What's your connect to writing...

[Pepperbelly]

Poll question: What's your connect to writing...

We certainly hope that all kinds of people involved in writing somethimes check out this forum. So what kind of person are you?

The program only let's you vote once, of course, so this would be how you would primarily identify yourself in relation to writing.

[patdem]

1. What about one who writes just cause one likes to?

Not all writers are professional. Some of us just do it cause it is fun and challenging? Or moved to write cause of frustration and anger at the state of the world?

I picked reader cause that is what has lead me to write.

P.S. I am glad your 'Pepperbelly' is back! I love that pic! :hi:

[Pepperbelly]

3. Zippy for President! Fat Freddie for VEEP. Go 08! nt

[TexasBushwhacker]

27. Just remember the origin of "amateur"

"Amateur" is often used to describe someone who doesn't do their craft well enough to be a professional, but that's not necessarily the case. The word comes from the Latin amare which means "to love". An amateur is one who does what they do for the LOVE of it, not for money. Hopefully our best professionals are still "amateurs".

[Tikki]

2. Lyricist....

n/t

[okasha]

5. It ought to be legal to vote more than once

in this poll! Writers are all readers, and many write in more than one type of venue.

Okasha

[nostamj]

4. i chose 'Poet" BUT....

that's mainly because there is no 'Lyricist' choice.

while I do write poetry and fiction, for the past few years I've been primarily writing original and parody lyrics.

[LiberalEsto]

6. Copywriter, ex-newspaper reporter,

ex-writer for energy trade magazines, poet, and occasional composer of posts on DU and Democrats.com.

I've also written a fantasy novel for the Harry Potter age group, and hope to get it published some day.

[chimpymustgo]

7. No line for journalists?

nt

[Pepperbelly]

8. ran out of spaces... nt

[warrens]

21. Another journalist here

We don't get no respect.

[Robb]

31. One more

One more member of the Liberal Media Conspiracy. :P

[Chovexani]

9. Novelist wannabe

:hi:

[derbstyron]

10. Hey! What about short story writer?

although I have just recently started my first novel (fingers crossed nervously).

[flying_monkeys]

22. Another short story writer here (m)

And where do I click for Has A Writing Board Dot Com?

[Left Is Write]

35. That would be me also.

[greyfox]

11. Inspirational Writing/Books ,mostly

http://members.tripod.com/~sheerjoy/books.html
http://order.kagi.com/cgi-bin/r1.cgi?5BE

[hyphenate]

12. I said novelist

Even though my first commercial type novel hasn't been professionally published yet.

The last four years I've spent mainly writing essay type material--thought for awhile I would start a blog, but didn't have the discipline to write everyday.

I've also worked as an editor, a copywriter, a copyeditor, a proofreader, a short story writer, a poet, and almost anything that can be put on paper, and some that CAN'T be put on paper!

My main focus in short stories has been science fiction/fantasy genre. My essays are political, religious (mostly NON-religious), the struggle to survive and that kind of social driven material.

[Pepperbelly]

13. Pease help me to keep this kicked.

I think the information will be interesting to all of us.

:kick:

[nostamj]

14. i wouldn't be TOO concerned....

we don't even have a full page yet! ;-)

[Pepperbelly]

15. true dat ... I'm used to GD ... nt

[roguevalley]

16. my aunt writes award-winning geology books. :-D

[Philostopher]

17. Okay, I voted 'poet' because that's what I do best...

but it's not what I love. I love to write long fiction, though I mostly do that for personal kicks and free psychoanalysis.

I've had a couple of things published, over the years -- I have a poem posted on a resort area's public library's site because the manager of the library saw it on a friend's web site and was collecting poetic references to the particular place, and liked it. I also have had a few snagged by friends for use in project-style chapbooks, though I never got copies.

Also had a short story pubbed in a local literary magazine. I write about one short story a decade, I was surprised they wanted it.

The long projects are mostly vanity stuff that I'd never attempt to publish. That, I do for me.

[stevebreeze]

18. Hey it's DU I write letters to the editor.

when I am pissed off about something. Usually it means a lie or hypocritical statement in the press, or by a pol.

[lapislzi]

19. Can I choose more than one?

I work for a publishing company where my duties include both editing and writing (nonfiction).

[DrZeeLit]

20. and in the real world... I teach writing.

Okay. I've been through enough therapy to understand the connection between my aspirations as a writer and my life as a teacher of writing.

Still, I love teaching writing.
I hope I'm always this enthusiastic.

The writing part of being a writer is ... hard work.
And hey! we all know the reward of hard work, don't we?
Yep. Capital.
So, I'm working on my writing capital. And hope to spend some one day.

[Technowitch]

23. Novelist. Just quit my old career to devote myself 100% to this effort.

Working now with a published author to try to get a nearly completed manuscript to the point where it's saleable.

[fugue]

24. Aspiring manga artist

and former copyeditor ^_^

[GreenPartyVoter]

25. Fiction writer, reviewer, book doctor

http://curvynovels.com/

[Richardo]

26. Other: Wannabe

:eyes:

[WCGreen]

28. Non Fiction is where I have had my most success having had

over a hundred columns published over the years.....

But I still dream of short stories, dramas and novels......

[Left Brain]

29. ummm... how 'bout Technical Writer?

It ain't pretty, but it pays the bills.
;-)

[OldLeftieLawyer]

30. I flipped when I found out

that everyone wants to be a writer. Even people who've never sold a novel identify themselves as "novelist." Would they also take on the monicker of "brain surgeon" because they decided they were?

I wrote a novel, having never had any aspirations and having a perfectly fine legal career. A friend who writes kids' books, and who had been hocking me to get back to TV writing, something we had done together for fun back in the "Miami Vice" days, sent it to her agent, and the agent loved it.

She sold it to a big publisher, and the book was published. It did well, and it was a most interesting experience.

Since then, I've got another out, and a third in the works. It gets easier, I think.

But, what I think undercuts so many people - and this is wholly unsolicited advice, so you could say "What does she know?" and odds are you'd be right - is, I think, their aim of "being published." If that's your goal, you're going to sabotage your creative heart every time, because you're going to be writing with something - the idea of published - looking over your shoulder, and that will make your writing somewhat less than honest and true.

And, what I've discovered in navigating the redoubtable world of NY publishing is that it must be honest and true for any pro editor or publisher to take it seriously.

Have fun with what you're writing. That's the whole point, and your love of what you're doing will show on the page. Just have fun. I wrote my first one while working harder than I'd ever worked before, preparing for the biggest trial of my career, and it was nothing more than a way to goof off and clear my head before heading home at the end of the day. That let the fun part of it show up, I think. It meant nothing to me; it was pure art, pure fun, and that made me free.

I would hope that any of you who aspire to the world of novel-writing would find and embrace that freedom. It's crucial, I think, and it will make the whole experience, even if no one ever buys your work, just what it should be - fun.

I wish you luck.

[oneighty]

32. Life stories

some poetry.

I have a self published book (And an overgrown ego) which is why I have a self published book.

'Voyages of the Vicky Mary' And other stories you might wish you had never read. 200,000 more or less words of wit and tears and poetry--includes periods, commas and so forth.

I have given away ninety copies so far. I have twenty left.

Strange the book after some adjustments at the printers ended up with 180 pages. An omen?

180

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

33. Poet, essayist, aspiring novelist, etc.

[Bat Boy]

34. Humor

Sketch comedy and the like. My website is http://www.mkuhl.com

I also contribute to http://www.comicgrail.com

[Pepperbelly]

36. kick

:kick:

[pearl]

37. Poetry

But I would like to do some prose too.

[Pepperbelly]

38. kick nt