Comments on: John Scalzi’s Utterly Useless Writing Advice http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/ DEVISING A SYSTEM FOR REMEMBERING EVERYTHING Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:32:33 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Freelance Unbound» Blog Archive » Beyond journalism http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-171711 Freelance Unbound» Blog Archive » Beyond journalism Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:34:03 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-171711 [...] he freelanced doing anything from games reviews to marketing copy. As he says in his post on utterly useful writing advice: I’m not a writing snob. I won’t just write certain types of writing — I’m a slut, I’ll [...] [...] he freelanced doing anything from games reviews to marketing copy. As he says in his post on utterly useful writing advice: I’m not a writing snob. I won’t just write certain types of writing — I’m a slut, I’ll [...]

]]> By: Nicholas Lee http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-165843 Nicholas Lee Thu, 24 Sep 2009 05:58:21 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-165843 Sound advice, assuming you like money. Not much new for me, although from what I've heard the myths about screenwriting are exaggerated. No one's using good screenplays to line their birdcages. I might be happier scraping by and staying true to my admittedly stringent principles than being successful. I would explain how much I disagree with you in terms of ethics and art, but neither of us really care. Of course, I might still sell out the first chance I get. Sound advice, assuming you like money. Not much new for me, although from what I’ve heard the myths about screenwriting are exaggerated. No one’s using good screenplays to line their birdcages.

I might be happier scraping by and staying true to my admittedly stringent principles than being successful. I would explain how much I disagree with you in terms of ethics and art, but neither of us really care.

Of course, I might still sell out the first chance I get.

]]> By: hanekomu http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-162414 hanekomu Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:27:38 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-162414 While I don't aspire to be a professional writer, I find your article to be very inspiring. It applies to my professional, which is that of a computer programmer (or software developer, but that sounds more pompous), almost point-for-point. All that's required is to replace "write, writing, writer, editor” with “program, programming, programmer, client". While I don’t aspire to be a professional writer, I find your article to be very inspiring. It applies to my professional, which is that of a computer programmer (or software developer, but that sounds more pompous), almost point-for-point.

All that’s required is to replace “write, writing, writer, editor” with “program, programming, programmer, client”.

]]> By: Blake http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-160863 Blake Sat, 29 Aug 2009 06:33:21 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-160863 Wonderfully informative advice, sir. I am entering into the stage of my life in which I will soon be forced to choose the profession I will pursue after college; A decision I've been neglecting for seventeen years. This article provided me with some very straightforward facts about the realities of being a professional writer, which is anything but utterly useless. Thank you. Wonderfully informative advice, sir. I am entering into the stage of my life in which I will soon be forced to choose the profession I will pursue after college; A decision I’ve been neglecting for seventeen years. This article provided me with some very straightforward facts about the realities of being a professional writer, which is anything but utterly useless. Thank you.

]]> By: bel http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-160778 bel Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:48:50 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-160778 hello. i found this to be really good advice. thank you for posting it. one day i hope to be a famous writer too. thanks again :) hello. i found this to be really good advice. thank you for posting it. one day i hope to be a famous writer too. thanks again :)

]]> By: Annie http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-156590 Annie Fri, 31 Jul 2009 06:05:23 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-156590 (Oh and it's late, sorry about the gramatical and spelling errors) (Oh and it’s late, sorry about the gramatical and spelling errors)

]]> By: Annie http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-156589 Annie Fri, 31 Jul 2009 06:04:41 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-156589 I love the straight talk John!! When I was about 16 I bought a copy of "Writers Digest," but did'nt have things together enough to do much with it, it became a nice paperweight. I spent the next 10 years going to school, behavioral science, Accounting, stuff that I thought was going to earn me some $. Right and wrong Right The accounting degree helped a bit, I worked in an A/R (accounts recievable dept.) for a couple of months as a temp. then went back to being a mom. Wrong There are too many Friken accountants in my area right now, and the ecconomy has collapsed on my head. Luckily for me there is such a thing as a blog, helped me pull myself out of a funk, start writing etc. etc. Now I have found my "calling" ;D and want to write. My question is how do you organise a portfolio and market yourself as a writer? Yes, yes, I know "Writers Market." What I mean is how do you advertise that you have written such and such a piece? There are so many people out there editors are (almost assuredly) not going to know you have written for other papers or magazines before. I really enjoyed your article John, the no-nonsense talk is actually reassuring... I love the straight talk John!!

When I was about 16 I bought a copy of “Writers Digest,” but did’nt have things together enough to do much with it, it became a nice paperweight.

I spent the next 10 years going to school, behavioral science, Accounting, stuff that I thought was going to earn me some $.

Right and wrong

Right

The accounting degree helped a bit, I worked in an A/R (accounts recievable dept.) for a couple of months as a temp. then went back to being a mom.

Wrong

There are too many Friken accountants in my area right now, and the ecconomy has collapsed on my head.

Luckily for me there is such a thing as a blog, helped me pull myself out of a funk, start writing etc. etc.

Now I have found my “calling” ;D and want to write.

My question is how do you organise a portfolio and market yourself as a writer? Yes, yes, I know “Writers Market.” What I mean is how do you advertise that you have written such and such a piece? There are so many people out there editors are (almost assuredly) not going to know you have written for other papers or magazines before.

I really enjoyed your article John, the no-nonsense talk is actually reassuring…

]]> By: Fathercrow http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-129769 Fathercrow Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:18:45 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-129769 That was informative and somewhat scary. That was informative and somewhat scary.

]]> By: Being a teenage writer « Victoria Mixon http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-127890 Being a teenage writer « Victoria Mixon Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:42:34 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-127890 [...] John Scalzi’s Utterly Useless Writing Advice [...] [...] John Scalzi’s Utterly Useless Writing Advice [...]

]]> By: Janet http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-127704 Janet Thu, 29 Jan 2009 04:15:10 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/12/17/john-scalzis-utterly-useless-writing-advice/#comment-127704 I've come to the conclusion that various levels of dissertation frustration stem from a failure to recognize the points you made: 1. You have to actually _write_ it. 2. You do it the way your advisor says to do it. You can do it for yourself later. 3. At some point, you're gonna hate it. You still have to write it. 4. Return to step 1. One of the biggest "fringe benefits" to the process is that, while writing something boring, one can make a list of all the topics they'd rather be writing about. Greetings from Hong Kong - you are international :) I’ve come to the conclusion that various levels of dissertation frustration stem from a failure to recognize the points you made:

1. You have to actually _write_ it.
2. You do it the way your advisor says to do it. You can do it for yourself later.
3. At some point, you’re gonna hate it. You still have to write it.
4. Return to step 1.

One of the biggest “fringe benefits” to the process is that, while writing something boring, one can make a list of all the topics they’d rather be writing about.

Greetings from Hong Kong – you are international :)

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