Following on from ishiguro love fest yesterday, I’m just going to comment on one more thing he said. Asked what advice he had for the inspiring writer, he made the distinction that too many people these days were enamored with the idea of being a ‘writer’ rather that someone who ‘writes’
I suppose in a way being a ‘writer’ has less appeal than an actress or rock star, which makes you wonder why someone would aspire to the label. However unlike these other avenues being a writer is open to everyone (well at least anyone who’s literate) with no need for rhythm (thank god!) or stage presence. Therefore it can be viewed as an accessible route into the arts and a theoretical chance of falling into the celebrity boho world- though how many celebrities these day have writers friends these day… chinawhites is hardly the same as Paris early last century! I have spoken to so many ‘writers’ who have a blurb already formed for their jackets and answers for the radio 4 interviews without actually putting pen to paper (or hand to keyboard in most cases)
Now I love writing- as you probably tell from my elongated postings! - but the actual idea of being a ‘writer’ and earning your living through university residency, public lectures etc turns me off. I much prefer my job and actually think it is probably better for a writer, apart from time constraints, to work in the ‘real world’ so to speak. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to write a blockbuster and get a million pound movie deal so I didn’t have to work at all, but I don’t think it is going to happen…
Submission attempt number 4 went into Diane Banks yesterday- you can actually do it via email which is great. Though it doesn’t cost the earth to post office your submissions (about £3 with a SAE) it does make it easy to do it this way. I’d dread to think what I would have to do if I had to post a whole manuscript. I did it once for MP who better stay unnamed during this present expenses crisis, who had his brother’s whole manuscript posted on his expenses account to a critic to suggest improvements. Since it was a long winded sci-fi it cost about £80…
…Still be nice to be asked though….
