Writelife

I’m not sure ruminating can be considered “minor” since my dictionary defines it as “thinking deeply” but that’s neither here nor there … I’ve been mulling over how people think of writing and writers and I have something of a peeve in that regard.

Why is writing always considered lofty, important, artistic and so on? Why are some forms of writing considered worthwhile pursuits and others ignored?

What I’m getting at is this … when I search for writing things be they Web sites, groups, writers, schools and so on, whatever I run into invariably ends up being concerned with fiction or poetry or some variation on these. I almost never find something that is concerned with commerical writing.

You know, the kind of writing that might actually pay the bills. I think this kind of writing is generally considered to be crap writing you do to eat (and I’m guilty of thinking that way myself). However, it requires skill and even artistry to do it well, just as any discipline does.

But we all want to be James Joyce. Few of us actually have read a biography of Joyce and discovered what a hand-to-mouth life he and his family had - not one I’d want to live. Of course, some aspire to being Stephen King - a healthier ambition, I think, because at least he makes a good buck. Actually, he makes a very good buck.

And that’s my rumination. My mulling. There are more than a few kinds of writing. Where are those kinds that pay bills hiding?

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