Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Guest Post: Angela Kulig


I’m taking the week off from blogging (although I’ll probably still lurk around your blogs). To keep the awesomeness at full, guest bloggers are taking over my blog on Sunday, Tuesday and Friday. And now, on with the show…

Please welcome Angela Kulig.

Angela Kulig Gives You an Attitude Adjustment

I don’t have any hard numbers, but something like 90% of being a writer is in the attitude. Then 5% for actual word construction and the remaining 5% is divided between oral addiction and the need to be on Twitter. Again don’t quote me.

So why is attitude everything?

Easy, without attitude you are nothing. You will accomplish nothing; you will be no one, unless you have the right sort of attitude. Now there are a lot of stereotypes involving writers. People who aren’t in the know might think that we are moody and antisocial; but if you have been around us for any amount of time, you know that those stereotypes are absolutely—almost always true and we don’t need to rehash them here.

But that’s not what I’m talking about.

I’m talking about the attitude you take with writing, and yourself. Being a writer means telling yourself you are going to write—then doing it. Being a writer means taking yourself serious enough to get your work done—be it revision or marketing—and not so serious that others find recourse to mock you.

And rest assured, I will mock you.

When it’s time to start a new project, do check your attitude at the door. Then make sure it’s hat is on right so people don’t laugh at you behind your back. Just don’t leave it!

10 comments:

  1. I've been "plumping" my attitude so to speak. For the summer I played the good mom, but now my fingers are itching to write again. 2 more days and they all go back to school!

    Soon, when someone asks me what I'm working on I'll actually have an answer.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes, it really is all about attitude! *I am a writer* *I am a writer* *I am a writer* ;)

    ReplyDelete
  3. It is totes all about attitude! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. So right, Angela! And the attitude that you WILL make things happen helps a bit too! (whether in storytelling or promoting! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Attitude is important, and hand in hand with that is confidence -- something I *still* struggle with.

    JEFritz -- I'm a fellow campaigner in the SF group. Looking forward to meeting you over the next few months...

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a crack me up kind of post because it is so darn true! I am moody and antisocial:)

    happy campaigning!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I like the idea of having the right attitude. We can't make excuses. We need to do it!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yes, totally. I think this is true for a lot of the arts. Most of the battle is self discipline and confidence that even when you suck you're worth working on.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So very true. After a couple days' delay, I have sent out notice to all that I am no longer in contact with the world during the day. Writing time!

    ReplyDelete

Please validate me.