My Greatest Writing Fear. What's Yours?

Cee-Jay Aurinko · Post by **Cee-Jay Aurinko** » 09 Jul 2015, 13:15

* SageHD

I live a quiet life too, and the last thing I want is to be too famous for my own good. Maybe I could get myself a body double. Just a thought. But I do like the idea of someone, say a hundred years after today, reading my book. It's like achieving some kind of immortality, and this is what I'm truly after--immortality, not fame. I really think you should get your work out there though. Writing is your gift, your curse. Own it. And if your book becomes a big hit, know that you don't have to do any promotional stuff you don't want to do. You're a writer, not a movie star. Most of us live in shadow, slinging words, creating worlds, creating life, being under a microscope the last thing we want. But we still want others to read what we write, don't we?

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 09 Jul 2015, 14:33

I can live okay with being too famous for my own good, ha ha. I still have my sights set on that new Vette.

Seriously, I somewhat disagree with the idea that writers live in a shadow. Hey, we're on this forum, right? That means that we're prepared to discuss our writing and other things.

Of course, it's wrong to get too big for your britches, but that's a good thought for anyone, writer or accountant or homebody or nurse or whomever.

I can tell you this: It's a TERRIFIC feeling to see your book on the bookstore shelves. And it's also very gratifying, sitting at a book signing, knowing that these folks paid their 20 bucks ($16.95, actually) for what you've written and are there, listening to you answer questions about the writing process and coming up to have you sign their copy.

And I can attest that I never felt "full of myself" or in any way snooty. I felt grateful and flattered and was happy to chat with every person and tell them thanks.

Fame might come to a few of us. But decent recognition might come to quite a few, a good book contract, not a lot of dough, but the thought is what counts, and getting paid real money, albeit not a lot, is a feeling of, well, "honor" at the modest success. Seeing favorable reviews, a little royalty check every month, not fame of course, but literary respect for your efforts.

Gang, do NOT be afraid to spread your bread upon the water. If your writing is picked up, the feeling you'll have is gratitude and happiness, no thoughts of fame at all. Honest. I've sold my stuff for ages and I never reached anything like "fame" or recognition and never really made much money. But being judged well among your peers? Excellent.

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 09 Jul 2015, 16:57

Yeah, that's an interesting point--the fame of a writer vs. the fame of an actor or whatever. Quick--who out there can describe what EL James, author of the Grey books, looks like? (I can't.) We've all seen images of Stephen King, but not so much anyone else. That Patterson guy does television commercials, so I kinda know who he is, but for the most part, authors (aside from King) probably aren't recognized on the street or in a restaurant. The odds of being recognizable are probably infinitessimal, versus the number of "hollywood" famous people who could be identified if you saw one (in theory--I never have encountered a celeb).

I mean, sure, you could be a great writer and have a following, but it's a different kind of fame, I would imagine.

I agree with MT that peer approval is a wonderful thing. Book signings, though? I personally would find that rather stressful, more likely, but that's probably just me.

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 09 Jul 2015, 21:01

I was nervous at first in my book signing but the people who attended (about a dozen) were so friendly and receptive that my trepidation went away and I was at ease chatting with them. But then, I've stood on a stage before maybe 600 people and sung Mozart in Italian or Gounod in French, all the while wearing a weird 18th century costume and stage makeup and so on, when I sang for an opera company. If that doesn't cure you of stage fright, nothing will.

You're right about being recognized as an author, of course. A few writers I know via their photos on dust jackets and websites, and have met at their book signings. And I'm acquainted personally with a couple of very well known authors. But yeah, they're not recognized by most average people.

I've by the way been fortunate (unfortunate) to meet a couple of genuwine celebs -- Paul Newman at Daytona when I was writing about Sports Car racing, Robert Mitchum in a hotel bar where we shared a couple of Buds ("Don't ask me about the drug thing!"), a few others.

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 10 Jul 2015, 20:10

I'm glad you had a good experience!! I'm just not the sociable type. It would be hard for me to socialize with a whole bunch of strangers. I do also have stage fright, come to think of it. I can't play piano without my hands shaking all over the place, if I'm performing. (So I rarely try.)

Did Paul Newman give you any cookies?

leadera · Post by **leadera** » 11 Jul 2015, 05:13

My greatest writing fear is that my mind may be too conventional to search out the best prose. I may be content with descriptions not far off from clichés. I found this when I wrote my two novels of historical fiction for teens (Power and Stone, and Shield of Fire). But it worried me more with my most recent novel, for adults, called You'll Love It Here. I kept thinking of my protagonist but found myself all too easily watching her slip from one state to another - and worse still, pointing this out to the reader...None of that 'show don't tell for me', at my weakest. Yet how do we shift from one state to another? Often, I think it is illogically, being driven by impulses not-quite-understood by us, so there does seem to be a leap or a slip. What does anyone else think?

Cee-Jay Aurinko · Post by **Cee-Jay Aurinko** » 11 Jul 2015, 07:18

* leadera

Sorry, don't have a solution for you. I think it's impulses though. I have no idea where it comes from. It just does. Then we choose it, or ignore it, and pray for a good end result.

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 11 Jul 2015, 11:30

Best solution I can offer is to continue to read other writers who dealt with the same general subject as you are working on, and keep practicing your craft. There is an innate talent or energy that we all have as writers, but that skill also must be honed by careful study and practice. I, for example, read and re-read and re-re-read my stuff to ensure that it's not trite or formulaic, yet still fits within the genre for which I'm targeting -- for me, modern American adult private detective. So there are elements of the stories that I write which need to use the general "philosophy" of a mystery thriller but still prove to be unique.

This is very tricky to do, and it takes constant rewrites and revision that comes via careful study of my craft.

Appears that you've got your target chosen, leadera, which is part of the victory already -- you're at least not blind to the problem -- and my advice is that there IS no "trick" but instead the solution comes via hard work. So just knuckle down and keep plugging away, eyes set on the goal, and you will find the right way.

Threadend · Post by **Threadend** » 12 Jul 2015, 14:03

I believe my greatest writing fear is never enjoying anything I write. I did very much enjoy my works that have been published, or works I have given out to friends as a gift. But when I write something for myself I struggle with appreciating the time it took. I fear I will never get to a point where I can simply enjoy my work and I'll constantly be torn between wanting to continue writing, or wanting to stop all together. Of course, I haven't stopped yet. I just worry I'll beat my confidence down so low that it'll lose appeal.

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 12 Jul 2015, 19:44

I don't quite understand the distinction of writing that you "do for yourself" and writing that has been published.

For me, they are the same. I would never write except that I want to write and that I enjoy the process, even if I'm getting paid for it.

Please explain further, okay? And I enjoy Sylvia Plath, too. Just don't emulate her, right?

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 12 Jul 2015, 19:49

moderntimes wrote:
Please explain further, okay? And I enjoy Sylvia Plath, too. Just don't emulate her, right?

HA HA HA! Modern Times made a funny.

Oh, geez.

Melissa-C-Water · Post by **Melissa-C-Water** » 13 Jul 2015, 19:52

I fear my work will be turned away for the stigma.
I fear that's all I will be seen for.

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 14 Jul 2015, 07:07

Sorry, I don't quite understand "Turned away for the stigma" and would appreciate further explanation. Thanks.

Melissa-C-Water · Post by **Melissa-C-Water** » 14 Jul 2015, 07:26

I fear being seen for the subject matter that is stigmatized. Viewed negatively.
My memoir is about self harm and eating disorders and going in and out of a psych ward. Its the kind of thing that many don't understand and judge a person negatively for it.
My readers are mostly people who deal with that sort of thing so they relate to it and find it comforting, but when I present it to someone who hasn't been there in any way I fear being judged harshly. I submitted my book for review and its something I think about.

keyana_taylor · Post by **keyana_taylor** » 14 Jul 2015, 09:31

My greatest fears are writers block, rejection, and having tons of embarrassing grammar issues. Being an English Major I feel like people expect you to always get everything right. It's just like any other craft, if you don't continue to grow and expand it it begins to fade. Sadly this is where I am beginning to find myself.