Paul Whybrow
Full Member
A friend recently commented to me, that she admires my determination in continuing to write. I am, by nature, a determined person—sometimes to the point of foolish stubbornness—which I prefer to view as being tenacious or stoical.
I just get on with the job, until it's done, and this includes writing, editing and trying to sell a novel. I have faith in my work. Being British, with a stiff upper lip (above a loose, flabby chin!) I'm also modest, but all the same, I wondered how much my ego was driving me to succeed.
I'm not after fame from my books, and, as a way of making money writing novels is an absurd proposition, so what is driving me on? I'm still enthusiastic, halfway through the fourth of my series of crime novels, but will I be as joyful and driven by the time I begin the tenth in a few years time?
William Zinsser, the writing guru, said that:
'Writing is an act of ego, and you might as well admit it.'
George Orwell observed in his Four Motives for Writing:
'Sheer egoism... Writers share this characteristic with scientists, artists, politicians, lawyers, soldiers, successful businessmen - in short, with the whole top crust of humanity.'
They say that one should 'Starve the ego to feed the soul', but I have to remain a bit of an egomaniac to keep writing—and what I write satisfies my soul too.
How much of an egomaniac are you?
I just get on with the job, until it's done, and this includes writing, editing and trying to sell a novel. I have faith in my work. Being British, with a stiff upper lip (above a loose, flabby chin!) I'm also modest, but all the same, I wondered how much my ego was driving me to succeed.
I'm not after fame from my books, and, as a way of making money writing novels is an absurd proposition, so what is driving me on? I'm still enthusiastic, halfway through the fourth of my series of crime novels, but will I be as joyful and driven by the time I begin the tenth in a few years time?
William Zinsser, the writing guru, said that:
'Writing is an act of ego, and you might as well admit it.'
George Orwell observed in his Four Motives for Writing:
'Sheer egoism... Writers share this characteristic with scientists, artists, politicians, lawyers, soldiers, successful businessmen - in short, with the whole top crust of humanity.'
They say that one should 'Starve the ego to feed the soul', but I have to remain a bit of an egomaniac to keep writing—and what I write satisfies my soul too.
How much of an egomaniac are you?