Mine, too. I've written on a post-it and stuck it on the wall above my computer, alongside the Virginia Woolf quote. Very pertinent to my author journey right now.
When I got my MFA in creative writing, I also mustered up the courage to change my LinkedIn profile to read "Poet, Writer, Editor, Musician, Father" instead of my ever-changing "job title" in what's now a 30-plus-year IT career. It was indeed an act of defiance to start calling what I do for money "my day job." Once we've taken a stand to start calling ourselves writers, we should also object if people refer to "writing" as our hobby.
This is great. Love that you "subverted" that most professional of entities, LinkedIn. And why should earning money determine what you "do" in life. I hate when I fall into the trap of asking people what they do for work when I first meet them. I should start asking them their favorite color or what they had for breakfast. It would probably be more interesting.
Thank you for this. Because of you not having time to write a newsletter this week I've gone and bought your book because I want to share it with the writing group I run.
And, oh to go beyond defiance... Perhaps that is the very act of writing. Beyond defiance to that establishment of minfld which springs from pillars of desire, hope, and onward to a new construction of doing. For in doing, such as writing, we develop the new age of thought, which leads the writer and others to a reimagining of the world of mind and matter; newness that leads to change of the external world around us. From wormholes as travel devices (see, Carl Sagans, Billions & Billions of stars, to the invention of the modern spaceship (see, The Space Trade Update), to actuation of new ways to travel beyond (see, JP Aerospace), the world depends on dreamers and schemers, the writers of all our days. You are such a one. - Defiantly and Beyond.. Cle Curbo...
"An artist is by definition a menace to conformity." Loved this line. It's a great reminder, especially in our current world. Thanks for these awesome thoughts!
Thank you, Grant. My favorite sentence of yours in this piece is:
“A writer needs to create with an outlaw sheen to boldly escape the snares of others’ expectations.”
Mine, too. I've written on a post-it and stuck it on the wall above my computer, alongside the Virginia Woolf quote. Very pertinent to my author journey right now.
Oh, this makes me so happy. Put a strip of masking tape on that post-it to make sure it stays there!
Done!
Thanks so much, Ginevra! Hope you keep that outlaw sheen with you as you write.
When I got my MFA in creative writing, I also mustered up the courage to change my LinkedIn profile to read "Poet, Writer, Editor, Musician, Father" instead of my ever-changing "job title" in what's now a 30-plus-year IT career. It was indeed an act of defiance to start calling what I do for money "my day job." Once we've taken a stand to start calling ourselves writers, we should also object if people refer to "writing" as our hobby.
This is great. Love that you "subverted" that most professional of entities, LinkedIn. And why should earning money determine what you "do" in life. I hate when I fall into the trap of asking people what they do for work when I first meet them. I should start asking them their favorite color or what they had for breakfast. It would probably be more interesting.
I go with "how are you?" rather than "what do you do?" and then maybe follow up with a genuine compliment which opens up so much from someone
Grant, thank you so much for this defiance today, I really needed to read it!! Liza
Oh, good! Get up on your figurative motorcycle and ... let 'er rip!
Thank you for this. Because of you not having time to write a newsletter this week I've gone and bought your book because I want to share it with the writing group I run.
Love the Isaac Asimov quote
Oh, thanks so much, Diane! I appreciate this so much. Let me know what your writing group thinks. And ... write on!
I loved this post, and I wanted more. So, I just ordered the hardcover book🤷
I had to order from Amazon, though. Buying direct would mean a hefty import tax (EU).
Effective marketing demonstrated, ✔️
Thanks so much for ordering the book! Let me know what you think of it.
Will do, with pleasure.
Any plans at all for your rejected book about rejection? Curious 🥴
There is a possible plan. Stay tuned ...
And, oh to go beyond defiance... Perhaps that is the very act of writing. Beyond defiance to that establishment of minfld which springs from pillars of desire, hope, and onward to a new construction of doing. For in doing, such as writing, we develop the new age of thought, which leads the writer and others to a reimagining of the world of mind and matter; newness that leads to change of the external world around us. From wormholes as travel devices (see, Carl Sagans, Billions & Billions of stars, to the invention of the modern spaceship (see, The Space Trade Update), to actuation of new ways to travel beyond (see, JP Aerospace), the world depends on dreamers and schemers, the writers of all our days. You are such a one. - Defiantly and Beyond.. Cle Curbo...
Love this! And you're right: "the world depends on dreamers and schemers, the writers of all our days." Write on—defiantly!
Yes!
"An artist is by definition a menace to conformity." Loved this line. It's a great reminder, especially in our current world. Thanks for these awesome thoughts!