Three Groups of Writers

The last week or so, I have featured writers who self-published, or independently published books. They have become successful writers. I put them in one group while placing other writers in two other groups. 

Famed Writers

Successful Writers

Working at it Writers

All the people in the three groups above are working writers. The Famed Writers become a household name. People like Nora Roberts, John Grisham, James Patterson, Louise Penny and more are well-known in the USA and abroad. Those people didn't become part of this group in a flash. They worked hard to reach that level. They wrote and wrote and suffered rejection upon rejection at the beginning. They persevered and climbed the ladder until they reached the top. Even then, they must still continue to work and write novels that sell. 

What about the Successful Writers group? The authors featured at this blog in the past week or two are a part of that group. They, too, have worked hard, climbing the ladder to success one rung at a time. They aren't at the top yet but definitely on the way. They, too, have persevered, have received multiple rejections but kept going. They looked into the sef=lf-publishing route to success. Their books are selling, but they have to do all the things a publishing house might do for them. They want to pluck the gold ring as they pass by on the carousel of writing. Maybe they work even harder than the first group because they must do it all. 

The final group are the ones called Working at it Writers. They're working hard, too, but they stand at the lowest rungs of the ladder to success. Some are newbies who are learning as they go. Some are wannabe writers who also must learn a great deal. They have success often enough to want to keep writing. This group also lives with rejections and doubts and fear. (To be honest,the other two groups deal with these things, too) If the passion is within them, they'll continue to learn the craft and write often enough to start making further progress. The more we write, the more we learn, and the stronger our writing becomes. 

One writer friend is in the Successful Writers group. He formed his own publishing company and worked as hard at marketing as he did writing his YA novels. Did it work? Yes. His books have added audio versions, are used in schools as a teaching tool along with a teachers' guide. Did he persevere? Did he work hard? Absolutely. Will he continue? Yes

All three groups of writers have similar attributes. They work hard, They persevere. They learn to develop patience. They have goals and work toward them. They like writing. They do not give up.

 Which group do you belong to? Which one do you strive toward? 

Are Trees and Writers Alike?

 As we were driving to church this morning, I noticed the vast number of different trees we passed. Big ones, small ones, Tall ones, short ones. Trees that were full and those a bit sparse. Some had leaves, while others were dressed in needles. Go farther south, and some of the trees would have fronds. All are classified as trees, but each one is different from the others. 

Most everyone has seen or memorized the famous poem by Joyce Kilmer titled 'Trees.' It seems worth putting it in this post.

Trees

BY JOYCE KILMER

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Writers are like trees. Writers may be our group name, but each one looks and writes in a different way. No two are exactly alike. Nor should they be. Each writer uses his/her own voice, his/her own style. All trees should not look alike, and all writers should not write alike. 

Finding your voice, or the style in which you write, does not happen as soon as you begin writing. It evolves as you pursue your craft. The more you write, the more evident your particular way of writing becomes. You are an individual that fits under the group heading of Writers. 

Have you ever heard a reader say something like "Oh, I love the way he writes." Readers are aware of the differences in writers. They know the ones they like best, just as botanists have favorite trees. 

I am reading a book that is written in present tense. It's driving me crazy. I like the story but not the way the writer tells it. Even so, it's his style, his way of telling a story. Many readers might like reading the entire book in present tense. Is he wrong for writing in this manner? Not at all. Different readers appreciate different writers. That's the way it should be, I think. 

Some writers try to copy or imitate the style of a writer they admire. Go ahead and admire that other writer, but develop your own voice, your own style of writing. Each tree is individual, Writers should be, as well. Be yourself. You will still fit into the glorious group known as Writers.