Do you tell people you write?

It's a short story then.

Hi Appleblossom, nice to meet you :-)

I hate telling people that I write, even close friends/family, but as I’m getting a bit more serious about it I’m having to do it more often. If I didn’t tell anyone, I’d feel I was hiding an important part of me from the people who should know me best. Coming out is the exact phrase I use to myself… I think I makes me uneasy because everyone wants to write, and to a certain extent everyone can, so by saying “I write” you’re really singling yourself out. Writers are often shrinking violet types - observers who can be creative without putting themselves in the spotlight – and thus unhappy about blowing their own trumpets. I don’t know about people feeling uncomfortable with writers because they have a dangerous, subversive reputation – I reckon it’s cos they’re worried that I’ll ask them to read my stuff and if it’s rubbish they’ll have to humour me and pretend they like it ;)

hello.

Well said, alex, though you might find more trumpets being blown on this site than there were at Jericho.

some people it is easy to tell eg my boyfriend, close friends, and I'm glad I have as they are very supportive. Others I have regretted telling as they expect a best-seller by next Tuesday. Others still I have regretted telling as they have looked at me oddly and never mentioned it again. My parents know about it but would never ever mention it to me and certainly never tell their friends.

Hi appleblossom - are you in the pink? I am very inspired by your last comments..about characs keeping you entertained. I've got back into writing over the last year and written poems and short stories. I've been daunted by the prospect of writing anything longer but have just started something that will be a lot lengthier .. and I'm unearthing just what you say. I'm looking forward to having my characs accompany me everywhere and teasing them by changing the story's direction. I'd forgotten about the exciting part as I'd become quite daunted by the prospect of 'the novel', so thanks for that. Look forward to reading some of your stuff.

Gawd I sound like someone filling out an application form...I did this and that...got earache and headache..malfunctionign...

It's easier to say you're writing a book than that you write poetry, that can get mixed reactions and people either say "oh" and walk away slowly, or they say, "Oh really? go on then, do one" aned you say you can't remember them and they say, 2oh2 and walk away slowly.

Hi all, Thanks for saying "hi". Finally I'm in the loop!! (yes, I am fully registered and can submit stories). Thanks for your comments Hov. I also find the prospect of writing a novel very daunting indeed. I have just started writing a novel, and it took me about a year to create the characters and their bios. I've also planned the story and have written a short synopsis for each chapter. That way, I can take each chapter and think of it as a short story. Each one will just follow on from the next. Each chapter will have an intro, build up, body, and end on a cliffhanger (hopefully). This way I don't get overwhelmed by the bigger picture. A new thing for me is songwriting. I have recently entered a songwriting competition and won a Merit Award. I got a certificate and everything! I was totally blown away, but the company is a bit dodgy I think (kind of dampens the enthusiasm a bit). I have been thinking of moving to Nashville so I can meet other writers and team up and try to do it seriously, but I'm not sure if I can write on demand. I wrote 5 songs last month, but there's only one I would consider submitting for publication. Anyway, I'm so glad I found this site. I don't really know any other writers and after reading the posts here, I feel a little more "normal". Like I don't have to explain the way I am. Because I'm a WRITER!! It's okay to lock myself away from society and run with an overactive imagination. It's okay to not feel like writing, but still feel like a writer. Sometimes I have to force myself to write, and I never used to, but now I feel like I have to if I want to become serious about it. I find if I discipline myself and write for an hour a day or whatever, at least next time I come back I have something in front of me to work with (even if it's total crap). As the story builds itself (in these hour blocks), I find it easier and easier to keep going. I'm very big on editing. I re-write my stuff about a hundred times, and chop it to shreds, then re-read it and do it all over again. It's frustrating sometimes, but that's writing I guess. I hope to learn a lot here, and I know I will. I'm trying to read as much as I can too. It's interesting to see other people's styles, and I think the way others write and they way they use their imagination is totally amazing. My favourite "new" author is Cecilia Dart-Thornton. I wish I had her imagination!! She's great.

Hi Apple, this is a good place, the people here are friendly and we all get along just fine. I have also just started a novel as such, although I think you have planned yours out a lot more in depth than I have. As for songs, I sometimes submit songs to the site. What sort of music are you into?

I had ameal with friends last night, and started telling them about my writing. Unfortunately my enthusiasm got the better of them.

Good post, Mark. I think that the reactions we receive do tend to affect future 'confession'. Often, I see a very apparent 'Oh, she must be strange/eccentric/wanting my experiences' light up in people's eyes. Then, when that dulls the words come out 'I've always wanted to be a writer' (Bloody well do it then) or 'What do you write....are you going to write the next Harry Potter then and earn loads of money?' (No JK Rowling has already done that - STOOPID). It does feel like an alcoholics anonymous confession and I think that writers still have that dangerous, subversive and moody reputation that makes people uncomfortable. It is an introverted, intellectual profession and that makes them uneasy. Also, when I say crime fiction the reactions become even more bizarre.. I say it with pride now but it was a secret for a long time. Now that I can actually earn money people respect the fact...although this is a completely false concept because a writer is a writer, regardless of their bank balance. People also find it odd if you do not want to talk about a work in progress. They just find writers odd, Mark and that's why I love ABC...we can all be odd together and we understand the joys and agony of scribing.

I have no problem with mentioning I am a writer when I need to. It's usually when I am talking to someone for a bit longer than "I'll have a coffee". One time I asked a girl for her name so I could use it in a story and she asked why, and I said I am a writer, I write stories. Makes me sound like like JF Sebastian from "Bladerunner": "They're toys, I make toys, I made them" In fact the other day when I had to sit at a table with two people already seated, I felt like saying "I am a writer, can I listen to your conversation?" but didn't, and did listen anyways.

I don't usually talk about being a writer. There's never anywhere useful you can go with the conversation. Saves embarrassment all round.

I have no qualms about telling people at all, but I must admit to getting a few strange looks from time to time (though that's usually when I'm staggering towards Camden Town tube after an ABCtales piss-up). I remember sitting in a pub, scribbling away once, when some blokes at the next table asked me what I was doing. "Writing." "Eh?" "Writing." "Oh," as if that was in some way stranger than reading the newspaper. Neighbours know I write because they've read letters I've written in to the local paper. Friends know I write because from time to time they go through my stuff on ABCtales voting me one-stars for a laugh. And my wife knows I write because I often have this vague look on my face when she's talking to me and I'm trying to keep a line I just thought of in mind. Tell everyone and be proud of it.

Sprog knows I write 'cos he often catches me staring vacantly at the wall and says: "Oh, mum's working again..."

Hi Ice, I like all kinds of music but I mainly listen to country. I love Kenny Chesney, the Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw, Pinmonkey, Gary Allan, Chris Cagle, Keith Urban, Julian Austin, Toby Keith, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Leanne Womack, Great Big Sea, Cyndi Thomson, just to name a few....... In the rock arena I'm mainly into bands like Matchbox 20, 3 Doors Down, Bush, Oasis, Travis, Pearl Jam, Counting Crows, Garbage...... I'm just starting to get into more blues/soul and jazz type stuff, and I'm finding I have a keen fascination with Bluegrass music. My two new favourite songs at the moment are "Man of Constant Sorrow" and "Honey and Heartache". What about you....?

I tell nobody but nobody that I write stuff unless I've had a few and then I feel embarrassed in the morning. And it takes much more than that for me to show people the stuff I've written that's close to me.

Nope.

I'm FOREVER telling Faber and Faber that I write but the buggers never listen to me!!! ~H~

I tend to say 'I write' if I need to - but it does feel like coming out. The reaction of most people is to move away.

When somebody asks what I do in my spare time, I usually tell them I write. (Either stories or movie reviews) They usually just respond "really!" and leave it at that, but every once in a while, someone is fascinated.

I didn't used to bother but now I'm arranging my life so I have time to write so when people ask about my plans etc, I have to explain or it just looks like I'm trying to avoid working for a living. People are generally interested and always ask what the book's about which means having to run through a verbal synopsis as a one line description doesn't do it justice and the plot's quite complex. deep breath, "well....it's about a lad who works in a club in Blackpool who's in love with a barmaid who's going out with the owner's son who wants to impress the local racketeers so gets in a bet with them involving his head bouncer who's girlfriend has slept with the lad and disappeared to Spain but writes to the bouncer saying she'd going to return and confess so the bouncer will then kill the lad once he finds out but the lad can't run away because he's holding the bet money so he devises a plan with his best mate to get out of it using the bouncers old gun from his military days which he got from the girlfriend on the night they slept together and she went off to Spain.......oh, it's a comedy thriller"

Hi all, just thought I'd pop in and introduce myself. I'm having problems registering (as is the norm around here I think), but I've sent my details via email and am using this time to catch up on the message board and read some of the stuff that is posted on the site. I've been searching for a site like this for ages, and it's exactly what I was hoping for. I've been writing since I learnt how but have never really been brave enough to submit my work anywhere or let anyone read it (except family and friends).. I can't even explain why. So last year I was so passionate about something, that I wrote in to one of my career journals and vented my thoughts (anonymously of course). Well, they published my letter, but they asked me to edit it from eight hundred words to about 400. I've always regreted not putting my name to that piece, so now I've decided to put myself out on a limb and "hang out" with people that understand this need I have to express myself in words. I find I am the world's greatest procrastinator, and I need to keep motivated to actually sit down and get all my stories out of my head and onto paper. My friends just don't understand when I can't go out to the pub because "I'm on a roll". My best friend is my laptop (sad, but true), and even though writing can be a lonely existence, I wouldn't give it up for the world. My characters keep me company, and just deciding what they will do next keeps me entertained for hours. Anyway, hope to meet you all soon. Apple