Qualifications - Page 3 - Writers Forum

The Backward OX · 11-22-2007, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClancyBoy

Have to disagree. What you can imagine is very very limited by what you know.

Aiyee!! Perhaps this explains the complete and utter crap spewed forth on this site under the names of sci-fi and horror and other forms of fantasy.

Mr Sci Fi · 11-22-2007, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

It depends on your take, but in many instances an old sweat who's become desensitised may actually convey the horror of war far better. If you've read any of Sven Hassel's novels, which were (he claims - others argue otherwise) based on his wartime experiences fighting on the German side in WW2 both in Europe and the Eastern Front, his characters are all pretty battle-hardened and cynical, and none of the horrors of war touch them any more. Except occasionally; maybe for one, it'll be the sight of a dead baby, for another something else, that will reduce a hardened killing machine who'll happily rape and kill anything tht moves to a sobbing mess. For me, through that combination of cynicism and weakness, I got a far better feeling for both how horrible war is and the effects if can have on people than any amount of sensationalised blood and gore.

True. I don't think Tim O'Brian could have written "The Things They Carried" without experiencing Vietnam first hand.

Malone · 11-22-2007, 11:24 AM

I majored in Writing with an emphasis on fiction, and minored in Japanese and Political Science. I had some stuff published in college, but not for money. I won a short story contest my teacher entered me in against my wishes.
Are these qualifications? No. They're just some stuff I did to try to make myself a better writer. I think the qualifications come from how well you write. Living bizarre experiences that justify your work help too.

Mike C · 11-23-2007, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Sci Fi

True. I don't think Tim O'Brian could have written "The Things They Carried" without experiencing Vietnam first hand.

And it doesn't just apply to war. Look at some successful novelists. What they write can be directly or indirectly traced to what they've done. Hemingway; travels through Europe, warfare & injury, bullfighting, etc. Orwell; socialism, oppressive wartime governments, oppressive peacetime administrations, living on the streets. Arthur C Clarke; hard science. Le Carré, spying. Dick Francis; horseracing. Anais Nin; sex. Armistead Maupin; gay perspective. The list is endless, and none of them got where they were by guessing what something must be like. They wrote what they knew.

lisajane · 11-25-2007, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

I wasn't trying to enlighten you. I called you a moron because I thought you'd get upset if I called you a fucking idiot.

I must, absolutely must, remember that quote.

I studied literature in high school, which was a total waste of time. I also studied psychology which I loved.

I have an advanced diploma in professional writing and a certificate four in medical administration (one step under a diploma). The diploma was a great help in meeting other writers, having people to work off with and finding out that I was good at this whole writing thing. You don't necessarily need to do a course in writing to be a writer, but it may help.

Anything else you study will help you far more.

The Backward OX · 11-26-2007, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

I called you a moron because I thought you'd get upset if I called you a fucking idiot.

The rules must’ve changed.

Nobody told me (sniff)

I s’pose if it’s ok for a mod to talk like this, it’s now ok for the rabble to do the same? We can attack the person as well as the opinion?

Non Serviam · 11-26-2007, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drezzal

All writers say that they learn their experiences in writing through reading books but who here has high qualifications or who has rarely any (or no) qualifications ? Also, have you had a book published ? Would you say schools made you a better writter or just plain old experience ?

My degree's in no way relevant to my writing--or my professional life--and I regret spending those years working on it. Nobody's ever even asked to see the certificate. So I could have spent that time partying with exactly the same effect on my career.

I'm very slightly published.

If you looked in obscure places on the internet or browsed the shelves of a few obscure retail outlets, you'd be able to choose from a small selection of books by yours truly, so I suppose I'm what they politely call a "mid-list" author (by which they mean someone who earns almost as much from their writing as they would if they spent the same amount of time flipping burgers).

Schools didn't make me a better writer, but then I'm not a particularly brilliant writer anyway. I'm published because of credentials in an obscure field rather than any particular literary talent (as if you couldn't tell).

One day I'd love to publish a piece of fiction.

Mike C · 11-26-2007, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

[font=Verdana]I s’pose if it’s ok for a mod to talk like this, it’s now ok for the rabble to do the same? We can attack the person as well as the opinion?

No. When I do it the other mods all get together and administer a sound beating.

The Backward OX · 11-26-2007, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Non Serviam

I'm published because of credentials in an obscure field

Wood-bending?

Non Serviam · 11-26-2007, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

Wood-bending?

Nit-picking.