I’ve been reading a LOT of books on novel writing lately. Especially if they focus on writing your first novel. Many times, I’ve finished the book and been left with this thought: “Why am I even bothering to write? I suck.”
All of these “helpful” volumes insist that, since I’ve never been published, I will never be published – unless I use self-publishing.
My favorite take away: If I want to improve my writing, that means that I need to improve my writing, and since the craft of writing is not something that can be taught (it is, of course, an innate ability given to a select few at birth), I have zero chance of ever improving my writing.
WHAT??? I don’t think that was what Hemingway meant…
It’s none of their business that you have to learn how to write. Let them think you were born that way.
I bought these books to learn, not to be told “I’m going to tell you how to write a good book. But since you bought this book, you don’t have what it takes to write one yourself.” Continue reading “"Basically, you suck and have no chance of ever not sucking."”