Two Kinds of Writers

I see two kinds of writers at the writing groups I attend.

Type One

First and most common are the ones doing personal therapy.

Please note: I don’t intend any disrespect; I’ve been there and done that myself.

The goals of these writers include the revelation of daemons, learning where they came from and how to temper their often negative contributions to one’s character, and-to the writer’s end-finding rich fertilizer to pile on future plantings.

Type Two

The second faction are the money-and-fame writers. They are chasing readers, not inner monsters. Their focus is on what will sell, and they ask, “What will grab and hold the reader?” What they know of themselves powers the “write what you know” dictate.

Graduating to Number Two

I will venture to guess that every one of the #2s were #1s previously, and that many of them alternate between inner delving to understand the forces within their psyche, and then incorporating those lessons in commercial fiction that will sell.

My only suggestion to the #1s is, until you understand that you’re a prostitute with something to sell and that you need to suggest what your John’s lust for, until you get that, save your navel contemplations because that’s where they have value, albeit not a monetary one.

The ghouls and devils within you will intrigue readers who will pay money and put you on a pedestal, but there’s story, and character, and plot, and a bunch of other things to craft into the work.

Japanese Business Card

What does the girl on the Japanese business card have to do with this?

Several of these were slipped under my hotel room door while on a business trip to Osaka.

So, rather than writing yourself through psychotherapy, for an initial fee of 18,000 Yen ($100-150 depending on the exchange rate), they’ll come to your hotel room and listen to you grouse about your childhood, your wife, your boss, whoever gets your dander up for 90 minutes.

Additional services are, of course, available. Extra charges will apply.

But that’s just my guess.

And I’m sticking to that.