Okay, gang. I'm going to share a serious secret to success as a writer.
I may not be Neil Gaiman or Charlie Kaufman or JJ Abrams, but I have had some success as a writer, including 2 published books, many pieces (fiction, creative...
I may not be Neil Gaiman or Charlie Kaufman or JJ Abrams, but I have had some success as a writer, including 2 published books, many pieces (fiction, creative...
Okay, gang. I'm going to share a serious secret to success as a writer.
I may not be Neil Gaiman or Charlie Kaufman or JJ Abrams, but I have had some success as a writer, including 2 published books, many pieces (fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry) published in magazines, and several screenwriting gigs (developing my own work, as well as being hired on to a project) that have paid well and advanced my career in some way. I've also taught creative writing at Vancouver Film School, and genuinely believe I've supported up-and-coming writers on their journeys.
And here's my best advice:
Say yes.
Someone wants to collaborate with you on a project, and you're not sure where it's going or if it'll turn out well?
Say yes. Lots of aspects of a writing career are trying things that don't work. But everything's a learning experience, everything can potentially add to your portfolio and expand your creative network, and hey -- you might come out the other side with something fabulous.
There's a deadline coming up for a contest in which a 'win' would provide you support to make a comic, or a short film, or get your work published... but you're also kind of busy right now...
Say yes. It's hard to find the extra time to put into your creative work. It's true for 99% of us. But the thing is, the people that are going to advance their careers are the ones that are going to find that time. You can't win if you don't play.
Considering a project that's far-fetched and ambitious, and you're not sure you're up to the task?
Say yes. Push, yearn, experiment, reach, strive... try something new. No one ever grew as an artist by following the same formula again and again. Do you want your epitaph to read "She did that one thing quite well." ?
Writing is, on some level, a numbers game. You have to try a lot of different things to discover your talents... and you want to have many projects on the go at the same time, because you never know what project is going to 'stick' and become something much bigger.
"No" is for the weak and faint-hearted. Say yes, yes, YES!
I may not be Neil Gaiman or Charlie Kaufman or JJ Abrams, but I have had some success as a writer, including 2 published books, many pieces (fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry) published in magazines, and several screenwriting gigs (developing my own work, as well as being hired on to a project) that have paid well and advanced my career in some way. I've also taught creative writing at Vancouver Film School, and genuinely believe I've supported up-and-coming writers on their journeys.
And here's my best advice:
Say yes.
Someone wants to collaborate with you on a project, and you're not sure where it's going or if it'll turn out well?
Say yes. Lots of aspects of a writing career are trying things that don't work. But everything's a learning experience, everything can potentially add to your portfolio and expand your creative network, and hey -- you might come out the other side with something fabulous.
There's a deadline coming up for a contest in which a 'win' would provide you support to make a comic, or a short film, or get your work published... but you're also kind of busy right now...
Say yes. It's hard to find the extra time to put into your creative work. It's true for 99% of us. But the thing is, the people that are going to advance their careers are the ones that are going to find that time. You can't win if you don't play.
Considering a project that's far-fetched and ambitious, and you're not sure you're up to the task?
Say yes. Push, yearn, experiment, reach, strive... try something new. No one ever grew as an artist by following the same formula again and again. Do you want your epitaph to read "She did that one thing quite well." ?
Writing is, on some level, a numbers game. You have to try a lot of different things to discover your talents... and you want to have many projects on the go at the same time, because you never know what project is going to 'stick' and become something much bigger.
"No" is for the weak and faint-hearted. Say yes, yes, YES!
Top Rated Comment of 18
Sun Sep 7th, 2008 18:10
Yes - I agree. And furthermore, what success I've had as a writer comes not only from saying yes, but from not taking no for an answer.
If...
