I had no training to be a writer. I began writing fiction at age 70 because I could no longer see well enough to do something else properly. Something I'd counted on doing the rest of my life. I'm still writing. The writing is getting better. I'm getting older (82 so far). I still read stuff (some of it, yours) and think, "I want to write like that when I grow up."
I think the impetus to create art, particularly in story form, comes from a deep desire to connect with others. We are truly trapped in our own heads. Even with loved ones, we can only infer what they think but never hear their inner most thoughts. One article that this post reminded me of was this one that describes how free speech is necessary because stories are part of our humanity and to cut off certain stories is to strip us of our humanity. https://open.substack.com/pub/motherucker/p/the-psychological-need-for-free-speech?r=92l7b&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
I failed to add that stories give us the inner thoughts of characters and their perspectives that we long to have in real life. In this way, I find reading to be very meditative and sets me at ease in a way that other entertainment simply does not.
This is such an important point, Belte. I agree. And in addition to longing, it can also just be wanting to glimpse another life, another way of being, even if it's not who we would want to be.
Shaina, you have stirred up some fine company of fellow 'under qualified' writers for your question posed today, I mean who would want to read them! Probably not a PhD in the bunch.
Well I am a self proclaimed reader of most anything put before me at the 'write' time. And what I want is that same basic sharing of thoughts, feelings, points of view that the writer is brave enough to let free in the wild. And the other piece that is new to me, and was scary intimidating but less so now, is to offer my thoughts and opinions, critiques even, back to receptive authors. My mind feels like it is expanding like the universe with no end in sight. (Here's where I drop my quote and dazzle everyone) As someone famous wrote long ago, " No wo(man) is an island, entire of itself". Writers write to share of themselves, like you all do. I read to taste and compare and to validate my experiences. Fortunately, as I have found, it is a mostly bidirectional stream. And I guess that dear readers is enough of my free stream of conscious observations. Thanks for reading!
I feel that quote too. I'm not exactly rolling in qualifications. I just got bored one day and decided to write stories I day dreamed about. They sounded fun to me and I thought maybe other people would find them fun, too. It's all about creating a fun break from the toil of the real world for me.
Oh, Shaina, me too! I don't write because I'm an expert at anything. I have no qualifications. I just have to write. As Belte says, it comes out of my desire to be connected to the world around me. It's my love letter to life, my writing. It's the way I find out what I know, who I am. It's my mental health practice, and my spiritual practice. I don't expect to make money. I don't want to be famous. I want to touch the hand of someone like you. That's all.
I will disagree with you in this respect. I love the way you dive deeply into Stephen King. And write so well about his works. That takes an unusual passion and dedication and talent. So, I think you do bring specific expertise.
"I only have my experience of the world around me." And that is all you really need, Shaina.
I'm here for your words, your perspective, your thoughts and stories.
I also have no writing qualifications. In some ways, I think that's good. There's no bias or leaning on anything. It's all just expression deriving from outer and inner experience, reading a lot, thinking a lot etc. Well, that's my take, anyway.
Writing = Feeling. And yours is one of my favorite Substacks.
That means a lot coming from you Susan
I had no training to be a writer. I began writing fiction at age 70 because I could no longer see well enough to do something else properly. Something I'd counted on doing the rest of my life. I'm still writing. The writing is getting better. I'm getting older (82 so far). I still read stuff (some of it, yours) and think, "I want to write like that when I grow up."
That’s high praise from someone who has seen so much of life already!
The view from 80 is breathtaking.
I think the impetus to create art, particularly in story form, comes from a deep desire to connect with others. We are truly trapped in our own heads. Even with loved ones, we can only infer what they think but never hear their inner most thoughts. One article that this post reminded me of was this one that describes how free speech is necessary because stories are part of our humanity and to cut off certain stories is to strip us of our humanity. https://open.substack.com/pub/motherucker/p/the-psychological-need-for-free-speech?r=92l7b&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
I failed to add that stories give us the inner thoughts of characters and their perspectives that we long to have in real life. In this way, I find reading to be very meditative and sets me at ease in a way that other entertainment simply does not.
Agreed. There’s something much different about it. Like peering into another world, and taking it into your own.
This is such an important point, Belte. I agree. And in addition to longing, it can also just be wanting to glimpse another life, another way of being, even if it's not who we would want to be.
Yes, even for those characters who in real-life might be annoying or disquieting can intrigue us in literature.
Shaina, you have stirred up some fine company of fellow 'under qualified' writers for your question posed today, I mean who would want to read them! Probably not a PhD in the bunch.
Well I am a self proclaimed reader of most anything put before me at the 'write' time. And what I want is that same basic sharing of thoughts, feelings, points of view that the writer is brave enough to let free in the wild. And the other piece that is new to me, and was scary intimidating but less so now, is to offer my thoughts and opinions, critiques even, back to receptive authors. My mind feels like it is expanding like the universe with no end in sight. (Here's where I drop my quote and dazzle everyone) As someone famous wrote long ago, " No wo(man) is an island, entire of itself". Writers write to share of themselves, like you all do. I read to taste and compare and to validate my experiences. Fortunately, as I have found, it is a mostly bidirectional stream. And I guess that dear readers is enough of my free stream of conscious observations. Thanks for reading!
I feel that quote too. I'm not exactly rolling in qualifications. I just got bored one day and decided to write stories I day dreamed about. They sounded fun to me and I thought maybe other people would find them fun, too. It's all about creating a fun break from the toil of the real world for me.
Oh, Shaina, me too! I don't write because I'm an expert at anything. I have no qualifications. I just have to write. As Belte says, it comes out of my desire to be connected to the world around me. It's my love letter to life, my writing. It's the way I find out what I know, who I am. It's my mental health practice, and my spiritual practice. I don't expect to make money. I don't want to be famous. I want to touch the hand of someone like you. That's all.
You’re more than qualified to be a writer, Shaina. I loved this piece. ❤️
I will disagree with you in this respect. I love the way you dive deeply into Stephen King. And write so well about his works. That takes an unusual passion and dedication and talent. So, I think you do bring specific expertise.
Thank you David.
I couldn't agree more.
Beautiful.
"I only have my experience of the world around me." And that is all you really need, Shaina.
I'm here for your words, your perspective, your thoughts and stories.
I also have no writing qualifications. In some ways, I think that's good. There's no bias or leaning on anything. It's all just expression deriving from outer and inner experience, reading a lot, thinking a lot etc. Well, that's my take, anyway.
Hear hear! We are all just muddling along, trying to figure it out.
I love that you write from experience, asking your reader to see and explore the questions with you. It’s the most powerful kind of writing.
Thank you for this excellent article, I loved it!