This week: What Type Of Writer Are You? Edited by: Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline  
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Do you use character sheets and maps, or dive right in? And what is it to be a writer?
This week's Action/Adventure Newsletter is all about the different ways in which we are a part of the writing community.
Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline |
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What type of writer are you? Do you spend days, weeks or even years creating character sheets and drawing maps, or do you dive straight in, happy to simply go with the flow? Do you write every day or only when the mood strikes? Do you stick to a particular form or genre, or are you unafraid to experiment? Do you consider yourself to be a writer, or a hobbyist?
I daydream. A lot. Perhaps you do, too. Characters stroll into my thoughts and do their thing, and their story plays itself out over weeks, or months – whenever I am able to drift off into my own little world. Sometimes I write down what happens. Most of the time, however, I am happy to let my daydreams be daydreams. The reason is that once I have experienced a story, I find it difficult to recreate it, nor am I particularly interested in doing so. It’s complete. It’s done. I’ve most likely moved on to a new set of characters living the next adventure. This is why I do not create characters sheets, nor outlines – there is too much of a risk of my having tired of the project before I have had the chance to sit down and write it.
I admire those who are organised. The people who, right now, are preparing for NaNoWriMo, for example. I have participated before, and even completed it a couple of times, but I did so by opening Microsoft Word on November 1st not yet having a clue about the genre of my novel, let alone anything else. I think that I was fortunate that inspiration struck. That is how my writing tends to happen; I’ll catch a glimpse of a scene, a line, a snippet, a mood, and I run with it. It’s great when I feel inspired. It’s less great when I don’t. I do not have the discipline to sit down every day and write x amount of words regardless of inspiration. That’s led to long periods without any writing.
I do feel blessed that sparks of inspiration can send me in a wide variety of directions. I have written novels, short stories, flash fiction, form poetry, free verse poetry, articles, blog entries and essays. I have written in many a genre, from the dark to the light and everything in-between. The results have, naturally, been varied. Some pieces have won multiple awards, whilst others are best forgotten. Once, as part of an event, I made an attempt at a Western and I am rather certain that that was my worst piece of writing ever, which is saying something as it had some stiff competition. That doesn’t mean that I regret trying it. I believe that it is good to try out new things. During my time on Writing.Com I have learned a lot by entering contests and activities and simply giving it a go. What’s the worst that can happen, after all? You may find out that it’s not for you, and that’s still worth knowing. On the other hand, you might have an excellent piece and a new form or genre of interest!
Opinions are divided on what makes someone a writer. On one end of the spectrum is the requirement that one’s earnings from writing must be one’s main source of income, whilst on the other end of the spectrum is the thought that you are a writer if you love to write. I lean towards the latter. Sure, to be a professional writer there ought to be a financial reward involved, but if you aren’t worried about being a professional, then I see no problem with those who love to write claiming that they are a writer. I think that most of the time you know if you are or not. It’s something inside of you, something that’s a part of you. A passion. A need. An outlet. Even when there are times when the writing isn’t happening, that creative something that can be so difficult to define is still there, waiting, influencing the way that you experience the world. I once knew an artist who, when observing a scene, saw it in the colours of paint that he’d use to recreate it, and I think that writers, too, interpret life in their own, unique, creative way, stashing away this and that for later use, be it a blog post, a character trait, a piece of dialogue or whatever else.
We are, each of us, different, and that is a good thing. It means that we can offer the world a wide variety of reading material and, in doing so, we cater to a wide variety of tastes. We may well inspire other writers and artists in the process. It doesn’t matter, then, what type of writer you are. Do whatever works for you, and if you do not yet know what works, don’t be afraid to experiment. You are you. You are valid. You are a writer.
Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline
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Some contests and events to inspire you:
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Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
The Action/Adventure Newsletter Team
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Action/Adventure: October 14, 2020 Issue [#10416]
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