101 Reasons to (never) Stop Writing
This morning I found a gem of a website, courtesy of The New York Times’ “Paper Cuts” blog: 101reasonstostopwriting.com.
Here’s a simple certainty I’ve learned: There are people who want to crush your dreams. It’s true. Someone, or somebody’s, will always be trying to squeeze hope from your heart, get you to conform and domesticate, make you give up on your talents. A few may not do it on purpose — they may just be caught in the crippling vortex of perceived happiness and expectations, trying to steer you down the path to a complacent hell they’ve confused for the American dream. But others may try to forcefully block your pursuit, intentionally plant the seed of doubt so it germinates, grows, and sucks dry your soul and individuality. The mastermind behind 101reasonstostopwriting.com may be one of those people.
One thing you can cull from reading blogs like “Paper Cuts” and another, funny web log about books and the publishing world called “The Rejecter,” is that the writing world is a ruthless place. This I know: I’ve been rejected every time I’ve submitted this year (though I have two submissions still out there, awaiting decision — cross your fingers). It’s hard for a new, scarcely published writer to make any headway when getting their work considered, especially by the gigantic, corporate printing houses. The novels and collections of economically unproven authors are judged first on their word counts. Your average, first novel runs between 75,000 and 90,000 words, which publishing companies consider a viable investment given the cost of overhead (paper, ink, manpower to typeset and design). Anything longer or shorter may cost the company quite a few dillies: A shorter novel will sell for less and a longer novel will use more material. Even small, literary operations are brutal with their submissions. Editorial assistants all over the world dismiss millions of stories and essays after reading the first sentence. With this in mind it’s easy to understand why anybody can write but not everybody gets published.
That’s where 101reasonstostopwriting.com comes into play. So many writers with such little chance of making a name for themselves. It acts like a garden hoe, making a small nest to sow a tiny kernel of skepticism.
In truth, 101reasonstostopwriting.com may just be a bit of writerly fun. I don’t think anyone takes it seriously. A writer who has the balls to stick with their work, continue hammering the keyboard in the shadow of publishing’s Great Wall, won’t give in to the demeaning facts and deriding jabs. The site is a laugh, and the comments are filled with defiant scribes who won’t back down.
Regardless of all the opposition I have and will receive for pursuing my dream, I won't give up, I won't stop writing. So fuck you, dream crushers. Fuck you.
Here’s a simple certainty I’ve learned: There are people who want to crush your dreams. It’s true. Someone, or somebody’s, will always be trying to squeeze hope from your heart, get you to conform and domesticate, make you give up on your talents. A few may not do it on purpose — they may just be caught in the crippling vortex of perceived happiness and expectations, trying to steer you down the path to a complacent hell they’ve confused for the American dream. But others may try to forcefully block your pursuit, intentionally plant the seed of doubt so it germinates, grows, and sucks dry your soul and individuality. The mastermind behind 101reasonstostopwriting.com may be one of those people.
One thing you can cull from reading blogs like “Paper Cuts” and another, funny web log about books and the publishing world called “The Rejecter,” is that the writing world is a ruthless place. This I know: I’ve been rejected every time I’ve submitted this year (though I have two submissions still out there, awaiting decision — cross your fingers). It’s hard for a new, scarcely published writer to make any headway when getting their work considered, especially by the gigantic, corporate printing houses. The novels and collections of economically unproven authors are judged first on their word counts. Your average, first novel runs between 75,000 and 90,000 words, which publishing companies consider a viable investment given the cost of overhead (paper, ink, manpower to typeset and design). Anything longer or shorter may cost the company quite a few dillies: A shorter novel will sell for less and a longer novel will use more material. Even small, literary operations are brutal with their submissions. Editorial assistants all over the world dismiss millions of stories and essays after reading the first sentence. With this in mind it’s easy to understand why anybody can write but not everybody gets published.
That’s where 101reasonstostopwriting.com comes into play. So many writers with such little chance of making a name for themselves. It acts like a garden hoe, making a small nest to sow a tiny kernel of skepticism.
In truth, 101reasonstostopwriting.com may just be a bit of writerly fun. I don’t think anyone takes it seriously. A writer who has the balls to stick with their work, continue hammering the keyboard in the shadow of publishing’s Great Wall, won’t give in to the demeaning facts and deriding jabs. The site is a laugh, and the comments are filled with defiant scribes who won’t back down.
Regardless of all the opposition I have and will receive for pursuing my dream, I won't give up, I won't stop writing. So fuck you, dream crushers. Fuck you.
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