Nicola Vincent-Abnett

Nicola Vincent-Abnett
"Savant" for Solaris, Wild's End, Further Associates of Sherlock Holms, more Wild's End

Sunday 12 February 2012

Yesterday's bullish blog. It's fine, I'm over it.

This is my first time.


I realise that some of you think of me as a writer, but, the truth is, I’ve never published a novel.
The other thing that I’ve never done is enter a competition.
Here’s the thing. I’m beginning to wonder why I’ve never entered a competition. I’m beginning to wonder why I didn’t actually get around to writing my first novel until a few short years ago.
Yes, I was busy, but isn’t everyone?
Yes, I had something to say. I’ve always had something to say.
I think, in the end, the reason I didn’t do this before is to do with perception. I did not think of myself as a writer. Or, at least, I didn’t think of myself as a writer first... I didn’t think of myself as a writer ahead of being other things: a cook, a bottle-washer, a maker of things.
That’s what I let out of the bag when I began this process of writing and sharing my work. Maybe... Just maybe, it’s as well I didn’t let it out sooner. I am a writer. First and foremost, no matter what else I do. First, and always now, I think, I am a writer.
Bring it on!



5 comments:

  1. You have plenty of writing credits dearie. Maybe not a full novel as sole author, but you write, you know what you're about. You have the ability.

    People believe in you. Competitions are fickle things. We have high hopes for you and I believe it is simply a matter of time. Meanwhile, keep writing.

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  2. Thanks, Jeff.

    I slightly love that you called me 'dearie'.

    Smiles!

    N

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  3. I think the essence of being a writer is different to that of being an author. I describe myself as being a writer and (based on the evidence) not an author. I haven't published a thing, despite having spent the last few years clinging to the misbegotten belief that BL are missing out on a huge talent.

    I'd describe your other half, Aaron, Sarah, Gav, Josh, Jim, and the others as authors. For me being an author means you've made it. One is regularly getting published and earning a regular income from the sale of such works. They have passion, drive, belief, resolve, and a secure notion that it's what they were born to do and wouldn't be happier doing anything else.

    In short, I think anyone can be a writer - but not everyone has what it takes to be an author. With your credits already with Gilead's Blood, Sabbat Worlds, and the other early collaborations in the GW multiverse you're clearly a writer. I have every confidence that you'll become an author, and the competition panel with love Naming Names.

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  4. I've always thought of it much the same way as Tim: a writher is something you are, whereas an author is a title you attain. Writers will write no matter who will read it, even if it's just stories they tell their kids or letters home.

    Having said that, waiting to publish your first go-it-alone novel doesn't mean you're behind - it's given you time to simmer. I was just in New Orleans, and thought it was interesting how many dishes there are so dependent on the roux. What's fascinating about roux is that it has to cook down for awhile before it's ready to form the basis on any dish. If you take it off the burner too soon, you spoil anything you build upon it.

    Being a twenty-something writer myself, there are actually ideas I put aside for later because I'm just not mature enough to do them justice right now, I haven't lived enough to understand the thoughts and feelings and memories of those characters. Recently, I've been trying to write about people my own age because I have too much of a tendency to focus on middle-aged characters which I can't understand fully until I've "been there." So I think having taken time to just live life is a real advantage.

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    Replies
    1. That would be "writer," not "writher," though I am writhing a bit after posting an obvious typo on a writing blog.

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