/B/C genre and wished they could write it. Then write A/B/C genre! "It would take too much time to research."
My personal favorite (which set off the rant)? Someone told me today that I should write Y genre because I would be good at it and then proceeded to give me a plot.
Me: "It's your plot idea. You write it."
Someone: "I can't write Z the way you do."
Then fucking learn! Somehow I managed to put that thought a little more P.C., but then the truth came out. She was too lazy to study Z.
Here's the moral of the story:
If you want to do something, you try and fail, then I'll be there with a box of tissue and some chocolate. But if you can't even fucking try?
STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!
LOL...not at your words...it just that earlier today I started writing a Scottish tale placed in 1000 AD...I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT WRITING A SCOTTISH TALE, but the idea won't die, so on I write. Research will be a bitch, and I may never get it anywhere near publishing, but I'm damn well going to try! I might be asking for that box of kleenex!
ReplyDeleteI'm not failing but I wouldn't mind sharing a box of chocolates with you, over some tea or coffee, at a nice little cafe.
ReplyDeleteAh, Tess, I trust you to go back through your story and take out the zippers and space shuttles once you've done your research. You'll need the kleenex for the tears of joy when you hit the NYT list.
ReplyDeleteAnd you can laugh at me. DH does it all the time.
Ivy, I would never call you a failure the way you can cook and coupon! Plus, you could whip up something chocolate-y that's ten times better than a store-bought box of confections. I'll bring the tea! *grin*
ReplyDeleteYou bring the tea, I'll make the treats.
ReplyDeleteSounds great :-)
Great picture! LOL I think I've seen that face in the mirror a few times. ;)
ReplyDelete"There is no success without failure." Sometimes I want to slap the person who said that. LOL But even though the sting can hurt, it's the truth. Adding Kleenex and chocolate to my grocery list now. :)
You're on, Ivy!
ReplyDeleteAh, Melissa, I can't imagine you ever looking like a zombie hamster!
ReplyDeleteAnd I honestly believe chocolate can fix anything.