So...in the 90's there was this movie called Twister.
Anyone remember that?
Yeah, Helen Hunt starred in it as a scientist (I think she was technically a scientist) who chased tornadoes.
I remember watching it and thinking, "Wow, that's such a cool job- but kind of difficult to say the least." *
But you know what? In some ways, taking on writing as a career choice is very similar to becoming a professional Tornado Chaser.
Every day, you do your research to find out which areas have weather conditions that are perfect for the possible appearance of a tornado.
A writer, everyday, does their research in finding out how s/he can bring attention to their work- either through self-publishing or through an agent.
You pick an area that's not too far from your home base, travel there, set up, and yet keep on the lookout to either move to a better location or chase the tornado when it happens to pass through.
The writer decides on the most logical method of bringing attention to their work, sets up their website, their strategy, and yet keeps on the lookout for a better avenue, one that may work a little better...they keep writing...they keep looking...they work, wait, work, wait, etc...
So, it's a lot of waiting.
The smell of rain is in the air, the sky is dark, it even starts to drizzle, but is the tornado going to come?
You're tempted to move but you know, according to Murphy's Law, that if you move to a different location, she'll come and she'll be an F-5.
Writing, as a career, definitely has it's similarities.
Finding either an audience or an agent is the tornado that we chase and I'm thinking that I need to change my strategy because I've been standing in the rain for a while now.
Even my shoes are soaked.
Aww...I was going to end there, but that's so depressing!
Sadness!
Instead of ending on such a sad note, I'll finish this with a picture of the most handsome*** man in all the universe- click here to be amazed.
*Footnote:
Please note that this was a paraphrase of my thought process.
During the time, I was but a wee lass (suddenly I'm an Irish chick from the 1900's!) so I was probably thinking something more like,
"I'm so hungry- oh he's cuuutte!! I wish I had a box of Pop Tarts- oh no...Mom's pulling into the driveway argh! Quick, turn off the TV and pretend you're doing homework**, ouch! Hate it when I stub my toe! Pain-pain! I'm so glad I'm not a tornado chaser like Helen Hunt in Twister, that's way dangerous and I'd probably stub my toe tons more than I do now..."
**Just kidding Mom.
*** The phrase "the most handsome" is used loosely. Very loosely.
Anyone remember that?
Yeah, Helen Hunt starred in it as a scientist (I think she was technically a scientist) who chased tornadoes.
I remember watching it and thinking, "Wow, that's such a cool job- but kind of difficult to say the least." *
But you know what? In some ways, taking on writing as a career choice is very similar to becoming a professional Tornado Chaser.
Every day, you do your research to find out which areas have weather conditions that are perfect for the possible appearance of a tornado.
A writer, everyday, does their research in finding out how s/he can bring attention to their work- either through self-publishing or through an agent.
You pick an area that's not too far from your home base, travel there, set up, and yet keep on the lookout to either move to a better location or chase the tornado when it happens to pass through.
The writer decides on the most logical method of bringing attention to their work, sets up their website, their strategy, and yet keeps on the lookout for a better avenue, one that may work a little better...they keep writing...they keep looking...they work, wait, work, wait, etc...
So, it's a lot of waiting.
The smell of rain is in the air, the sky is dark, it even starts to drizzle, but is the tornado going to come?
You're tempted to move but you know, according to Murphy's Law, that if you move to a different location, she'll come and she'll be an F-5.
Writing, as a career, definitely has it's similarities.
Finding either an audience or an agent is the tornado that we chase and I'm thinking that I need to change my strategy because I've been standing in the rain for a while now.
Even my shoes are soaked.
Aww...I was going to end there, but that's so depressing!
Sadness!
Instead of ending on such a sad note, I'll finish this with a picture of the most handsome*** man in all the universe- click here to be amazed.
*Footnote:
Please note that this was a paraphrase of my thought process.
During the time, I was but a wee lass (suddenly I'm an Irish chick from the 1900's!) so I was probably thinking something more like,
"I'm so hungry- oh he's cuuutte!! I wish I had a box of Pop Tarts- oh no...Mom's pulling into the driveway argh! Quick, turn off the TV and pretend you're doing homework**, ouch! Hate it when I stub my toe! Pain-pain! I'm so glad I'm not a tornado chaser like Helen Hunt in Twister, that's way dangerous and I'd probably stub my toe tons more than I do now..."
**Just kidding Mom.
*** The phrase "the most handsome" is used loosely. Very loosely.
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