We all start off in our in writing career as the Unknown Writer (not be confused with the Unknown Comic). But through patience, perseverance and downright groveling (admit it, you've probably done the last one at least once in your lifetime), you managed to get published, and thus move from the realm of the Unknown Writer to the realm of the Published Unknown Writer. Eventually somewhere down the road, you managed to get a few more stories published, the occasional accolade and the occasional reference, which pushed you out of the realm of the Published Unknown Writer to the realm of the Published Semi-Known Writer. And again, through perseverance, tenacity and having the IDGAF attitude that all successful writers have (please, if you have to ask what the acronym means, then obviously you're just a pansy who lets people walk all over you), you move to the realm of the Published Known Writer, which hopefully you will become a permanent fixture of until the day you pass away into the next realm of whatever higher deity you happen to follow.
However, if you're just starting out your writing career as the Unknown Writer and for whatever reason, you think that you don't have to pay your dues 'cause deep down you believe that your writing is the greatest thing to come down the road since Barry Manilow picked up a pen to write jingles and that no one else can possibly understand your voice, your mentality, your story, etc. etc. etc. and that your story is fantastic and to hell with all those professional and semi-professional writers who tell you that your writing needs some major work so you're gonna self publish your masterpiece to worldwide acclaim (yes, some people are just that delusional), to quote Fire Marshal Bill, "Let me show you something!"
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
Ha ha, IDGAF! Good post.
ReplyDeleteYeah, if only it were that easy.
ReplyDeleteI might be in the semi-known category now. Just barely.
Debra: Thanks.
ReplyDeleteAlex: Yes, it could be that easy, but alas, we live in the real world thus making this post a pipe dream. :D
I like the progression you present. I think I need to resort to some groveling.
ReplyDeleteLee
Wrote By Rote
An A to Z Co-host blog
Arlee: Thanks. I'm still somewhere near the beginning right now, and if you stop by for tomorrow's post, you will see how I became part of the very last paragraph.
ReplyDeleteHaving worked at a publishing company, I can't tell you how many authors have the ideas that you refer to in the last paragraph. Oh, the stories I could tell! (And have, in blogs past.)
ReplyDeleteI figured out IDGAF instantly. But you probably knew that already, didn't you?
M: Scary isn't it?
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I did know that about you, 'cause you're a uniquely one-of-a-kind person who has no equal (except maybe Mr. RK).