Do you tell people you write? Page 2

If you paint or you play an instrument people can tell whether you are any good or not, also these are interests you can legitimately claim to be pursuing purely for your own pleasure. If you are writing a novel you are doing so in the hope of being published, if you are writing a screenplay it with the intention of getting it filmed; unless you have a track record of success to point to, then the only way anyone can tell if you are an undiscovered genius or a deluded wannabe is to read the damn thing. So unless you carry round copies of your manuscript to hand to people, and are prepared to stand over them while they read it, then in the interests of avoiding social awkwardness literary aspirations are perhaps left unsaid.

Having said that, you are not going to get anywhere without self-belief, so if pursuing your dream matters to you more to you than the judgement of casual acquaintances, then wear your "I am a writer" hat with pride.

I only told people once I had production company interest - don't know why, but for me that made it more legit. It doesn't really.

I don't say I'm a writer though, I say I've written a sitcom.

I generally find people very positive and supportive. I suppose most of us run around in a work/eat/relax/sleep cycle. Doing something a bit different is always admired.

You had interest from a prodco?

Well done.

If you tell a normal person (non writer) that you're writing a book/working on a script/whatever, the very next week they'll ask 'so have you finished it yet?' or 'so when's it coming out in shops?'
They do not get it at all. And fair enough, why should they? But I would say it's much easier never to bring it up at all. All you get is bloody hassle!

Yeah, nice one

Quote: Tursiops @ August 23 2013, 12:28 PM BST

If you paint or you play an instrument people can tell whether you are any good or not, also these are interests you can legitimately claim to be pursuing purely for your own pleasure. If you are writing a novel you are doing so in the hope of being published, if you are writing a screenplay it with the intention of getting it filmed; unless you have a track record of success to point to, then the only way anyone can tell if you are an undiscovered genius or a deluded wannabe is to read the damn thing. So unless you carry round copies of your manuscript to hand to people, and are prepared to stand over them while they read it, then in the interests of avoiding social awkwardness literary aspirations are perhaps left unsaid.

Having said that, you are not going to get anywhere without self-belief, so if pursuing your dream matters to you more to you than the judgement of casual acquaintances, then wear your "I am a writer" hat with pride.

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Totally agree with that.
Although I hear some people actually do write just for fun, never even planning to try to get published.
The fools...

Quote: sootyj @ August 23 2013, 1:06 PM BST

You had interest from a prodco?

Well done.

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Thanks. I'm trying not to get too ahead of myself though, and in this industry, I think that's wise.

Does "telling anyone" include broadcasting it all over twitter? Or are they not real people?

From a friends, family etc perspective there's only one person who knows that I write stuff which attempts to be funny. She doesn't think it is, particularly.

Quote: Tursiops @ August 23 2013, 12:28 PM BST

If you paint or you play an instrument people can tell whether you are any good or not, also these are interests you can legitimately claim to be pursuing purely for your own pleasure. If you are writing a novel you are doing so in the hope of being published, if you are writing a screenplay it with the intention of getting it filmed; unless you have a track record of success to point to, then the only way anyone can tell if you are an undiscovered genius or a deluded wannabe is to read the damn thing. So unless you carry round copies of your manuscript to hand to people, and are prepared to stand over them while they read it, then in the interests of avoiding social awkwardness literary aspirations are perhaps left unsaid.

Having said that, you are not going to get anywhere without self-belief, so if pursuing your dream matters to you more to you than the judgement of casual acquaintances, then wear your "I am a writer" hat with pride.

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I tried it once

Quote: AndyGilder @ August 23 2013, 1:11 PM BST

Does "telling anyone" include broadcasting it all over twitter? Or are they not real people?

From a friends, family etc perspective there's only one person who knows that I write stuff which attempts to be funny. She doesn't think it is, particularly.

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I think it's harder to say you write comedy than anything else. People then expect you to actually be funny.

Quote: Jennie @ August 23 2013, 1:13 PM BST

I think it's harder to say you write comedy than anything else. People then expect you to actually be funny.

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Especially if you also perform comedy. I tried stand up for about six months a while back and telling people felt like wearing a T-shirt that said "I think I'm funny - try me" in full knowledge that in 'real life' I don't display an inch of wit.

Thing is part the reason I like all these pun contests, worst ideas for....and other threads.
Is if you do them enough, you do get funny. And if you do standup yo're timing and inflection will improve.

Certainly after mucking about on BCG for a few years I found I can write stuff on demand quite quickly.

(realises he has implied he thinks he's passably amusing, awaits the mother of all kickings)

That said I've known a couple of professional standups who aren't funny at all in real life. But on stage flick a switch and can get a laugh from the dullest room.

I wonder if they actively choose to be not funny off stage.

Quote: sootyj @ August 23 2013, 1:27 PM BST

Thing is part the reason I like all these pun contests, worst ideas for....and other threads.
Is if you do them enough, you do get funny. And if you do standup yo're timing and inflection will improve.

Certainly after mucking about on BCG for a few years I found I can write stuff on demand quite quickly.

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I reckon trying out loads of different ways of being funny, whether you think you can do them or not, makes you funnier because you learn new ways of doing things.

I did monthly cartoons for a small magazine for a bit and that improved my ability to come up with straight forward punchlines in a hurry (despite having a month to do it, I'd always start on the evening before the deadline anyway because I'm a terrible person).

Quote: sootyj @ August 23 2013, 1:27 PM BST

That said I've known a couple of professional standups who aren't funny at all in real life. But on stage flick a switch and can get a laugh from the dullest room.

I wonder if they actively choose to be not funny off stage.

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Could be that they have less confidence off stage? (Difficult to come up with things off the bat if you're a bit shy or self-conscious). Or maybe if they're not doing straight-forward jokes their not the kind of thing you can 'banter' with?

Im writing cartoons about underfloor heating at the Moment, I think I might be the funoest writer in that narrow niche in theworld

Quote: sootyj @ August 23 2013, 2:02 PM BST

Im writing cartoons about underfloor heating at the Moment, I think I might be the funoest writer in that narrow niche in theworld

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I feel a challenge coming on....first to get the most cartoons in niche trade magazines ....PLEASE try to get something in here: http://www.hvpmag.co.uk/