Does anybody else cringe?

[Tariel]

Ok. Does anyone else here cringe at the term "Aspiring Writer?" Maybe it's just me, but I almost find the term demeaning. To me, it carries an implication that the writer isn't serious enough; that he/she is one of those countless people who is "working on a novel" and want to get it published "someday." Not so with me. There's nothing "aspiring" about what I do, unless it's in the archaic sense of the word "to rise up; soar; mount; tower." It's real. I AM a writer.

Sorry, I just needed to rant.

 

[sunstruckdream]

FINALLY!

I guess I'm not just a hypersensitive fanatic. Other people actually feel this way! I'm with ya 100%. "Aspiring," at least to me, seems to entail, "Well, isn't that nice? But what do you REALLY want to do?"

Bugs the heck outta me.

 

[Tariel]

FINALLY!

I guess I'm not just a hypersensitive fanatic. Other people actually feel this way! I'm with ya 100%. "Aspiring," at least to me, seems to entail, "Well, isn't that nice? But what do you REALLY want to do?"

Bugs the heck outta me.

Yes. Exactly. I am soo glad somebody else feels this way!

 

[Lessien]

UGH! I hate that term! It makes me feel like they're saying "Oh, you're such a cute little writer! Run along now, work on your little novel before starting your real job as a cubicle worker. Oh, you want me to read it? How CUTE! Oh...this is the most wonderful thing I've ever read! No, no, I'm not just being nice so I won't crush your spirit...." Bleh.

 

[pugby]

I also dislike the term. I am not aspiring. I write because I enjoy it and use it to relax. I do not want to be a full-time writer. I do not want to quit my day job for writing. I would go crazy if I did. I am not dying to get published right away. For me, I simply enjoy writing and have a lot of reasons to partake in writing. I know a lot of you may want to be full-time writers and that is awesome, but not for me. That is why I hate the term.

 

[sunstruckdream]

Yes. Exactly. I am soo glad somebody else feels this way!

Let's prove them wrong!

"Oh, you're such a cute little writer! Run along now, work on your little novel before starting your real job as a cubicle worker. Oh, you want me to read it? How CUTE! Oh...this is the most wonderful thing I've ever read! No, no, I'm not just being nice so I won't crush your spirit...."

I absolutely hate when people talk to me like that. It was, however, a very adept and concise imitation of most of the people in my life. Well done. I share in your frustration.

 

[Tariel]

I also dislike the term. I am not aspiring. I write because I enjoy it and use it to relax. I do not want to be a full-time writer. I do not want to quit my day job for writing. I would go crazy if I did. I am not dying to get published right away. For me, I simply enjoy writing and have a lot of reasons to partake in writing. I know a lot of you may want to be full-time writers and that is awesome, but not for me. That is why I hate the term.

Yeah....we do kinda hate it for a different reason But there's no such thing as a part-time writer. Writing is more than just a job, it's a lifestyle. Writer is a personality trait, not just a job description - at least that's what I'm noticing living among hundreds of writers.

 

[hisbloodformysins]

Ok. Does anyone else here cringe at the term "Aspiring Writer?" Maybe it's just me, but I almost find the term demeaning. To me, it carries an implication that the writer isn't serious enough; that he/she is one of those countless people who is "working on a novel" and want to get it published "someday." Not so with me. There's nothing "aspiring" about what I do, unless it's in the archaic sense of the word "to rise up; soar; mount; tower." It's real. I AM a writer.

Sorry, I just needed to rant.

At this point I'm still new at this, so I'll say no. I think the term "aspiring writer" is actually a good thing and those who truly have a desire to write and are "aspiring writer's" really are writers and gifted each in their own ways... you can be a writer.... or an actor, even if you're never famous. I respect the "aspiring writer's" and I remind myself that I know I'm a writer and a gifted writer at that even though I have yet to publish anything.

HB

 

[Lindon Tinuviel]

Often, it is used as demeaning. It means exactly what you think it means--the writer talks about writing, thinks about writing, learns about writing, does everything there is to do with writing except for actually writing.

Just as often, though, it's used innocently and means what it sounds like it means--a writer who works hard at the craft.

ETA: Often, non-writers are mystified by the writing process. It's all so lawless and confusing! Frequently, they think of a writer as someone who's waiting patiently for the muse to descend. In my experience, this is the more common meaning for the term when used by non-writers. The use of it as a pejorative is almost exclusively the domain of published writers.

 

[hisbloodformysins]

I would love to be a professional writer.

HB

 

[Cordelia]

Ok. Does anyone else here cringe at the term "Aspiring Writer?" Maybe it's just me, but I almost find the term demeaning. To me, it carries an implication that the writer isn't serious enough; that he/she is one of those countless people who is "working on a novel" and want to get it published "someday." Not so with me. There's nothing "aspiring" about what I do, unless it's in the archaic sense of the word "to rise up; soar; mount; tower." It's real. I AM a writer.

Sorry, I just needed to rant.

Yes I dislike it because to most people it implies you're less than professional, or playing about with writing like a hobby. Which I am not. It's one of the reasons I don't talk about my writing much, except to other writers.

 

[sunstruckdream]

yeah...a lot of people are like, "well, hey, good for you. You have a dream. Cling to it while you can."

Oh...I WILL cling to it while I can. I have no qualms about living in a tiny apartment eating ramen and canned fruit while i work to make my break =D

 

[Cordelia]

yeah...a lot of people are like, "well, hey, good for you. You have a dream. Cling to it while you can."

Oh...I WILL cling to it while I can. I have no qualms about living in a tiny apartment eating ramen and canned fruit while i work to make my break =D

Hehe me too. That is exactly the life for me

 

[Tariel]

Yes I dislike it because to most people it implies you're less than professional, or playing about with writing like a hobby. Which I am not. It's one of the reasons I don't talk about my writing much, except to other writers.

I love talking to people about my work, because I love to prove them wrong. Between the number of bylines I have and the amount of money I've made, I can pretty much shoot down any claim about me not being serious about what I'm doing, about being nothing more than "aspiring." Besides, I think it's unhealthy to only talk about your writing with other writers, because then it sort of develops in a bubble. Non-writrers are my audience, I can't leave them out of the process.

By the way, Ramen and canned fruit are for the midnight munchies I plan on making a living from my work.

 

[sunstruckdream]

I plan on making a living on it too. But as I have yet to be published, I know it may take awhile. Besides, if you get the Oriental flavor, Ramen's not half bad =p

 

[Tariel]

I plan on making a living on it too. But as I have yet to be published, I know it may take awhile. Besides, if you get the Oriental flavor, Ramen's not half bad =p

I prefer chicken-flavor Don't get me wrong, I can and will live on Ramen if necessary, I just don't expect it to be so.

 

[sunstruckdream]

I certainly hope I don't have to either...

 

[NavyGuy7]

Ok. Does anyone else here cringe at the term "Aspiring Writer?" Maybe it's just me, but I almost find the term demeaning. To me, it carries an implication that the writer isn't serious enough; that he/she is one of those countless people who is "working on a novel" and want to get it published "someday." Not so with me. There's nothing "aspiring" about what I do, unless it's in the archaic sense of the word "to rise up; soar; mount; tower." It's real. I AM a writer.

Sorry, I just needed to rant.

That's why i use the term "Aspiring Author". I AM a writer, but I haven't any published works or anything in progress, so I really can't consider myself a true Author til I do publish a book. My opinion, but true nonetheless.

 

[sunstruckdream]

That's why i use the term "Aspiring Author". I AM a writer, but I haven't any published works or anything in progress, so I really can't consider myself a true Author til I do publish a book. My opinion, but true nonetheless.

That's got a ring to it. I like it. Applies to me too, I guess...

 

[Tariel]

That's why i use the term "Aspiring Author". I AM a writer, but I haven't any published works or anything in progress, so I really can't consider myself a true Author til I do publish a book. My opinion, but true nonetheless.

I refuse to refer to myself as an aspiring anything. It feels weak to me, and still carries that "yeah right" tone in my mind. I mean, half the country has a novel in progress - they're "aspiring authors." I want to make it clear beyond a doubt that what I'm working on is real. It's what I plan to do with my life. Really though, I guess it's because getting a book published is not what I aspire to. Sure it's a goal and something I would like to accomplish, but what I really want is to get a letter - just one letter - from somebody who's life was changed by my writing. That is what I aspire to.