The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Writers Edition
Writers come in all forms, from the ones who are just starting their first drafts to those who have it all "figured out." The ones who get up at five in the morning so they can get a couple hours of peace (points at self) to those who have hours of uninterrupted time during the day in which to work.
I present the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The Writer's Edition.
The Good
These are your writers "who have it easy." When you think of an author, you probably think of a person like Stephen King, J.K. Rowling or some other high-profile name with a godzillion books sold, movie deals, interviews, guest spots on TV, etc. Yes, they've probably gotten to the point where they don't need to worry about getting a good publishing contract on their next book, but they also have to deal with their own name recognition. "Wait, you wrote Harry Potter? Just write that again! I don't care about anything else you write." The Good can be its own worst enemy, although its outward appearance is that life is perfect. Often, writing is a full-time job, and it pays for a normal lifestyle: comfortable house (not a mansion), car, family, phones, etc. None of which are extravagant, but none of which are relics, either.
The Bad
Often, this kind of writer is the kind that has an almost sadistic drive to write. Do they sacrifice time with family? Yes. Do they sacrifice sleep? Absolutely. Do they take time away from friends, children, and romantic relationships? Check, check, and what romantic relationships? The Bad is often single-minded about their devotion, and can (or will) succeed through the force of their will alone. They've been improving since day one, which is a good thing. Often, they've become jaded because of their current lack of success and are bitter about it, regardless of how long they've been working. Writing is usually a full-time job for the Bad, but not in the capacity they want. Maybe they're a technical writer, and they want more out of life. They want to be like the Good, and are looking at that position with envious eyes...
The Ugly
Honestly, this is where most writers fall. Writers are a very diverse bunch. As a whole and individually, they're witty, resilient and adaptive. They can try to squeeze meaning into the tiniest of spaces, and try to write themselves out of corners like nobody's business. The Ugly, in contrast with the Good and the Bad isn't much of a mystery. The Ugly is the person down the road. They're the person next door. You know them. You've seen them in their pajamas, taking the garbage out. You've seen them with their kids at the doctor. They're approachable, they're fun, and you might just ask them if they want to play D&D later. Although they have elements of the Good and the Bad in them, they aren't either. They're always willing to talk about their work, though. So be careful to ask them about it, or you might end up in a corner talking about something weird for an hour with no way out.
Thanks for wreading!
Jeff
I present the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The Writer's Edition.
The GoodThese are your writers "who have it easy." When you think of an author, you probably think of a person like Stephen King, J.K. Rowling or some other high-profile name with a godzillion books sold, movie deals, interviews, guest spots on TV, etc. Yes, they've probably gotten to the point where they don't need to worry about getting a good publishing contract on their next book, but they also have to deal with their own name recognition. "Wait, you wrote Harry Potter? Just write that again! I don't care about anything else you write." The Good can be its own worst enemy, although its outward appearance is that life is perfect. Often, writing is a full-time job, and it pays for a normal lifestyle: comfortable house (not a mansion), car, family, phones, etc. None of which are extravagant, but none of which are relics, either.
The Bad
Often, this kind of writer is the kind that has an almost sadistic drive to write. Do they sacrifice time with family? Yes. Do they sacrifice sleep? Absolutely. Do they take time away from friends, children, and romantic relationships? Check, check, and what romantic relationships? The Bad is often single-minded about their devotion, and can (or will) succeed through the force of their will alone. They've been improving since day one, which is a good thing. Often, they've become jaded because of their current lack of success and are bitter about it, regardless of how long they've been working. Writing is usually a full-time job for the Bad, but not in the capacity they want. Maybe they're a technical writer, and they want more out of life. They want to be like the Good, and are looking at that position with envious eyes...
The UglyHonestly, this is where most writers fall. Writers are a very diverse bunch. As a whole and individually, they're witty, resilient and adaptive. They can try to squeeze meaning into the tiniest of spaces, and try to write themselves out of corners like nobody's business. The Ugly, in contrast with the Good and the Bad isn't much of a mystery. The Ugly is the person down the road. They're the person next door. You know them. You've seen them in their pajamas, taking the garbage out. You've seen them with their kids at the doctor. They're approachable, they're fun, and you might just ask them if they want to play D&D later. Although they have elements of the Good and the Bad in them, they aren't either. They're always willing to talk about their work, though. So be careful to ask them about it, or you might end up in a corner talking about something weird for an hour with no way out.
Thanks for wreading!
Jeff
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