Introducing myself

[Brainstormy]

I've been lurking for a while, but honestly have been a little reticent about subscribing and jumping in to this group for several reasons. I've been a writer and a teacher of writing at the university level for longer than most of you have been alive. I've published one novel(to lovely reviews but abysmal sales), and many short stories, and have another novel forthcoming, but I make my living now as a ghostwriter, mostly of business books. I write for very nice people, who think poorly and can barely construct a coherent paragraph, but who enjoy excellent sales as a result of their name recognition, business connections, and clearly a reader appetite for what I CAN write, but would not ordinarily read, unless I was made to as a prisoner of war.

I'm not sure what I can offer here. I know something about good literature. A lot about self-publishing. A lot about the frustrating quest for agents. A lot about the frustrations and expense of self-promotion. I'm a voracious reader who pretty much keeps us with the current. Maybe I can offer something to someone. What I'm looking for myself is a kick in the ass. I'd like to rediscover some of that excitement I catch in your posts. I'd like to just get that buzz again. The one I had when I was younger, more hopeful, and thought writing was fun.

Thanks. I feel less guilty about lurking.

[classof56]

1. Welcome aboard, Brainstormy. So glad you've decided to join the Writing Group.

As a fellow writer, I commend you for your successful career writing and teaching writing. That you make a living at your craft is remarkable. To make others' writing readable is quite an accomplishment and I'm sure your clients more than appreciate you. From where I stand, you have much to offer the Writing Group, and I look forward to your contributions. I belong to a book club, where sometimes our selections are not those I'd ordinarily read, so I can sorta relate to your "prisoner of war" characterization. Very funny, by the way!

I like writing humor, and have published several pieces through the years. Have also published a chapbook, including essays, short stories, and the occasional poem, many based on my own experiences. Not looking for great success in the literary world, but I am working on a novel I intend to self-publish.

There's no need to feel guilty about lurking. Thanks for sharing your writer's journey. We have much to learn from you. Look forward to future posts and words of wisdom!

[Brainstormy]

3. Thank you

for the very gracious welcome and for making me more comfortable about participating in the group. Not sure you have to be neurotic to be a writer, but it seems to help.

[mainer]

2. So nice to meet you. Ghostwriting sounds like a frustrating job!

I can't imagine having to help some celebrity or non-writer "write" his book.

I'm also in the biz, have been for nearly 30 years, and have watched publishing change drastically in just the last five years. It's exciting and the changes are all to the advantage of content creators. As things shake out, I suspect traditional publishing is going to hang in there, because it has a lot to offer writers and readers. You'll hear a lot of people on DU castigate traditional publishing, but for a writer, it does have its advantages.

Now, as for getting the writing buzz again -- I agree, after you've been in it for a job, the writing gets to be ... well, a JOB. I'm struggling to finish my current manuscript, and it's giving me a lot of sleepless nights. I too wish I could go back to the days when it was pure pleasure, and deadlines weren't hanging over my head.

[Brainstormy]

4. Nice to meet you, too, Mainer

Ghostwriting can, indeed, be frustrating, but if the ego of the "author" isn't too outsized and the checks aren't late, the rewards are there, too. I agree that traditional publishing will hang in. It's still the path of most legitimacy. Sounds like you must do a lot of web writing. The "content creators" was a giveaway.

[mainer]

5. No, no web writing. Just used the term "content creators"

as a way of distinguishing myself from the promotional/publishing/distribution/sales side of the industry. My work is in print, although my electronic sales are now up to 50% of my income. Something I never predicted a decade ago.

[Brainstormy]

6. The term

confuses me. Most of the folks that I know who use it are in web marketing and seem to use it to distinguish those who produce that kind of writing from other??? kinds. Seems a little deprecating to me, but then I'm old as dirt. To you, then, it's a synonym for "writer"? Or does the set of content creators include, say, the graphics folks too?

[mainer]

7. by "content", I mean anything created intellectually

Yes, it could be writing books or music or blogging. I think "content creator" is a good general term to distinguish between intellectual property and the promotional/sales side.

I'm kind of going by this Wikipedia use of the word "content":

Terminology[edit]

The word "content" is often used colloquially to refer to media. However, content is more accurately used as a specific term in that it means the content of the medium rather than the medium itself.

However, I may be using it in a more general sense than most people tend to use it.

[marions ghost]

8. How is the second novel coming?

What do you write about and what do you like to read? (Just generally)

As for how to make it fun again...I'd say, write something that for you, is a challenge. Something you have doubts about. Some idea you've been avoiding. Give yourself what feels like an impossible goal. For you that could be very high level. It can be done.

welcome