On Writing : What makes you think you're a writer/What makes you a good writer? by Angel Luis Martinez Jr.

Very true - reading is a subjective activity, and publishers are a group of individuals who will 'tune in' to different types of writing(and will also disagree among themselves at times). Some people say 'write what you know about', others say 'write what you feel passionately about.' I agree the passion should come first - what you don't know, you can always research. Passion is a powerful emotion/instinct, a rather wilful, volatile one at times; it can strike in an instant and vanish when it feels like it, and it can also kindle a flame (the story we tell) that burns on. Facts are easy to come by, passion needs food.(Okay, now I've made myself feel peckish....scurries off for some toast and jam...)

Sometimes, elements of a story form in my mind, and I feel a compulsion to create a story out of those elements.

And if nobody reads your stuff, who ya gonna ask, @Angel Luis?

What does that mean Morgan, and what does that imply?

The love of writing and wanting to learn everyday is the mentality of a writer.

Ouch! Nasty little ego-tantrum there... Angel Luis. Don't worry, could've happened to anyone. But please rest assured, the 'your' and 'ya' in my comment is used in the general, collective experiential sense. It's not specifically about you, but about the human condition of being one squawker among billions, thus who is listening? And to answer the question in the thread you hijacked from @Elena Vaytsel, you say 'it depends on who you ask' and my response was... Well, you can read it above, but this time, please remember, it's not all about you specifically.

I agree, Angel Luis Martinez Jr. A person becomes a writer as soon as they write/type.

"What makes you a good writer?" I think it's being able to write great stories and continuing to grow as a writer.

I agree on every level! If you writing… you are a writer.

I was a touring, successful professional stand up club comic for 12 years. Around Year 10, I was in a Q&A session with a college theater group. Someone asked a question that had never occurred to me, "what makes you funny?" The answer, which fortunately, sprung to mind immediately was/is....you have approximately 90 seconds to win over your audience. So, whatever comes out of your mouth has to immediately connect and be relatable to 200-300 strangers from all walks of life. Male, female, young, old, married, unmarried, white, black...etc. etc....If not, you'll lose the audience and they may actually turn against you....the same relates to writing, especially screenwriting Your invisible uniqueness better become immediately visible through your words, story and characters or you'll suffer the same fate as many Open Mic wanna-be comics I observed over those years. Good luck.

Angel Luis Martinez Jr. Just following a thread from this conversation, Angel.

If I write a shopping list, does that make me a writer? I go back to what I said on another post, it may be better to use the word author if we are considering someone who writes to engage the public in the world they have created. World Creation is another element of being an author, something you don't have to do when writing a shopping list.

My wife likes it when I write the shopping list, but if I cluttered it with extraneous details, moods or asides, I would be told off! Maybe I had strayed into world creation!!

Not everyone will like what we write, but it would be a pretty big ego to think that what they write will be loved by 7 billion people. Personally I'd be happy with 1% of the 7 billion. I'm not greedy!

I'm thrilled that you don't write to formula. Keep doing what you are doing. There is nothing worse from my point of view than formulaic stories.

Can I ask what you are working on at the moment?

Sure, and thanks for posting. The screenplay I am writing now comes to life where the book ends. The book should be available shortly. The Screen play, in plain sight follows the plight of two detective's trying to not only find the identity of a boy who has fallen to his death, but who was he, where'd he come from and what led to his demise.

The story sounds interesting, Angel Luis Martinez Jr.

Thank you

You're welcome, Angel Luis Martinez Jr.

Writer, as in the occupation, is a job that one does for pay. Paid writers are common enough, but still a small percentage of the overall labor force worldwide. I tell people I'm a writer because I get paid to write and have for years at multiple companies. I can show multiple works I've written for pay. If you wouldn't put it on a resume, then introducing yourself as such is inaccurate.

Here! Here!!! @Terrence Sellers ↑↑↑ You bloody nailed it to the wall with that 'getting paid for it' or 'putting it on a resume' qualifier.

On reflection, I've been paid less than peanuts for the crap I write. In fact I've paid more to get people to read my stuff - by a factor of maybe 100 - than I've ever been paid.

With head held high and proud, I will remove that stupid 'author' designation from my stage 32 profile. Frankly, I'd rather waste my money in a casino. The ROI is higher and the drinks are free.

Does creativity come from our own share of, and access to, the collective subconscious ?

Where do we get our ideas from ? Something we've seen or heard or read about ? Or maybe something deeper ? Maybe we're closest to opening the door when we dream, if we can remember any of our dreams.

I've had numerous stories inspired by dreams. One was even inspired by a retweet by Ramsey Campbell. Sometimes I'll see something, or something happens, that gives me inspiration. And other times I'm prompted to create something from someone's suggestion.