I'm new here and have been around less than forty eight hours. That's not true, I've already lied, I came to this site on reference to another issue I was researching. It's forgotten by now reduced to a snippet or snapshot recorded or not in a text editor where all my cuts and pastes reside in multiple multiple tabs. In forty eight hours plus, I've been looking into the workings and conventions of the community. It's been fun, there is a past, a legacy, a set of cliques all melded into a writer's haven, school, clearing house and hangout.
For all that you have given me to think about I throw one back in the pond to share back with you for your consideration. I didn't see anything like this in my explorations. Some of you will recognise yourselves and others will feel slighted at not making the cut, if there was one, and others will see something for the first time perhaps. God, what an ego, eh?
Without further ado:
I have always wanted to write fiction, but just recently started believing I can actually do it. Stop researching and finish writing...stop getting lost in research...write comic/horror/suspense novels. I want to be a better writer, and find an audience. What is my goal as a writer? Well... to never stop writing, of course! To polish a lifetime of half-starts. To cure my need to be clever. To write a good book. To write a clear narrative voice that explores character and human motivation through suspense, drama, humor, and any way possible. To seduce the reader through the flow of language then grab them by the hair and pull them to something nasty. To create characters more mythic and moral than their fucked up and bizarre worlds ... To make the reader laugh out loud and have fun. My goal as a writer is to tell stories. To write enough code to explode one million servers. The many universes inside my mind need an outlet for distribution. I try to use language without becoming a slave to structure or convention. The stories I try to tell are expressions of my experiences, observations, and opinions. I want to get something out of the reader. Passion, fear, tears of joy, sadness...I don't care what I try to tell them well. Hopefully, someone, somewhere, will find my work significant in a personal way. If my stories can affect someone's life, teach them something, entertain them, or make them think, then my goal as writer has been met. Selling a few books wouldn't hurt either, it would be nice to own some land or visit the dentist, someday. To keep publishing novels and short stories, and make a living writing, edtiing, teaching and immersing myself in the world of fiction writing. There is so much great work being written right now, it's a great time to be a writer. To get into the habit of forcing myself to write daily, for at least half an hour. My goal as a writer is simple. Continue to learn the game and to try and make each new story a little better. To never stop learning or being challenged. My goal is to always be improving. To wiggle as far out on the edge as I can without falling off. My goal is write to the best of my ability, sack that, then write something better. To produce a manuscript that will not make me cringe. To give unquiet dreams. I want my work to be banned. My goal is to validate my own existence, even if it isn't monetarily. I want to relate to the reader (and the writers) in such a way that makes them see something in a way they didn't see it before. I want to support myself by lying to you, one fantastic word at a time. I'd love to make a lot of cash writing and change the world doing it. To be filthy rich and famous writing fiction that gets made into movies spending all my time drinking and sleeping with women until I end up in my grave without a memory of how I got there. That or to write something that I feel proud of. Whichever comes first. To have a stranger say to me, "man. I read your book, it was incredible!" To write myself to death and hopefully learn something in the process. To finish. My short term goal is to finish the novel that has been dogging me for the last six years. To rewrite some of the unhappiness of the world. I'd like to finally decide for one plot and go for it. Then the others.
Yeats fan?
uhm, no but I like omlettes.
You probably should have posted this in the intro section.
To give unquiet dreams. --- fport
We seek for slumbering trout
And whispering in their ears
Give them unquiet dreams; --- The Stolen Child, by WB Yeats
To give unquiet dreams. --- H.I.Marcuson
Omelettes are pretty great.
Ah shit did it again, lost what I was writing. I'm going to blame Tony for making me look up his profile.
The reference to omelettes was about breaking eggs. Breaking eggs refers to me lifting a whole bunch of writing goals from their owners and mashing it into a block of text that is semi readable, as a statement collectively of "You people". You people refers to, well, you people here at litreactor.
My purpose was to hold up a mirror and reflect back what I was hearing and how the collective chorus was something special to listen to. I've had a lot of fun over the last two days. Getting a few responses has heightened that experience.
I'm still on the fence about signing up. Money isn't the issue. Like my tools I want to choose the best place to invest in. Anyway, the first post was an homage.
I get it now. In my first reading, I skipped to the "body" of the text. For me, there was zero ado.
Don't blame me.
Have this scapegoat, instead!
I'm too tired to read your epic post, I'm guessing it is an introduction of sorts, so Hi. Welcome windy fellow, since you seem to like to write, join our silly group and post some stories.
@Tony, hey thanks, usually I am the scapegoat.
@Jy, okay, bodes well for any opus's I pen.
@Stacy, oh well, I've been misunderstood before. I erred on the side of respecting my audience to instantly get my drift, looks like the intro to the synthesis needs a rewrite..
I spent several hours the other day searching for a conversation that took place in a hacker's forum many many years ago. It ended badly methinks, no one was ready for the conversation where I raised point after point about encryption, privacy and anonymity. I found it (circa 1993):
As for sussing me out of my posts, fat chance, you didn't
even address the points I've made over the last 30 postings
instead concentrating on what you labelled my misperceptions
and inability to grasp your issues.
Just do it.
You get out of things what you take out of things.
The tools comment got me a little, because it isn't applicable - this place, used as a tool, is what you make it. It does not possess the rigidity of a hammer in any way or stretching of understanding.
So - make this place your own - own it, shape it, love it...
@Fritz
Ya, okay fair enough maybe I should clarify. My tools have to be the best I can find because I'm going to be using them for a long time, humans have a natural resistance to change or at least I do. Re-learning is a pain. Take my text editor notepad++ I can't seem to ditch it. Yet it has proven unreliable several times. I've added scrivener and liquid binder xe which are overkill at the moment.
Take tools then and add the 'like' to it, this is a community, a service, a hangout, a resource, a meeting place. If I join, then I am committing time and effort that is no longer available somewhere else or for something else. Is this the best use of my time. That's the issue I wrestle with. Joining a community is a big thing - it can affect you in many ways that aren't immediately obvious.
I always thought the axiom was you get out of something what you put into it. Which strangely enough then answers the doubts and questions.
Welcome, nice post. Make me realize the perhaps I haven't been clear about what I want from the art of writing. I want to punish and torment every character I've ever imagined. I want to destroy their fake lives, the lives of people they love (who are also people I've imagined so it dovetails nicely), the fake places they want to go, the fake things they love, and water board them with their own tears.
@fport - 'Is this the best use of my time. That's the issue I wrestle with. Joining a community is a big thing - it can affect you in many ways that aren't immediately obvious.'
- You are in control of everything - of how much time, or how much of you you commit, of what you want to achieve, of the direction you want to take. Don't put that on the tool - that's like saying spoons make you fat.
-That said, I say do what you feel is good and whole to achieve your goals. - Lit Reactor can be what you want it to be and can be used however you choose to use it, just like the many other resources out there. Have fun man.
@Dwayne - I got a good writing challene for you: 'Write a story where nobody dies, where the ending is happy, and that is appropriate to read out loud to a third grade class during parent teacher conference day. HA - joke,joke...
@Wolfe - I've done that before. It just is/become a set up to hurt them in a later story.
"@Dwayne - I got a good writing challene for you: 'Write a story where nobody dies, where the ending is happy, and that is appropriate to read out loud to a third grade class during parent teacher conference day. HA - joke,joke..."
I tried that once and ended up with a vaguely racist 7 year-old schizophrenic.
You get out of things what you take out of things.
This is why I always take a gun when I go to the bank.
I mean exactly that - you people.
You know like you. I scraped a lot of your pages and mashed what I was looking at into a pastiche suitable for discussion. So it is not an original piece it is yours.
n. A dramatic, literary, or musical piece openly imitating the previous works of other artists, often with satirical intent.
“Having started in pastiche chic-lit style, Miranda’s finding a much deeper, darker and funnier vein to explore – she could hit the motherlode if she keeps at it.”
Dude, I don't speak Canadese.
@ Dwayne and Jack - you guys are disturbing... I'm sure that's a complment - you're going for disturbing... well cheers from me cause you've achieved it. -
@ Utah - I guess I assumed people would understand my statement was restricted by the legal system. Damn me for assuming... I should have known better.
-saying, 'you get out of it what you put into it' is the same as 'you get of it it what you take out of it' - stupid semantics argument.
@ fport - put up or shut up - the standing outside with cupped chin isn't useful. get a, 'place at the table,' as Lattimer would say.
@Fritz - Sort of. Mostly I just wanted to be generic redneck #5001, but I have these stories/characters floating around in my head so that didn't work out. They haunt me till I write them. That upsets me, so I punish them. Yes I know how crazy that sounds. Yes I'm okay with that.
@ Dwayne - i get that. Its a good crazy
Never thought this thread would end up with you two awkwardly hugging, but there it is.
@fport: would love to see this pastiche, actually, but there is no link.
Don't get jealous Utah, you'll always be my best gal.
What a relief!
Go bake me something.
I freaking did it again, as I scrolled back to see what needed replying to I got hooked into going off page to view another profile and guess what...
Yes, another post I have to start all over again. But I won't. Some liked it and got it others don't understand. It's almost even numbers so I can let it lie. I would have liked to spark a conversation about goals for writing and learned a few things and maybe heard some anecdotes and such, but I feel this has mostly been milked dry now.
Utah, just so you know, I underlined pastiche I didn't link it. The pastiche was the writing goals that I mashed together hoping people would recognise themselves and others. The definition came from wordnik.com and was included for the edification of others reading.
"I would have liked to spark a conversation about goals for writing"
Sure! I don't have good enough goals. I need someone to set goals for me. And then be a jerk about it.
Did he kick your puppy?
I just wanted to start a conversation...
I don't know about puppies, but someone needs to kick the elephant in the room
Quit imagining elephants.
I can't believe my aspiration to have Jonathan Lethem write a blurb on the dust jacket of my yet to be written masterpiece didn't make the cut.
(Yep I went back and read the original post to see what all the weirdness in this thread was about)
Fport ~ I know a girl that would be perfect for you.
Oh my gawd, again, being so careful, yet lured off the page to look up Utah and kaabing kaaboom. I'd even copied before going to another tab to look up an author, but it was replaced when I found a book while looking for that author and then doing a cut and paste research page from that material. Crappit.
@stacy - on the down-low hon, my wife might object but what she doesn't know....
@averydoll - eh, I was beginning to think no one got that little edge in the last couple of replies.
@SotD - it's a klosterman elephant right?
@Dwayne - I love puppies, averydoll just has deap seated issues with talking about writing.
@Dave - Canadese is just a bunch of extra 'eh's' eh.
@Utah - what does a moderator do?
@Tony & J.Y. - we're missing you.
@Fritz, you do know what pedantic is, well semantic means a whole lot to me and not in the way you mean...
Where did I leave that elephant gun...?
What about people who are clever hiding the fact by trying to appear clever and thus having the last laugh?
Did I mention "Inside Jokes: Using humor to re-engineer the human mind" lately? Oh right, it is in the header of every post. D'uh.
Vocabulary booster of the day: pareidolia - since this is the point where a lot of discussions deteriorate badly I thought I would try to inject another insight joke.
@ Seb British guys being condescending and elitist, that is why you are always the comedic villains in American movies. Hmm broad generalization, am I right?
As an American that has a British family, your comment was just stupid. That's me not being clever. Say something funny, trust me, I'll get it. Oh you're not clever or funny, referencing Scary Movie was the first clue, shame. I wanted some entertainment.
The elephant gun is up your ass.
~ wow I'm not an aggressive angry person at all, that was liberating. Thanks Seb, I needed that. :-)
I actually felt much the same way. A very nasty, holier than thou attitude. I'm married to a Brit and spend a fair amount of time in the UK. I get all of the funny jokes. In fact, I get a lot of intelligent humor in general. I don't tend to watch spoof movies, Scary Movie included. It's really ridiculous (and not in a funny way) to come into a group full of readers and writers and lump an entire Nationality into a group that just isn't smart enough to get your jokes.
Thing about humor is--it has to actually be funny. Condescending isn't funny all on it's own.
As for fport--- I am aware of my goals, and I own a dictionary for the rare occassion I don't know the meaning of a word.
No one is making you interact with us Seb.
Ouch, that was like a spiked heel into the toes on the dance floor.
Sigh.
@Tony & J.Y. - we're missing you.
What are we talking about?
Humor?
I'm comfortable going on record saying: not only do I not always get every joke, but I also don't always laugh at jokes I do get.
Well for a English speaking website based out of the U.S. Litreactor has done a wonderful job of not being American centric, and it was just a silly thing to say.
Exactly.
I see.
I could go on for literally pages and pages about group dynamics and the jostling that goes on as new members reach the group. Seb, I wouldn't be the least bit bitter about the conversational drift amongst people known to each other as we will be in the future. All members of the group serve roles, it is just the way of groups and their inherent dynamics. Trust me on this, been there done that on every level from joining to forming, on a meta level - netdynam was a group that formed and was populated by 'bion'eers' and so on many had that MD - doctor thing going for them from psych to professorial levels as well as off the street net people.
It's no different here, it can't be. This site is a show me yours effort. Have you shown yours by normalizing with the group? Membership is one condition. Submission is another. Reviewing is another. Any member in this discussion can now step back into the author role and do a welcoming that is not a sales job and actually share a little more knowing the process is not only natural but healthy for the group.
It's Skynet. Kill it.
I find it hard to believe that someone worried about wasting his time would spend two days stalking people and making a collage of their writing goals. Here's an idea: write a story, join Litreactor, and submit said story. Then you'll be better able to judge whether it's worth your time.
And because I fear that was really harsh, here's a photo of a kitty:
For your viewing pleasure.
Seb, you seem rather able to dish it out but not so able to take it. Stop over analyzing and read what people write, you might be less offended.
First you are being 'picked on' because you aren't going with the group dynamic. Making fun of individuals is accepted, even encouraged up to a point. Making fun of nations of origin, or groups people were mostly born into isn't. I meant what I said, literally. If you don't have to interact with Americans. If you do interact with us, you'll have to accept a certain amount of cultural difference. Maybe that isn't your strong point, but those are your choices. I doubt anyone will kick you out of the park for not having your dog on a leash but I will call you out on it.
Also the way you the way you are being treated is the toned down version for being nice to the new guy. We take issue with everything said here. I've had folks on hear call me about everything except a cannibal. Now that I said that someone will call me a cannibal. If you'd been here 6 months and said that about Americans someone would have beat me to it with something like "You stupid (rude term for Brits), go (curse word that doesn't really fit) yourself till your (relative) vomits." I gave you what I felt was on honest feed back about a post. The best, and worst, thing that can be said about Litreactor is that no one is afraid to give honest feed back about something you've written, post or work. It might not be constructive, if might not be helpful, it might not be well thought out, it might not be anything good in any other way, but I say to anyone that I've never seen anyone be dishonest about it. As an aside most of the time it is all of those things, but I'll admit there are lapses.
You're such a cannibal, Dwayne.
