I recently went to my first writers conference (virtually). What did I learn? I’m a shitty writer.
Not just because there were tons of talented people on stage and even more talent hammering away at the chat box. Talent I could never hope to reach.
Not just because many of those “real” writers have filled the stores with their books and garnered millions of eyeballs on the Twitter and the Facebook.
It’s because my “process” is shitty.
Almost every session focused on persistence and motivation and work ethic. Strangers to this Bullshit.
I leaned what SFD means… Shitty First Draft. Actually, this was the “Erma Bombeck” writers workshop and these midwest nice people could not bring themselves to say the word “Shitty”. They euphemized their way around it the way the New York Times won’t call Trump a racist.
But after a few seconds of hemming and hawing, I finally figured out what put the S in S—– First Draft. Not quite my tribe, but at least tribe adjacent.
Then came the talk of research, revisions, phases, passes, beta readers, agents and editors. All part of the greater “writing process.”
I submitted a short piece for a peer review. The session leader, a talented writer who has been published in the New York Times, generously gave a group of us about 5-minutes of feedback on each piece. We got the rare chance to learn from each other, and from her.
Her feedback to me.
“More setup, more context. Slow down. It went too fast and I had trouble keeping up.”
Good advice. Did I listen? Fuck No.
I spent the afternoon wishing I had typed in the chat. “Read Slooowweeerrrr”. But I didn’t. I think too slow and the session was over before that bit of brilliance crossed my brain.
As my readers probably already know, there’s no “process” to this Bullshit. Something makes me feel an emotion — usually anger mixed with regret — and it gets slammed into this site in mere minutes.
But that’s the point. The rest of my life is edited, revised and compromised by all those around me. The wife makes sure I watch what I say around the Savages. My co-workers give me “constructive feedback” on almost everything I say or do. Even the dog makes faces if I don’t get her vest on just right.
I’m not looking for a book deal or to “find an audience.” I’m not researching and adjusting and perfecting my prose so others will “enjoy” it.
I’m flipping my shit out into the universe and hoping to find another 10 people who want to tune in for their own sense of release or relief.
It’s therapy on WordPress. You could be part of the group that has to wade through my bullshit until it’s your turn to talk. But in this session, you never really get a turn.
You could be one of the few and throw in a comment or two. But you’d be better off starting your own therapy in your own blog. I’ll follow you, if you follow me…
Together we can cut out the middle-man therapist and save ourselves the trip to the church basement for the self-help group.
So yeah, I’m a shitty writer. But I’m happy to stay that way.
Share this:
Categories: Bullshit Blogging
Supremely well said. Thanks for normalizing this experience – I’m with you, I write for the ten people who want to commiserate, and that’s just about right for me. SFW ftw.
Thanks — welcome to the group session.
You are definitely not a shitty writer. You are a very good writer, as this post clearly illustrates. Just keep doing your thing!
Thanks for that. In this case I was using “shitty” to mean I’m just going to keep this a hobby. I want to keep it fun and free, and not put the work in to be a real professional.
So here’s my problem: I actually found two people to read my shitty second draft manuscript bike memoir. And now they’re calling my bluff so I owe them a chapter. We’re starting with one because, we’ll see if they want more punishment after that. Because my brother, who has self published three books, is on my ass the pull the trigger (well, he said so once; I think he meant on Amazon but maybe he meant literally?)….
I’d actually like to make some rent or food or ok just bike repair money instead of getting a fucking job with a side of ‘rona and a double daily dose of despair. Although I know that’s a pipe dream to think I could get paid… and I don’t even smoke pipe. And with way fewer blog followers and no social media I’m in no danger of monetizing my blog, either.
So that leaves what? Freelancing? Content writing? Ghost writing? Ugh. So maybe I need to go give all that up and join the shitty writers equivalent of AA. At least if I do self publish (which sounds very close to punish), I’ll have proof for all the world to see that I’m a shitty sitter, but at least I will have had the balls to prove it by publishing it.
Wish me luck! (PS Wanna read my shitty manuscript? I’m kidding, you’d probably hate it. It’s just like my blog.)
I’m sorta in the same boat. Hoping to get part time job so I have time to help my dad put his books together and maybe pull the thread on a few blogs to self publish. I would have time to read yours.
Well, hello there, boat-mate. I hope you find that and are able to do it. That would be great if you wanted to read mine. May I email you?
Sure. Kierankr@gmail.com
Me too. Not looking for (writing for) a specific audience. SFDs all the way! Well done, Kieran.
Deb
It was a good workshop. Well worth the cost of admission and time.
Amen, brother.
I feel that on a visceral level. I’m pretty sure there is a process to write well. F*** me if I know what it is or if I’ll ever be “a good writer”. I already write, now I have to do it well too? Get outta here!
Yeah… I’m not up for the rewrites and editors.
thanks for information