- Anyone can call him or herself a writer.
- Writers are, like most other professionals, waiting to be revealed as frauds at any moment. Critique and give feedback, this is important, but also, be nice.
- Writers are either terrified their writing will suck, or they don’t give a shiitake.
- The first, will annoy you.
- The latter, will annoy you.
- Grammar is important. Of course it is. Following the rules of language and grammar are important. Later.
- Haters gotta hate, and writers gotta write. All the time. About the mundane and the spectacular and everything in between.
- Some of the things we write are completely useless, or lazy, or annoying. Like every bad coworker you’ve ever had. (Ack!)
- Some will be beautiful, eloquent, powerful. A few. These are the ones we cherish as we hit send or publish, and that give us a little warm smile.
- Many will suck, so bad. I mean, So Bad.
- Once in a while it gets personal. It’s ok. Sharing vulnerability is what helps us all, in the end. It’s what lets you know, on your worst days, and in your worst moments, that you are not alone in your imperfection.
- Sometimes it gets political. Election years are TOUGH on us all.
- (Most) Writers do not think they are better than you, or their opinions are better than yours, or that their ideas are more worthy. They just like to write.
- A writer can often read something they absolutely love, and then write something that contradicts it, all before lunch. Writers understand mutual truths.
- You might read something a friend has written and think, “WTF?” Writers try new things sometimes, and have many ways to look at the world. Do not be alarmed when a friend tries a new style, or new concepts, or experiments with perspective. They have not forsaken you; they are still the person you thought you knew. They are just writing.
- If your friend writes something, and you identify with it, and you wonder if they have written it about you, and it makes you feel something (positive or negative), tell them. Ask them. Sometimes the piece is about a flower or weed they saw in the garden that morning, or a bee or spider. Or Donald Trump. Who the f*%k knows, really?
- Writers are like any other artists; they just use words to make a picture. If you don’t like the art, it is ok. If you love it, it is ok. It is a creative way to play. That is all.
- Writers are working hard to connect. To people, ideas, and the whole wide world.
- Writers like hugs. (OK, well, this one does.)
- Writing is fun. You should try it. At first, it is like being naked in the lunchroom. Keep going. Then it’s like being naked, but alone in your house.
Many hugs to my favorite niece! (Who also happens to write.)