When I wrote my first hideous/horrid/someone build me a pyre so I can burn them, books, I didn't really think about the trillion other writers doing the exact same thing. In fact, I would have estimated the amount of wanna-be writers (nope don't like that either) as about a couple of hundred (old me = naive fool). Now, despite knowing there are many, many, way more than I ever imagined, people working on their (add your own number) book, searching for an agent etc, it's all oddly comforting.
All my worries, they're yours too. All my hopes, they're fluttering around your stomachs... It's pretty here in this little corner of perdition.
*apologies to Carrie Harris who isn't an aspiring anything, she's climbing the slippery ladder in sparkly heels, yet still managing to wave hello to the zombies circling the ladder.
21 comments:
Amazing, isn't it? Every time I meet a new writer online, I start checking out their circle of friends and it just goes on and on for miles...we're definitely not alone.
I wonder if we could all play 'Seven Degrees of Separation' but leaving Kevin Bacon out of the picture.
I can get to the president in three easy steps if, which would be four for everyone else.
Here we go, My wife is cousin of a popular college football strength trainer who I like to drink beer with when he is in the area, he worked under Tom Osborne, Football coach turned congressmen, he is turn knows the president. Okay, your turn.
Ha! I can get to Tim Burton (who cares about the president) in two steps... my friend's (step one) brother (step two) worked on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. :/
I think Neil Gaiman should be our Kevin Bacon.
Ooh, most definitely.
I know somebody who knows those guys who did South Park. Does it count?
Most definitely, extra bonus points if they've met and ruffled Gaiman's hair.
Cate, my daughter worships Mr. Burton. Worships him I say. You are correct, way cooler that the Prez.
OK, I was planning on doing a blog post on my new blog today anyway, I thought this would be a fun topic:
http://jeremydbrooks.com
Jamie, your daughter has excellent taste.
Jeremy, the new blog looks beautiful.
*sighs* I'm sure I'd have to go back a dozen steps of separation before knowing someone of significance.
What's so funny is that you're right and when the overwhelming feeling of OMG how many of us are out there hits me a certain times during the day I sit back and wonder why?
But then I remember that I love it and it's what I do. That eases the pressure just a little bit.
As for the writers... I once hit the Radiohead button on my profile just to see what it would do. And it pulled up some obscene number over 4,900,000 OTHER writers who liked Radiohead as well.
I was shocked a little while longer from that one. :D
Great post!
I know right? It's such a comfort. I guess we all would've been doing it no matter what, but it makes it so much easier to endure this way.
Our numbers are indeed great. We attack tomorrow pass it on!
Erm Alan, isn't it one step to Kelley Armstrong.
Hinny, I may have to adjust my numbers. :0
Katey, it's good to know we shan't go insane alone.
Natalie, my fountain pen is sharpened.
My cousin's best friend is related to Keanu Reeves, but I'm not sure that's going to win me any brownie points.
There's plenty of room on this ladder, and I have lots of extra pairs of sparkly shoes.
Just thought I'd mention that. :)
Andrea, if I've just finished The Matrix it does.
Carrie, save me a green pair.
There is a strange solace in knowing so many others are agonizing and procrastinating and endlessly revising their work, just like me. We should all be nervous in some way, but it's all so much out of our hands, we can only do our best and hope it's enough to stand along side Lauren Conrad and Joe the Plumber ... and call ourselves published authors.
There were a lot of people at Barnes and Noble today - buying books, skimming through some - I felt hopeful. I keep starting novels that never get past the thrid chapter - you are so much closer :)
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