Yes, it’s true. We’ve known writers who had absolutely no books on their shelves, their computers, their phones, or even their Kindles. “Why should I read what somebody else wrote?” one of them said. “If it was good I would’ve written it, right?”
Sorry, dood, wrong.
Belle Beth Cooper explains why:
Now that we’ve found Jon Negroni and his site, we ain’t lettin’ them go:
by Jon NegroniTo some, writing is a chore. It’s a necessary hurdle to completing certain tasks, especially in school, and many people choose not to write as a result of their troubling experiences throughout their education.
Of course, to others like me and maybe you, writing is essential. Something we can’t go the day without doing. And here’s why:
Stress kills. It can kill us, literally, but before it gets that far it can kill our dreams by destroying our ambition. My longtime friend – and in many ways sort of a hero – Mack Paul shares something very important to all overstressed writers. (Uh, that would be all writers, by definition, I think.)
by Mack PaulSo I’m driving through my neighborhood, and this idiot in a big pickup is going 20 miles per hour where everybody knows that the rule is to go 30, no matter what the stupid sign says. I get frustrated. My mind contracts to a little laser beam of hurry. I want to tailgate and I want to honk. Then it occurs to me that if I do that, he might just get out of his big truck and teach me some manners. I decide I might be better off just feeling how I feel. I shift my attention from my hurrying mind to my body and the anxiety churning in my stomach. Feeling it, rather than trying to escape it, I relax a little bit. I notice the beautiful blue sky and the green trees, and then going 20 is fun, a lot more fun than going nuts and getting in a fight.
I find myself doing an unpleasant yard chore while simultaneously fretting about climate change. I despair about global warming and I hate the job. I start getting mad because our environmentally-friendly tools aren’t getting me through this misery quickly enough. Then I come up with a great plan, to go into the house and start yelling at my wife about our crummy tools. I realize that won’t work. She’ll get mad and tell me I’m an idiot and she’ll be right. Crap! I just feel how I feel and calm down. I finish the job and go inside for a pleasant conversation instead of a nasty one.
So there’s this guy named Jon Negroni who writes a blog called The New Professional aimed at – yeppers, we swear – newbies in the workplace, with an emphasis on young middle class pre-executives. The site is loaded with helpful info for those just embarking on their careers and thoughtful reviews of social media and Hollywood entertainment happenings.
We’re utterly entranced by the place. Mainly cuz we fit perfectly into the target demo and find it helpful as hell. We think you might also. So here’s a sample:
by Jon NegroniHave you ever had that realization that you hate your profession?
Because I just got an email from a former student who reminded me of how important it is.
Keep encouraging and advising!Much thanks,-ce
So, from all of me to all of y’all:
