One more thing

One more thing that I think some wannabe published writers don’t understand. Being a professional writer means having homework ALL THE TIME. (Thanks to Jennifer for pointing this out.) And when your homework comes back covered in red you have to do it over. Sometimes you have to do it over multiple times. And then your homework gets checked again by several other people (copyeditor, proofreader) and then you have to look at it again.

It’s like the worst homework ever. Homework that NEVER EVER ENDS.

I’m just saying . . .

Posted by Justine at 0:28, 9 December 2008 under Bloggery, Publishing business, Ranting, Writing life | 9 Comments »

Comments

Miriam Says:

I liked school, except for math, and reading comprehension questions. But it is a good reminder that it’s not just writing something, sitting back and letting the money roll in. It’s about the craft and becoming a better writer ALL THE TIME.

No coasting allowed.

December 9th, 2008 at 1:21 AM
beth Says:

I’m sorry, but you’re wrong, Justine! As a writer, I may have constant homework–my ms. is currently covered in my own red ink, to say nothing of the red ink I expect when (if) it ever gets to an editor’s hands.

BUT.

The real homework that never ends and is the worst homework ever belongs to an English teacher (which is my day job). Think of it: 60 8-page essays rehashing (poorly) someone else’s book in bad grammar…red ink on my own ms. is hard work, but adding red ink onto their papers is much MUCH worse!!!

December 9th, 2008 at 7:15 AM
David Moles Says:

I wish someone had told me that when I was twelve. I might have developed better habits.

December 9th, 2008 at 8:29 AM
sammi Says:

*shudder* the homework that never ends. yikes

December 9th, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Herenya Says:

I would have thought writing was in some ways the best homework ever, because it is something you chose and are passionate about. (Although I can see how after drafts and much work one may be less than passionate.)

But that’s because for me, the worst homework ever is when I don’t care, or am not interested in the task/topic – when it is not something I really want to write about.

December 9th, 2008 at 10:14 PM
AndrewN Says:

This comment had me rolling around laughing, I’ve been spending nearly every day recently listening to teens complain about homework. If only they knew what was to come.

I agree with your other observations about constantly perfecting your craft, that’s the only way we become good at anything – repetitive practice.

December 10th, 2008 at 1:46 PM
Becky Says:

“The real homework that never ends and is the worst homework ever belongs to an English teacher (which is my day job). Think of it: 60 8-page essays rehashing (poorly) someone else’s book in bad grammar…red ink on my own ms. is hard work, but adding red ink onto their papers is much MUCH worse!!!”

I use pink, purple, green, or some other color than red. I find the students are less intimidated by the “remarks and suggestions” if the ink color is pretty. I do agree though, the work of an English (or ESL) teacher never ends. There’s nothing I love better than spending hours on the weekends grading essays and making revision suggestions, just to have them ignored. *sigh* At least one of my local Starbucks baristas has a semi-crush on me and gives me free caffeine when I go in there to grade.

Most of my friends with “real” ?? jobs have homework at some point. Even my husband, who’s a software engineer has the “on-call” help desk phone once a month for a week. He’ll get phone calls from China in the middle of the night, and he’ll have to get up and work.

December 11th, 2008 at 11:48 PM
carbonelle Says:

My tenth grade writing teacher used to do that to us–he’d decide what grade you were capable of earning on a given assignment and keep returning the manuscript homework assignment back until you’d achieved it.

Best writing teacher I ever had…

December 12th, 2008 at 2:48 AM