I was thinking the other day, as I was reading a book, that even if I never wrote another word of prose ever again, that it's too late--I am already in too deep, that the thought process of being a writer has absorbed too completely into my pores.
For example:
1. When I get a new book, the first thing I do is read the Acknowledgments page to see who the author's agent is (and whether or not I ever queried them!)
2. I can't stop mentally correcting people's grammar... (sorry Facebook friends, but you're means YOU ARE and your means, well...
your. Also a lot is NOT spelled alot. Sigh)
3. When I read,and come across a phrase or description I admire, I jot it down on a notebook for future writing reference.
4. I stalk publishing houses (wondering if they'd be good fit for my book) like other people lurk on Match.com...
5. When I drive, I have little Post-its handy so I can jot down good dialogue that comes into my mind at stoplights.
6. I read for work, not just pleasure.
7. I can't watch a movie without looking for things like these: conflict, thematic imagery, act one,act two, climax, etc... .
8. I always think the book is better than the movie.
9. Instead of telling my husband, "Not tonight, honey. I have a headache," I say, "Not tonight--I haven't met my word count yet!"
10. And finally, instead of dreaming of winning the lottery, I dream of seeing my book on a bookstore shelf.
...What are your top ten?
4 comments:
I share a lot of these! Especially the grammar one (you actually spelled "grammar" wrong in the post, dear. ;) )
But yeah, I pick apart movies like no one's business and stalk publishing companies, too. And it drives me nuts when I pick up a book and can't find the agent name!
Ha! Thanks for catching my typo...(that's what you get when you write a blog with multiple children in the room...oi--okay my cheeks are flaming right now). But, yes--I don't think I can ever look at books, movies, and any media every again. We've been touched. :) Hey thanks for posting!
I can relate to many of these and, being in the process of finishing my first book, the rest will come, too, I'm sure.
I also can relate to many of the things you mention. Being a writer is like wearing some mask and never get it off again. One's that not in your list but I notice myself doing, is looking at the style of writing: does he/she use show or tell here, how long are the sentences, what words are used to 'set' a person or a place...? I'm in the process of writing a long novel (in Dutch) but recently I've started to publish some of my short stories in English (see the URL).
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