ALWAYS FREE to READ
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7).
I enjoy working, making money, it’s an accomplishment. Yet, what makes that accomplishment fulfilling is that in return I am able to help others.
Like paying for someone’s groceries, or their gas, or buying them a new coat. I’m far from wealthy, but you don’t have to be wealthy to give, all you need is the desire to do so.
My first passion had once been writing. But then I learned of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. So now, writing, computer graphics, videos/slideshows and web design is my second passion.
I still write fiction because Jerry and Bob are fiction, or are they? Instead of writing for me, I write for Jesus and it’s beyond plain enjoyable.
People have asked me if I was a professional writer. What is a professional writer? If a professional writer is someone that makes money from writing then I guess the garbage man is a professional garbage man.
When I’m asked that question, I tell them yes because:
- I have the education
- I have lived quite a few different lifestyles so I have experience in a variety of ways. Exposure to diverse matters increases one’s mindset.
- I was born with the ability to write. I started my first book at the age of 10. I never finished the book and I can’t remember everything about it (1972). I do remember it was about a large family and that one of the sons said, “Once I had a horse,” but I have no idea why he said that. I’ll have to circle back and let you know (that was a joke on Jen Psaki if you didn’t catch it).
- And I have a thesaurus.
Yet, that doesn’t mean that everyone likes what I write or think I’m a professional writer. Of course, if they’re just readers, and not professional writers themselves, how would they know? In my opinion, if you read enough then you know what a professional writer is. For example:
- I don’t like to read Stephen King. I like his stories/movies, but not his books. There’s too much explanation of things that aren’t necessary.
- I like Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens). I at least like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
- I enjoyed Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
- I like a lot of Edgar Allen Poe’s stories. But I’m not that deep into poetry and to really grasp Poe’s meanings I think you have to understand poetry. His stories are incredible so whether you fully comprehend them or not you just have to read them.
- James Patterson bores me.
- Danielle Steel, Nora Robert, and Lee Child, they’re good, but I need to be in the mood for them.
- I can usually read a John Grisham book because I like court stories, if I’m in the mood for fiction.
- Franz Kafka. Now this man stands alone, but real close to Poe.
- I read “Crime and Punishment’ by Fyodor Dostoevsky. A very long and dry book, but well written.
- Charles Dickens, like King, adds to much for me.
- I read “The Old Man in the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway and even though I didn’t see a plot or purpose I truly enjoyed the book.
- I read “The Antiquities of the Jews” by Flavius Josephus which I enjoyed and learned a lot, but if you’re not interested in the Jews or God it would probably bore you.
- Sydney Sheldon and Harold Robbins have got to be the best fiction writers ever.
I could go on and on, but anyway, all of the above authors are without a doubt professional writers.
I don’t think it matters how many books are sold or read that makes the author a professional writer, but the style he or she writes it in. This style has nothing to do with The American Psychological Association, Modern Language Association, Chicago Manual of Style or any other organization.
The style that the author uses is their own. This style comes from within their own imagination. That makes them professional writers. Yet, a true, without a doubt professional writer is a person that is passionate about it. It’s not a job or a hobby, it’s a part of them, it’s a need.