What, Me Scribble?
Thoughts on My Incredible Writing Career
There are certain moments when I know that I should just stick my big nose into it and see what happens. I cannot resist.
A friend of mine - a freelance writer, playwright, mother and fellow scribbler - sent me a link over Facebook about the demise of the writing profession. This time we can blame it on technology (too much free stuff out there). After reading the piece, I was accused by the same friend of not actually reading it carefully. I was too amused to be offended by where things were heading.
I ask you to take the long view, to look a generation beyond where we are now, and to express concern for the future of the book. I ask you to vote that the end of "the book" as written by professional writers, is imminent; and not to be placated with short-term projections and enthusiasms intended to reduce fear in a confused market. I ask you to leave this place troubled, and to ask yourself and as many others as you can, what you can do if you truly value the work of the people formerly known as writers.
I figured it would look better larger and bolder than my own thoughts. And I have just gotten over the sense of deja vu which has haunted me since I have read it.
Yes, I understand. Being a writer is very hard work that does not always pay well. But when has that not been the case? Ancient Rome or Greece? Elizabethan or Victorian England? The simple answer is always. And some of the greatest books and articles ever written were created without the promise of any type of financial reward. John Milton only received five pounds for "Paradise Lost". Samuel Johnson, creator of one of the first great English dictionaries - a decade of labour with very little help - did not receive a pension for his work until he was much older and frailer. And history is full of such people who did great things with less to show for it (see William Blake or John Keats).
Now, the issue of technology. This much I do understand. But I will not become a Luddite just because there is a way to put words in front of a reader that is not the same method used by the greats of the past. And would somebody please pose the question as to whether or not it is in a company's best interest to create a computer device that can carry books on it in a very portable and convenient method? Why would they even think about books when they could be selling music or video games? I am no fan of the E-readers I have seen (yet), but if I hear that kids are now trading illegal downloads of Shakespeare and Dickens, I will cry happy tears.
So, keep writing if you want to write; keep reading if you want to read. I have made a little money over the years from this page, without much else except a few Honorable Mentions and many Top Stories...
I cannot stop.
A sign that I am a true writer? Anyone?
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You can find more poems, stories, and articles by Kendall Defoe on my Vocal profile. I complain, argue, provoke and create...just like everybody else.
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About the Creator
Kendall Defoe
Teacher, reader, writer, dreamer... I am a college instructor who cannot stop letting his thoughts end up on the page. No AI. No Fake Work. It's all me...
And I did this:
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Sound and Vision
I'm surprised that I did not think of this sooner... I am at home during a very hot Tuesday, sitting in my kitchen in front of this screen with a plan to go for a short walk after the leftovers I have had for dinner. I am waiting on money in the mail (snail, unfortunately), and having vague thoughts about which dumpster I would choose if I do get kicked out of my apartment and have to suffer another humiliation. The job hunt continues, with one application sent to a school that I applied to years before, had an interview with, and then found myself rejected from because the teacher I was supposed to replace decided not to retire.
By Kendall Defoe 6 months ago in Writers
Average Cost of 2D Animation Outsourcing Projects
Outsourcing 2D animation allows businesses to create explainer videos, ads, onboarding content, and product demos without building an in-house team. In the US market, pricing varies based on animation style, complexity, and production scope.
By Leo Johnson2 days ago in Writers
Comments (6)
I am the later of the quote. I write to reinvent myself not for glory. I like this piece. You always have some wisdom to share.
Writing has always been about catharsis for me. Often my writings are nonsense scribbles-hence why I don't post-and rants. I loved the quotes you added at the end.
I’d like to think that books aren’t disappearing, merely because they are swinging around to the side of being a “novelty” now. Still, even if we are leaning more towards electronic/online reading now, that doesn’t make writers any less of writers—unless they use AI to do all of their writing (that’s a whole different can of worms that I won’t get into). I tend to agree with Junot Díaz that as long as a writer writes no matter what, then they are a writer. Thank you for this food for thought.
This echoes two constant thoughts I have 1. I joke with my dad any time he asks how much I get paid for a TS, challenge, etc. that “well, if this was Dicken’s England I’d be right rich!” It makes me giggle to myself. 2. I hear so much about the despise of books, yet a not insignificant amount of my friends are reading now more than ever, mostly because in adult life it’s one of the few ways to get a moments peace away from a screen. That alone to me is a worthy endeavor (he writes…through a screen…)
Bravo my friend, this gives all us poor writers a feeling of hope and enjoyment for what we do.
Yeah, story telling isn't gonna go anywhere, but the way we create and share our stories has irrevocably changed. For the majority of human evolution it was word of mouth and oral history, then we had cave paintings, then language and writing. As you say, video games and music can be more enticing, more gripping. And real cutting edge story telling bleeds the limits of reality-- stuff like augmented reality games and multi-platform story telling that includes social media in the narrative? Shit is getting wild! With AI stealing much of the market and the audience for written work, I definitely feel a weird sort of anxiety that we may be sliding away from human driven story telling, but I do hope and believe that there's still a point in us human writers putting in the time and energy into our art. even if readership is on the decline I have to hope it won't ever go away completely.