#writer's workshop

International writers with Hualing Nieh Engle and Paul Engle, The University of Iowa, 1970s

Can we normalize the fact that even though fandom writing is so popular, it as well as writing in general is not always an accepted career?

Writing I believe is hard to be successful in and I praise people that can do it. However, I also look down on myself for believing that I could never make a career out of it. That thought led me to choose other career paths where I felt like I could find the most success. Though I don't regret the major I have chosen, I still wonder why I thought I had to give up writing fanfiction considering many authors in the industry started out with writing about fandoms.

I gave up writing on Tumblr and writing fanfiction at all because I thought there'd be no point doing it when I went away to college. I wasn't majoring in anything English or writing-based, so I believed that it wasn't worth my time. So to focus on my science degree, I stopped writing and pushed this passion to the back of my mind after having been doing it for over five years. Mostly because of a preconceived idea that writing fanfiction and writing any sort of fiction at all could only be something that was accepted when I was a child and a teenager. (Which is not true, obviously)

Now two years after giving up this part of myself, I got more inspiration and decided to open a new tab again. Posting on here, was never for validation, but to share a part of me that I felt I couldn't share with the people in my life. I have realized that no matter how I choose to live my life, or what career path I take, I shouldn't feel that I have to give up things that make me happy -- neither should you.

I guess I am just wondering if other people experience this conflict the older they get while trying to balance it with a future lifestyle and/or that same preconceived idea that you have to give up writing fanfiction?

a/n: I encourage all writers or anyone who has thoughts to leave them below for a detailed discussion. If you would like to reach out personally through a direct message because it is more comfortable, that is totally fine too. I just would love to talk about this with anyone who might be interested or dealing with the same thing.

Iowa Writers' Workshop staff David Pryce Jones, R. V. Cassill, Robert V. Williams, Richard Yates, Paul Engle, Mark Strand, Eugene K. Garber, George Starbuck, and Frederic Will, The University of Iowa, mid-1960s

Creator: Kent, F.W.

Language is a beautiful thing. It enables us to share emotions, ideas and stories.

As a public artistic experiment, I have decided to present the: Weekly Writer’s Prompt.

The concept is simple. Once a week I will select a work of multimedia, like a film or television series, a novel or artwork and write a few lines that fit the theme of that work as a starting prompt. I challenge whoever might be interested to write a short story, poem, conversation ect to continue from the lines I have prompted.

There are no word limits or restrictions. Simply look at the topic and the prompt and write from there, then tag your completed work (#weekly writer’s prompt) and mention this account: @small-fortunes so I can collect your entry.

You have 7 days to  craft a submission and challenge yourself to create something beautiful with words.

If you’d like to take up the challenge but aren’t familiar with the media selected, simply Wiki or YouTube some information to get you inspired and work from there. By the end of the month, I’m hopeful that we might amalgamate a collection of interesting modern literature together and showcase it.

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This Week’s Prompt:

Media: TV Series

Title: The Witcher

Origins: Part of the Witcher franchise.

Genre: High Fantasy, Action/Adventure

Restrictions: None. Any character/s, episode/s, scenario.

Writer’s Prompt:

The blade was heavy in his hand. Blood ran into his eyes dying his vision a distorted shade of crimson...

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Entries for this prompt close: Tuesday 16th February 2021

Remember to use the tag: #weekly writer’s prompt and mention me: @small-fortunes

Edmund Keeley, Mark Strand, Vance Bourjaily, Paul Engle, and R. V. Cassill in Writers' Workshop headquarters, The University of Iowa, 1960s

Creator: Kent, Frederick W.

Writers Workshop temporary building, The University of Iowa, 1946

Creator: Kent, Frederick W.