Gatchamania.net - Print: Being A Writer: Good or Bad?

Gatchamania.net (http://www.gatchamania.net/index.php)
- [Speak Up!] (http://www.gatchamania.net/board.php?boardid=500)
-- Rant! (http://www.gatchamania.net/board.php?boardid=23)
--- Being A Writer: Good or Bad? (http://www.gatchamania.net/threadid.php?threadid=1863)

Posted by Tengu on 09-05-2008 at 13:54:

Nope, most fictions writers lack in imagination and write the same old things, I like new things.

I have a friend whos a climber, hes saving up for Everest, but I say, `If your going to go all the way to Asia, why not bag an unclimbed peak?`

__________________
"If you think I am a Condor, you may keep that opinion;
Though I am no Condor, my Skylines rusty enough."

Posted by Rory on 09-05-2008 at 20:25:

quote:

Originally posted by lborgia88
I'm so sorry to hear about your illness, Rory, and that it's making you choose extra work that brings in money over work that inspires you. I truly hope that you can find a way to accomplish your non-fiction work that still leaves some room for fiction, while you regain your health.

Sadly, lborgia, it usually doesn't work out that way. Although considered one of the major women's publications in the Philippines, because the publisher and executive publisher are sooo cheap, the editorial/writing staff of Woman Today is composed of only 6 people, including me. We work on a very tight schedule with a procrastinating editor and to top it all, we're not paid on time and we haven't had a raise in years. That's why you're really forced to get extra work, as if the extra work in itself pay well also.

Posted by Rory on 09-05-2008 at 20:28:

quote:

Originally posted by Transmute Jun
I am sorry to hear about your cancer, and I hope that this job doesn't stress you out too much, Rory.

Dear TJ,

I'm going to see if I could somehow adjust my schedules to accommodate everything, but it's going to be tight. I'm pretty notorious for overworking to the point that it sends me to the hospital. Just two months ago, I had to to have a drain inserted because I developed fluid in my lungs.

Let's just hope for the best.

Posted by Rory on 09-05-2008 at 20:30:

quote:

Originally posted by clouddancer
Rory, sorry to hear about your illness.
I hope you are able to sort out your non-fiction and your fiction writing.

What you want to write with what you need to write.

Thanks, CD. I hope I could be able to sort things out.

Posted by Rory on 09-05-2008 at 20:49:

RE: Being A Writer: Good or Bad?

quote:

First, I'm so sorry to hear about your cancer, and that you've got so many things to deal with. That always seems to be the way, doesn't it?

For me, that ALWAYS seems to be the case.

quote:

How did you get that job? I would give a few fingers for that opportunity!!!!

About the consultancy, I've made friends with the former CEO of AXN-Asia and Animax Asia for the Southeast Asian region. When he left to head the Hong Kong base, the SEA region was left with a staff, especially Animax, that woefully knows nothing about anime. They don't know the right programs to get. They don't know how to market the shows. I wrote to my friend to give him some suggestions. I wasn't expecting anything out of it. Then, he wrote back to ask if I would be willing to serve as a parttime consultant for Animax Asia. Since it's parttime, I said yes. Little did I know that I would end up doing marketing/programming proposals not just for AXN-Asia and Animax Asia, but their sci-fi channel AXN Beyond as well. It's NOT an easy job. I'm always butting heads with Singaporeans, who -- my apologies to any Singaporeans in this forum -- have huge egos that get in the way of the improvements that need to be done.

quote:

I appreciate the fear that something might go wrong with the projects, but honestly, I always feel that way when I begin a serious or major nonfiction project. I might let someone down, what in hell have I gotten myself into...?! So I bet that's a feeling you've had before, and I bet things have consistently turned out all right. Otherwise you wouldn't be where you are.

To be perfectly honest with you, the answer is not always all right. I'm pretty confident with writing non-fiction projects. BUT...what bums me out in the end is how the outcome always falls short of what I'm expecting, especially on the money front. You put in a lot of work and you still end up getting cheated, even under contract.

quote:

You know what I do? I write every night before I go to bed.

Sadly, I can't stay up too late because of my health problems. More often than not, I usually arrive home at around 11 pm to 12 mn, then have to get up at 4 am. My doctor has been telling me that I need more sleep.

quote:

You've had so much success with your other writing. You'll find (or make!) a place you can carve out a niche for your fiction. If someone is inviting you to submit to a publication, clearly you have the talent, and you are wise enough to want to nurture it!

I certainly hope that does happen. If you want to know the truth, the MAIN REASON why I want to make it in fiction is because I've butted heads with real authors in the Books and Writers Community over on AOL. I can't believe the massive egos that some of those writers have. The worst thing I've experienced there is having them try to force you to conform to 1) the way THEY write and 2) the themes/plots THEY want you to write. One writer, who claims to be with the Associated Press, even told me that "I don't want to dampen your spirits, but I don't think you could make it as a writer of fiction." That's why I'm intent on pursuing writing fiction at all cost, even if it kills me, if only to show them who it was they're dealing with. As if you could say that their novels could even be considered original...

Yikes, I can't believe I ranted again! But yes, it did me a world of good.

Thanks, Eva!
Rory

Posted by Rory on 09-05-2008 at 20:55:

quote:

I have work with a lot if Philippino women over the years and they often say that about you country, how hard it is to earn good money. The one that migrate here generally do very well financially. I can see why, they have the best work ethic, and lovely nature. And they are wise with their money.

Eva's right in saying you must have talent to be approached about writing books!!! Annoying as it is for you during such a busy time in your life. I hope the rant has made you feel better... Better out than left inside to fester I say!!!

Yes, Filipinos are indeed very hardworking, although we also have some traits that are not so admirable.

To be honest, if I have talent, then I'm not too aware of it, especially since a lot of critics are constantly dissing me to no end about the stuff I wrote. But then, a fellow journalist told me "The amount of criticisms you get is equivalent to the quality of writing that you put out." So I guess, even if I'm being criticized, I'm actually doing it right.

I ended up ranting again to Eva. *groan* But, yes, it did make me feel better.

Sincerely,
Rory

Posted by Rory on 09-05-2008 at 21:05:

To Tengu and Ebonyswanne

quote:

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne

quote:

Originally posted by Tengu
I wouldnt write fiction though (I can tell a story, but thats useful in non fiction too) most fiction writers have no imagination and I wouldn't want to be classed with the likes of them.

Isn't that a contradiction???

First of all, Tengu, thanks for your kind wishes.

Ebonyswanne, I think I know what Tengu is driving at.

I mentioned earlier to Eva about the troubles I had with the authors in the Books and Writers Community on AOL. One specific problem that I've had with them was a discussion about the loss of originality in fiction. I must admit that I started that discussion as a rant, which resulted from I and several associates losing in the Animax Awards contest to a writer, who admitted IN PRINT in the newspaper that the ideas for his winning entry "were taken from movies, anime and books that I loved." It would've been better if he had said that he had been INSPIRED by these sources. But no, he said he had TAKEN the ideas. I personally found it an insult, especially since I really don't like it when people plagiarize not just complete works, but ideas as well.

And what is the response I got from all these respectable authors? THAT ORIGINALITY IS PRACTICALLY NON-EXISTENT. That they just rehash ideas over and over again.

So, how could they explain the wealth of originality that I've been reading in the fanfiction of amateur writers?

Frankly, I think that the reason why there is so much ballyhoo going on over copyright infringement in the first place is because these respected authors actually fear fanfic writers/artists for their originality.

In a way, that's why I'm glad that I'm living in the Philippines. I could copyright my fanfics as derivative works.

So the lesson to all fanfic writers: CONTINUE WRITING FANFICS AND, WHEN YOU GET ENOUGH CONFIDENCE, MOVE ON TO WRITING ORIGINAL FICS. PLEASE HELP BRING BACK ORIGINALITY TO THIS DULL FICTION INDUSTRY.

Sincerely,
Rory

Posted by Rory on 09-05-2008 at 21:08:

To Meridianday and Kimiko

Thank you very much for your kind thoughts and wishes! I wish I could answer your posts personally as well, but sadly, I'm pressed for time because I have a launching to attend.

Again, thank you very much! You guys all made me feel a lot better and more confident!!

Posted by Tengu on 09-05-2008 at 21:38:

My fics not that original.

`Zoltars New clothes` was inspired by the actions of a naturist friend

<coughs>

`Tinys journey` came from several sources, firstly I wanted to write a Tiny fic, and so needed a suitable plot, secondly I was reading Thompsons `the people of the sea` which is a colllection of tales of the seal folk, but also an account of a journey of his own.

(its interesting to note that he rewrote this book over the course of his life, and there are now several wildly differing editions exant. I will remember the advice of the islander `shut your eyes and dont open them untill you get off the island` and their insistance that though the seal folk were a myth, the people of the sea were very real beings who visited in the old days)

Thirdly its a tribute to Einnen Ashbrooks `BOTP arc` I read when I first got online...how many years ago was that?????

__________________
"If you think I am a Condor, you may keep that opinion;
Though I am no Condor, my Skylines rusty enough."