Garrison Keillor to me: Get over it, already

[pegkerr]

I have sort of a hard time not taking this personally. Garrison Keillor says that writers who gripe that Writing is Hard (and you all know that I've bitched plenty about being blocked in this journal before) should just get a grip and knock it off. Writing is hard. Get over it.

Writers, Quit Whining. Spare us the self-involved moaning over the agonies of your art. Writing is no harder than anything else, and the complainers should can it.

Ouch.

Thoughts?

Comments

[kiwiria.livejournal.com]

Of course writing is harder! Anything that takes a gift or talent to do, which can't be taught or learned is hard. Writing may not be harder than... say painting, but you often hear painters moan about being blocked as well, so what's the difference?

I'm an IT consultant. Anybody could learn how to do that. All you need is a logical brain. But while I consider myself reasonably intelligent, there's no WAY I could write like you do. Journals, letters - sure! and I have fun doing it, non-fiction - probably, I know how to do my research. But anything that requires imagination? No way! I simply don't have the talent for it, which is why I'm incredibly impressed by those who do.

So complain all you want - I think you have a right to it.

On a seperate but still related note, I managed to find a used copy of EHR through amazon.co.uk! It was posted last week sometime, so I should be receiving it any day now! Excellent :-)

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

I would strongly suggest that writing ca be taught and learned. So can painting. So can playing a musical instrument. The majority of people can learn how to do those things also -- but it takes effort and drive and dedication and passion... and that's what most people lack.

[kiwiria.livejournal.com]

The tools can be taught, the imagination and creativity cannot. I can play the piano - I cannot compose a new melody. I can write words (obviously, since I'm doing so now ;) ) - I cannot think up a new plot.

I think we agree, but we're just using different words for it :)

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think that creativity and imagination can be enhanced through practice and exercises...

But yes, to some extent we're probably in agreement. If you want my whole take on the issue, it's here: http://www.farrellworlds.com/formula.html