'What kind of writer are you?' by Deborah Jenkins

                                                     

Do you ever ask yourself this question? I do, at times. What kind of writer am I? I want to be easy-going, humble, generous, welcoming constructive criticism, delighting in the success of others. In reality, most of the time I manage to be some of these. I am not so good at others. Occasionally, I go to bed with an intense dislike for myself because I failed to be that writer.

There are people in ACW, and in the writing community at large, who seem to me to embody many if not all of the great qualities above. I call them 'open hearted writers'. They are just so good at talking about writing naturally, encouraging others, receiving advice gladly, championing fellow writers, giving of their time.

Of course the public face never tells the whole story. Who hasn't rolled their eyes when receiving negative feedback or felt a twinge of jealousy observing another's success? We are human after all. But what I find intriguing is that when we choose to act in the opposite spirit to the 'natural' one, those feelings fade. We find ourselves genuinely grateful for the criticism, delighted for the other's success. That is the kind of writer, the kind of person I want to be, all of the time, not just on good days. I've made progress over the years but I'm not there yet. How about you?

Well, for a bit of thought provoking reflection, and some fun, I've devised a quiz for us. Let me know how you get on...

What kind of writer are you? 

1. You post a paragraph from your current WIP on a writers' forum with some punctuation queries. You get some helpful responses. However, a number of people pick up on things you didn't ask about - commenting on the use of vocabulary and word play. Do you: 

a) Ignore them. You didn't ask for said advice. They can go jump

b) Thank everybody for their comments and look carefully again at your piece, making all the changes you agree with

c) Feel annoyed at their audacity and eat a family sized bar of Cadbury's Dairy Milk

2. Someone has posted a plea for help with an area of writing you've had success with. No one has commented and you are too busy to help. Do you: 

a) Wish you could help but you can't. Shrug your shoulders regretfully, and forget it

b) Explain you could offer advice but suggest a future date when you're not so busy

c) Apologise that you're too busy to help but tag a few people who might. Then feel guilty (they're probably busy too). Go back and delete the comment, praying no one's seen

3. At an on-line writing event, someone half your age, with less writing experience, shares his experience of writing a successful book. Do you:

a) Google his book immediately and miss the rest of the talk, reading a sample

b) Take assiduous notes, grateful for the things you can learn from him.

c) Write in the chat to a friend 'HOW CAN SOMEONE SO YOUNG KNOW ALL THIS?!' realising, a second too late, you've sent it to everyone

4. You've sent your work of genius to several beta readers who promised to get back to you in a month. Two of them have now apologised and said it will now two months. Do you:

a) Email back saying thanks but no thanks. 

b) Decide to use the time profitably to research agents and publishers

c) Craft a grudgingly patient reply and delete them from your Christmas list

5) Someone you know is offered the publishing deal of her dreams. And yours. Do you:

a) Pretend it hasn't happened and disengage. Too painful

b) Congratulate her warmly, promote her book when you can, and let her success motivate you in your writing

c) Give up writing. Take up jiu jitsu instead

So what kind of writer are you?

Mostly a) - You're not perfect, you're a human being. There will be days like this. Try again tomorrow

Mostly b) - You're not perfect, you're a human being. There will be days like this. Try again tomorrow

Mostly c) - You're not perfect, you're a human being. There will be days like this. Try again tomorrow

What kinds of writers are we? Human ones, attempting to follow our calling in a difficult and unpredictable profession, while juggling jobs, families, health issues, complex lives. Perhaps we should cut ourselves some slack. The truth is, everyone's making it up as they go along and we're all trying to avoid different stages of the dance with fear. Will anyone PUBLISH my book? Will anyone READ my book? What if everyone HATES my book? How am I ever going to write ANOTHER book? 

But we have God and each other. We are part of a bigger picture and we are never alone.

Whatever kind of writer you are today, take heart. We can do this...

                                                                 

The images above are from Pixabay

Click on the link to see the novella on amazon

Deborah Jenkins is a freelance writer and teacher who has written articles, text books, devotional notes and short stories. She writes regularly for the tes. She has also completed a novella, The Evenness of Things, available as an Amazon e-book. She is currently working on the publication of a novel, Braver, and some children's stories about a cat called Oliver. Deborah loves hats, trees and small children. After years overseas with her family, who are now grown up, she lives in Sussex with her husband, a Baptist minister, and a cat called Oliver