Being an "Author": The Bottom-Up Approach

[forgotmyantidepressants]

I think many "artists" would be better off not thinking of themselves so much as artists.

If someone thinks of themself as an artist, no matter what they are trying to create, I think it's fine that they do so.

If they're not creating because they're afraid their art sucks, I would say: create anyway. If what you make sucks, figure out why and try again. But at this point, I think we're arguing semantics lol.

 

[Dodola]

Most creative efforts have always been defined as art.
You can argue over the quality, but not the definition.

 

[BeechLeaf]

After that, though, it's a matter of continually trying to make sure that your latest work is the best work to-date, utilizing everything you've learned from your prior works.

Sage advice; I wish I could follow it. None of my recent works here have been among my best, and my three WIPs are dead in the water because I can't even get them up to passable. I blame my absorption in my non-erotic universe. For years I've been following and amplifying the lives of a group of characters, so it's years since I've had to tell a story, beginning, middle, and end, that an outsider might be interested in. I can still do the craft adequately (I'm a reasonably good writer in that sense of how to string words together), but I've lost the art: the inspiration of why the story should be told, the 'hard, gem-like flame' that brings true beauty.

 

[caleb35]

Sage advice; I wish I could follow it. None of my recent works here have been among my best, and my three WIPs are dead in the water because I can't even get them up to passable. I blame my absorption in my non-erotic universe. For years I've been following and amplifying the lives of a group of characters, so it's years since I've had to tell a story, beginning, middle, and end, that an outsider might be interested in. I can still do the craft adequately (I'm a reasonably good writer in that sense of how to string words together), but I've lost the art: the inspiration of why the story should be told, the 'hard, gem-like flame' that brings true beauty.

It's natural to feel some disappointment but don't get too down. Improvement is not a straight path and sometimes you hit a rough patch. As for any WIP that aren't working out as you'd like, set them aside for a while and revisit them in future when the Muse strikes you again.

 

[txblush]

My recent WIP is about a Warrior Princess of God with money to burn. The twist, (because I'm a twisted individual) it starts with an online relationship as my MFC is masochistic bottom with submissive tendencies. She's looking for her Sadistic Top with vanilla sprinkles.

https://forum.literotica.com/threads/whats-in-a-label-words-of-wisdom-from-stella-omega.1360492/

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I’m not seeing the humility, maybe you are not expressing yourself as clearly as you might. If you apply your rubric to yourself, then fine. But as a way of judging the merit of others, not so much. It comes across as gate keeping, whether intended or not.

I believe that your agenda is allowing you to see exactly what you want to see.

 

[txblush]

I believe that your agenda is allowing you to see exactly what you want to see.

I'm not sure if your post is directed at me. But I will say that when I became a Lit member, I was scared to death, embarrassed, and humbled by writers who have set me straight, because I'm not trying to get away with disobeying the policies here. Those policies have made me a better writer.

Again, I'm a twisted individual and a lot of what I use for inspiration comes after reading the advice given here while trying to light the spark of an idea for another chance to practice writing to improve the skills I've learned.

Thank you all for adding your thoughts and feelings on the topic.

 

[txblush]

@SimonDoom I admire your work and sage advice.

 

[FrancesScott]

I believe that your agenda is allowing you to see exactly what you want to see.

Mirroring my point most precisely. Thank you.

 

[GuiltyCowboy]

I AM saying the 10,000 hours help create better art.

You’re not going to find anyone who would disagree with this.

The real point of contention is you claiming that art is not something that is fundamentally different from craft. And it really is. It’s why you can see an artist’s art developing over time, long after they’ve mastered craft.

It seems like your underlying point, your advice, is: don’t be pretentious. Which is all good and fine. It’s sound advice.

But you’ve then you’ve scoffed at the very reason for pretentiousness, which is the aspiration to achieve something that’s currently beyond one’s grasp - in this case artistry, above mere craftsmanship - by saying that there’s nothing actually that can be grasped. That artistry is not different to craftsmanship. And I don’t think that’s true.

 

[SimonDoom]

The real point of contention is you claiming that art is not something that is fundamentally different from craft. And it really is. It’s why you can see an artist’s art developing over time, long after they’ve mastered craft.

I'll try to clarify this. That's not exactly what I said. In my first post, I wrote "A great artist is a great craftsman." I could have been clearer about that in specifying that a great artist is not JUST a great craftsman. One can devote countless hours to mastering a craft and still have limited artistic vision and ability to create great art. But I stand by the proposition that for most, craftsmanship is a necessary but not sufficient condition for the creation of worthy art. I also believe that, in general (I'm not claiming it's true in all cases since I don't believe in absolutes), those who consider themselves artists would do better to focus on craftsmanship than to noodle over considerations about whether they are "artists." If the artistry is in you, the craftsmanship will probably let it out, regardless of abstract considerations about how the title of "artist" applies to you. I think people needlessly romanticize and mystify the concept of "art" and that most would do better bringing the concept down to Earth and thinking about it the way they think about doing other things. In this respect it's like other skills and fields--dentistry, carpentry, plumbing, quantum physics. You study it, you work hard, you master the nuts and bolts. Perspiration plays as big a role as inspiration, maybe a bigger role.

 

[txblush]

I would like to add this part of my journey... I've written thousands of words over the last eighteen years with little support from another writer, but I've worked with volunteer editors here on my novel that is no longer published. I asked it to be taken down by Lit's admin. I still have those edited versions on my PC. And the positive feedback I received. Eight comments in total.

I'm not just a twisted individual. I'm passionate about writing erotic content.

 

[txblush]

@SimonDoom Would it be okay with you if I shared with everyone here a 322-word count on a piece I wrote in October 2008 that I revised on 8/29/2021?

 

[SimonDoom]

@SimonDoom Would it be okay with you if I shared with everyone here a 322-word count on a piece I wrote in October 2008 that I revised on 8/29/2021?

Fine with me.

 

[txblush]

Fine with me.

Thank you.

 

[txblush]

New Heights

Ms. Blush

© October 2008 revised 8/29/2021



“Maggie, I know you’re afraid, and I want to help you get over your fear.” Michael massaged the top of her tense shoulders for reassurance and smiled down at her.

His actions did little to slow Maggie’s racing pulse, the pounding in her chest, or her rapid breathing. “I can’t do it,” she said between breaths. Her body was visibly shaking with panic.

“Yes, you can,” he said, ignoring her distress.

“No,” Maggie shook her head. The slight movement made her lightheaded. She grasped the front of Michael’s navy polo shirt to keep from falling to her knees and stared at the middle of his chest. She should have known this wasn’t going to work. That no matter how much she wanted to give in to his directive, she was physically incapable of climbing the three-story rock wall beside them out of a deep-seated fear of heights. Something she had no control over and been afraid to admit when they first entered the gymnasium.

“Yes.” Michael stepped away, ending their discussion. When he returned, he said nothing as he worked the harness over her shoulders, tightening each strap down her back and across her small plump breasts. He felt her nipples bud underneath her t-shirt against his knuckles. His hands were working around her waist and down her hips, ensuring she was safe and secure inside it. His fingers lingered whenever he came in contact with her bare skin. Taut muscles rippled beneath his touch along with goosebumps.

Maggie’s body shook, but she remained in place. She hadn’t looked at him; her gaze fixated on the rock wall that rose three stories high.

Michael saw the war of emotions in her violet blues. He began to silently count, waiting to see which one won, anger, desire, or fear.

“Fuck you, Michael!”

“I’d love to,” he turned her towards the wall, “after you conquer this, baby girl.”

 

[GuiltyCowboy]

I think people needlessly romanticize and mystify the concept of "art" and that most would do better bringing the concept down to Earth and thinking about it the way they think about doing other things. In this respect it's like other skills and fields--dentistry, carpentry, plumbing, quantum physics.

Mmmm, I think is absurd, Simon, I really do.

Writing and performing A Midsummer Night’s Dream is not akin to dentistry.

Installing an s-bend under your kitchen sink is not the same as painting Las Meninas.

The films of Ozu and Bresson and Murnau have nothing to do with putting up a shelf.

It’s one thing to advise people not to be pretentious, especially when they’re starting out, but it’s quite another to take the inverse snobbery so far that you suggest that art doesn’t have some extraordinary quality that separates it from the field of plumbing.

 

[txblush]

Mmmm, I think is absurd, Simon, I really do.

Writing and performing A Midsummer Night’s Dream is not akin to dentistry.

Installing an s-bend under your kitchen sink is not the same as painting Las Meninas.

The films of Ozu and Bresson and Murnau have nothing to do with putting up a shelf.

It’s one thing to advise people not to be pretentious, especially when they’re starting out, but it’s quite another to take the inverse snobbery so far that you suggest that art doesn’t have some extraordinary quality that separates it from the field of plumbing.

Based on your post, sir.... May I ask if you're a technical engineer? The reason I ask is because my spouse is a technical engineer with an HVAC license. He is my biggest critic and has cut me to shreds on numerous occasions after I've read him a portion of my WIP, but that hasn't stopped me from continuing to improve my skills as a writer.

Please, excuse me, if I presumed your occupation. I read between the lines (and sometimes mistake a poster's profession) I hope I didn't offend you.

 

[GuiltyCowboy]

Based on your post, sir.... May I ask if you're a technical engineer? The reason I ask is because my spouse is a technical engineer with an HVAC license. He is my biggest critic and has cut me to shreds on numerous occasions after I've read him a portion of my WIP, but that hasn't stopped me from continuing to improve my skills as a writer.

Please, excuse me, if I presumed your occupation. I read between the lines (and sometimes mistake a poster's profession) I hope I didn't offend you.

Not offended at all! I’m embarrassed to have to answer your question with another question: what is a technical engineer?

 

[txblush]

Not offended at all! I’ll answer your question with another question: what is a technical engineer?

My apologies. I should have written he's a mechanical engineer with an HVAC license. And it is my understanding that engineers in general are, (please pardon my language, sir) anally retentive when it comes to their craftsmanship or master's degree that started as an apprentice. He was a maintenance man when we met at an apartment complex where I was a leasing agent, forty-two years ago.

 

[Britva415]

Is it possible to master a craft? To me mastering a craft is a journey, not a destination

Don't some people have greater and lesser levels of mastery than others? Isn't there a continuum rather than a black-and-white binary of "master" vs. "not-master"?

 

[txblush]

Don't some people have greater and lesser levels of mastery than others? Isn't there a continuum rather than a black-and-white binary of "master" vs. "not-master"?

I agree with what @old_prof said.... It's a journey, not a destination.

 

[Britva415]

I agree with what @old_prof said.... It's a journey, not a destination.

I'm not disagreeing.

 

[txblush]

I'll add that it has been a rollercoaster ride for me on my journey to being a part of Lit's community of published authors. Because the last thing I want is to offend anyone who has published their stories here.

 

[StillStunned]

Because the last thing I want is to offend anyone who has published their stories here.