Writing Is A Solitary Thing
By Susan
@HazySue (39264)
Gouverneur, New York
February 19, 2018 9:59am CST
I never really thought of it before but writing is something that you do alone. That is, unless you have a partner. Typically though, it is something that is done by one person.
I guess it never entered my mind because I am a solitary person. I like to be alone and do my own thing.
Look at what I do. I design cross stitch patterns and jewelry, and most importantly I write. All of these things are things done in private by one person and one person only.
I assume it must follow that those who do write are also solitary people. I could be wrong but it seems to make sense to me.
I also believe that this is one of the reasons why a rejection letter causes so much pain. After you have worked so hard and poured your soul into the work it is hard to understand why someone would reject it.
It becomes a personal thing with the author. It is not a personal thing to the editor. Who do you turn to to understand the reason your work will not be published at that time?
Sure, your family and friends are there to lend you support and sympathy but do they really understand?
I think a writer understands another writers pain. If you receive a rejection letter the one to turn to would be another writer.
Here on MyLot there are other writers that will be able to help and support you. I know they will. They have helped me.
18 people like this
15 responses
@Marilynda1225 (79731)
• United States
19 Feb 18
I've never attempted to write anything that would be submitted to an editor but it must be painful to have your work rejected. That's why I admire anyone who is a author and puts themselves out there.
3 people like this
@MarleneAM (294)
•
19 Feb 18
Being rejected after submitting your work, reminds me of this song by Richard Marx. Can you imagine if he stopped trying as an artist? Luckily, he was persistent; that is, if the song was actually about his personal experience ~
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/richardmarx/dontmeannothin.html
@HazySue (39264)
• Gouverneur, New York
19 Feb 18
@Marilynda1225 It isn't fun for sure. You tend to take it personally especially when they don't let you know why.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39264)
• Gouverneur, New York
19 Feb 18
@MarleneAM My point exactly. There are things we would have missed if the writer, whether it be of manuscripts or music, gave up the first few times they were rejected.
1 person likes this
@Meramar (2695)
•
19 Feb 18
Some books are written inbetween several authors, but it doesn't happen very often. To write a book needs time, investigation, aknowledge, concentration.... it's a big effort. It's like realizing a dream. As a writer, we have to understand that not all people share the same dream or interests. It's hard to overcome. But it's a part we have to learn at least to accept.
1 person likes this
@Meramar (2695)
•
19 Feb 18
@HazySue It works if you are working on a special kind of book where each chapter talks about a theme and each author works on a different chapter, like the books for schools. Otherwise, it must be very difficult to coordinate the content and may take over years to get it ready.
1 person likes this
@jcvee2009 (151)
• Philippines
19 Feb 18
Rejection is trully hurtful but try to look at it on the positive Side, maybe it could give you a lesson there..it could make you strive harder..make your craft better...people dont have the same thought...maybe for you its good but for them its not...
I once saw a quote which says "Learn to look things on the positive side however bad the situation is."
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
20 Feb 18
This made me think of how I was when I was young up until now. I've always kept a diary and i like writing in them and that's why I love mylot.
I spent most of my time alone when I was a young kid and I preferred to be at home during the holidays. But I do have friends and I spent my time with them but I would always have time alone.
It's the same these days. At the moment I am alone, mylotting. The moment I arrived in our house, I would go straight to my room where I'm alone and so the things I love to do. But when I'm around people, I enjoy my time with them as well.
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
20 Feb 18
I have been very lucky to have a close friend who was also my immediate supervisor on another writing site and we often bounce ideas off each other and edit each other's work. And sometimes just gripe to each other since other people don't understand the frustrations of writing.
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
19 Feb 18
I've submitted stories in the past, but they were to minor publications, like magazines and such. Now I self-publish, so I kind of skipped that whole process. I'm still working on short stories, and just got my 49th short out today. Sadly, one of my competitors has nearly 900 stories, so I have a lot of work to do before I catch up with the top authors!
Good luck in your next submission attempt. :)
@just4him (306239)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
19 Feb 18
A rejection letter is a very hard pill to swallow. I've gotten a few. Not many, and each one was a nail in a coffin. Only I never buried the coffin or the manuscript. I sent it soaring freely through self-publishing. I've gotten good reviews from my books. I was told by the same editors who rejected my manuscript, that the work was good. So, why was it rejected? Word count. Yes, that's what they told me. They want first time authors with 85K-125K words. No more than that. My books have more than 150K on the average. The one I'm going to publish this year has close to if not more than 200K. I'm trying to bring the word count down through the editing and revision process, so far, I've only added to it.
Yes, writing is a very solitary job. I've always been a solitary person, a loner. So this doesn't bother me either.
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb 18
When you write you create and your output is like your 'baby' - a very personal thing. To have someone say it's not all that good can be very difficult to accept.
@jstory07 (134460)
• Roseburg, Oregon
19 Feb 18
Writing is a good solitary thing. You can write about anything that you want to.
