If you set out to be a "great" writer, you will accomplish absolutely nothing. It's a ridiculous bar, and it will prove nothing but counterproductive.

"Greatness" is for other people to decide and frankly, it's for you to ignore. Because looking to be great is sinmply seeking validation from others, and that will prove detrimental to both yourself and your writing.

Anne Lamott says something like this in Bird by Bird:

"I just try to warn people who hope to get published that publication is not all that it is cracked up to be. But writing is. Writing has so much to give, so much to teach, so many surprises. The act of writing turns out to be its own reward."

"The problem that comes up over and over again is that these people want to be published. They kind of want to write, but they really want to be published."

NB: I'm not AT ALL implying that Susan feels this way; Victor's comments just reminded me of this.

I don’t tell her that—it’d tempt fate.

What I meant is that I wouldn't dare lecture someone on what they should've done to avoid getting injured, because I'd be asking the universe to break my arm the next time I set foot on the ice. But maybe I could've come up with a better way of saying it.

And victor, I think you're right. But OTOH, I don't feel like being competitive is a bad thing in all cases, even as a writer. And I'm stuck with it to some degree--it's possibly the most hard-wired thing in my personality. I just need to figure out how to manage it properly.

Annie has moments of being right. Yep, she does.

edit:

But maybe I could've come up with a better way of saying it.

FWIW, I knew straight off what you meant. Warn her, and the eye swings toward the warner.

And one last drabble. I'm not sure I like this one or not--my brain has been full of images for this scene ever since a drive through really dark countryside under an almost-full moon earlier this week, and I'm afraid I'm trying to say too many things at once.

Fallen

The black dress must come off, and it does. If a few buttons break loose in the process, what of it? Having decided to be wanton and wicked, she’s not about to wear mourning for Sebastian while she falls.

Even in July the nights are cool, and she quivers when the breeze caresses her bare arms and neck. She delights in how the moonlight bathes her pale skin and snow-white petticoat. The night is beautiful, and she belongs to it. And never before has anyone looked at her the way Jack does now, all hunger and half-heartbroken longing.

She’s ready.

One of my earliest memories is the time my Dad enrolled me in a gymnastics program at the YMCA. I was...I think it was the summer before 1st grade, so I had just turned six. I wasn't sure what he was getting me into, and when I asked him about it he said he wanted me to learn how to fall properly. I don't remember being a clumsy or accident-prone child, but I still remember the surprise I felt at the idea that falling was something one could learn to do. I had a great time.

It was also my introduction to gender-based sports chauvinism. In the beginning gymnastics course everyone got to do a rotation at each apparatus. I really enjoyed the uneven bars, and was so disappointed when I was told I couldn't do them in the later courses -- that was for girls.

Rats. Parallel bars were boring.

In that instance, Victor, you can put a "Thought-provoking..." blurb on your book, if you can get somebody not Miss Nobody to say it.(Although Miss Nobody has what the politicians call "mo" right now and I'm gonna ride it, you bet.) Although it is sad how many projects CG has nagged me into...does that make me his bitch, instead of Spike's?

A drabble inspired by Hil's:

The Fall

The snake slithered up to the woman as she ate her 500th bowl of perfect ambrosia and said, "Wouldn't you like some fruit?"

"God said that if we ate it, we would die," she replied, idly drawing in the dirt.

"That's only part of the truth. You will learn how the stars march through the sky and how the animals grow and then you will die. Your children's children will figure out how God put together the universe, and then make universes of their own."

The fruit was sweet and a little sour. The sticky juice trickled down her chin.

And victor, I think you're right. But OTOH, I don't feel like being competitive is a bad thing in all cases, even as a writer. And I'm stuck with it to some degree--it's possibly the most hard-wired thing in my personality. I just need to figure out how to manage it properly.

Fair enough--I've got a competitive streak in me myself. I did spend a goodly amount of time in the poetry slam, after all. It's just a matter of perspective. I've seen too many writers fall prey to the logical fallacy of depending on a corporation/educational institution to validate their worth as a writer, which almost inevitable leads to the nonsensical corrolary of "my success as a writer = my worth as a human bein," andno I'm NOT saying that's where this is headed, just that I've seen this scenario before. It's bullshit. Very little gets published on the basis of its merits alone. Merit counts for something, certainly, but that alone isn't what sell books--it's all messed up with marketing demographics and what Borders will push and a lot of myopia. It can be overcome, but it takes time, and if you get cuaght up in the game, you won't write the next thing, and that's always the real challenge. Or, as my good friend Reggie Cabico put it, "the slam that can be seen is not the slam. The real competion is against yourself, writing the next poem." Or, in this case, romance novel, but I'd say the advice applies.

Although it is sad how many projects CG has nagged me into...does that make me his bitch, instead of Spike's?

Can you be both?

But somehow, the idea of not sharing the original fiction, or of being unwilling to submit the original fiction, because it might get snooted, or might not generate a response - that's the part I don't get.

Considering I didn't say that, your opinion on that is completely valid. I've got original fiction. I've got a WordPerfect window open right now with the second draft of the completed novel I'm thinking has a shot at the big time. I've got oodles of original fiction. What I don't have is a life situation that allows me to make writing my primary focus.

My point about the joy of the instant validation of fanfic is that you don't have to wonder "Can I write? Do I suck?" Someone will tell you. Granted, there is sucky fic out there that has fans, but an honest writer who is working at their craft will figure out how to make their work stop sucking. And should accrue more fans.

Some people think fic is easy or limiting, because you don't have to create the characters and background. It isn't, but there are people who will never be persuaded from their own views. But a strongly held view that contradicts mine does not mean mine is wrong.

"Can you be both?" Possibly, but should the book be huge, I'm gonna need something to say in interviews besides "I made a bet with somebody I was hot for, thinking it would suck and he'd get off my back about my fic habit, Barbara." I don't think I have any true worries about greatness, with a story like that.