I seem to be lost...

You just said "I know how to get these things going, and I know who to talk to."

Oh, and I think you mean "phase", by the way...

Also, what do you mean by experiences?

 

...sigh...

By experiences, I mean every day life. The things I've been through are going to change how I write. You haven't been through the same things, you've had your own life. Maybe it lends great things to write about, but they're still not the same.

And when I said, "I know how to get these things going, I know who to talk too," I was talking about getting my writing published. Right now, that's not my focus. I have to finish more of the series before I start getting it in print. I posted here for ideas on where to head when I leave and start living a new life.

And yeah, I did mean phase. My mind went blank for the word, so I put up a homonym. Figured people would figure it out...

 

I got minuscule shit published too, yet I will not deceive myself to believe that I will be a great writer.

Great writers don't rise out of the ashes, they work for it... and most of the work they do has nothing to do with writing.

You asked for advice on where to go and what to do... here it is given to you, yet you deny it with your inflated ego.

Not much of a philosopher, as you claim, kind sir.

No one is trying to diminish you here, no one is trying to bring you down. We are just giving you sound advice, accept it even if it isn't what you want to hear. If you will only take the advice of the people who say "keeeeep on dreaaaamin'", then you are not asking for advice at all, but for a reconfirmation of an already possessed idea.

Life is not pretty nor easy, do not go out there thinking that it is. You have to put us with a bunch of shit that you don't have to do and a bunch of people you don't want to even know in order to achieve something.

It's a silly place, and you can dream about a better one...

...and as much as you dream and dream... you will always be here, in this silly yet amazing world.

 

For once, I like the way you put it. Sorry if I seem to be taking this the wrong way, man. I'm really an optimist, and tend to ignore it when people say, "You're gonna fail," and don't give good reasons.

No, I don't just listen to the 'keep on dreaming' people. I listen to the people who have worked a job they hated for years, I listen to the people who've gotten college degrees and ended up working as a manager at a fast food place. I've listened to travelers, veterans, and many others. I tend to take in more than just one or two viewpoints.

And I know life isn't pretty. I know it isn't easy. I've been through things that I wouldn't wish on anyone. I've been through times I never want to forget, too.

And as I've said many times before, I'm not going to become a well known, or even a known, writer for a long time. I know this. I don't want to suddenly have books everywhere. It wouldn't be worth it if it wasn't hard.

I know I have to work for it, I know it's going to be a hell of a challenge. I hope I'm up to it. I have confidence.

But, if it doesn't work out, I'm fine with that. That's not my take all end all. I want to be a great writer. I will write. It's my passion. But if writing won't support me, I know I will have to take another route.

I'm not some brain dead dreamer, who doesn't have a firm grip on reality. I like to think about theology, spirituality, and all of that. I like to solve those kinds of problems. But I don't believe that I can change now just by believing that it doesn't work the way it does. I have to fit the theory to reality, not reality to the theory.

And, I want to thank you for the advice. But I've made the decision to leave college, and I'm not going to change that. It's one of the things that I honestly believe I need to do. College doesn't work for me. I don't want to be in the kinds of fields that the degree would earn me. I've enjoyed my stay, but it's time to move on.

So the advice you give, while valid, doesn't apply to the situation. If you urge me to stay in school, let it be known that that is no longer an option. I've decided to take my journey, live a different lifestyle, and that particular fact isn't going to change. But, if you want to give me advice on how to live, how to support myself, or how to get from place to place without getting into trouble, I'd love to hear it. I realize I'm sounding closed minded here, but I've heard all of your arguments for why I shouldn't do it. I'm not interested in the 'should I' aspect anymore. I just need advice on the how.

 

All I can do is wish you luck.

 

Experience doesn't mean much as a writer, other than the way you write, yet that doesn't mean you'll get published. Not all good writers get published.

"Poets need not go to Niagara to write about the force of falling water." - Robert Frost

What if you actually fail as a writer? What will you do then?

 

Plan 1: Writer, day laborer (manual, entry level high school diploma job, intern at magazine company.) Save money. Start Publishing Company, publish own books.

Plan 2: Job in a publishing company as an editor or Administrator. Save money. Start Publishing Company, publish own books.

Plan 3: Military, 8 years. Get training in Buisness Administration and/or Field Journalism. Write in spare time. Save money. Work in field, start Publishing Company, publish own books.

If all else fails, I have the military (air force or navy, non-com position), and the training it gives me. I can get a good, 'normal' job, and continue writing on the side.

I do have plans, and if the chancy ones don't work, I have the concrete, can't fail unless America collapses route. And I'll be writing the whole time.

 

What makes you think youre so much better than those you said you dont like, that you should have the right to seperate yourself from them. They have to live in this world with you, and you have to live in this world with them. Why not just learn to tolerate all people. You arent forced to associate with anyone. Youre never going to find a place to reside 24/7 with those values. I find it a shame that you cant co-exist with people of a different nature than yourself. Maybe if you begin to expierence real things with these people you dont like, youd realize they to are free thinkers, they just dont agree with you.

 

I have a question: Why does everyone assume I think I'm better than everyone else? I know I'm not. I never claimed to be. And I never said I don't like people who aren't as much 'free thinkers' as I am.

In fact, I'm going to have a lot of trouble leaving here. I have too many people I'm going to miss immensely. I don't think there are 3 people in my entire college that I really dislike.

I've co-existed with people of different natures for my entire life. I'm a free-spirited individual who was born in a small, conservative town to 20+ year veterans. I still had friends, I still enjoyed myself.

I just want to move on from here for a while, go out and experience something different for a while. Sure, I'll miss everyone, and sure, I'll piss some people off, but that isn't the intent.

I just feel like wandering for a while. I hope it works out.

 

Just out of interest, what kind of stuff do you write?

 

I've just read some of your quotes and the first one of course. Yet i just dont understand what the problem is....do as you please! if you want to become a writer- do it....want to leave school- why not? these are your wishes and if you have enough desire and will-power you are likely to make them come true....but why then asking for advice?it seems like you are still not certain in your principles and want other people to confirm them for you to feel easier...
i think you should write more...not focusing on the idea to become a famous and popular writer...just keep on doing it.........it must come from your soul

 

Mostly fiction novels and short stories. I rant on free time, just for fun. I also like philosophy, but I haven't gotten my thoughts together enough to write a book about it.

Alot of stuff really, from fantasy to real world fiction, futuristic or past. Just whatever I'm feeling when I sit down to write. I generally end up working on 3 or 4 books at a time, writing on a different one each time I start to write.

 

Sorry, when I started to read, I didn't see Neponiatka's post... here's her reply:

I plan on doing all that. The real thing in asking for advice was to get others ideas as to interesting places to head to. I dunno, I don't think that just wandering without any plan as to where to head would benefit me as much as if I had a few places in mind to visit.

 

Good luck!!!
As fo places to visit, i think every place in this world is worth visiting....so wandering without any plan is not so pointless as you think............))

 

dont stop dreaming,but rubin is right

 

I can offer my words, partly because you are not alone. I am in the same boat. I graduate college in one term, and everyone is asking "what will you do, what job do you want". I just spent the last 17 or so years of my life in school, my mind reduced to putty, and now they want me to immediately go become a wage slave for some white bougoisie owner who makes tons off his employees? Hell no!

I've come to the realization, I cant do that. I cant get a job and jsut fall in line. Its wrong, morally. I cant just go to work after knowing what I know, after taking sociology classes and learning how messed up the world is. Schools funny, they give us info on how completely ruined the world is, then they expect us to fall in line and not question it all, and get a 9 to 5 job.

When I graduate I plan on moving to a commune. Its the only thing that makes sense to me. Reading the paper has become a chore, and the daily death count from iraq is harming me. I basically pump that crap into my veins daily. Its sustainable for awhile, but I am at the point where I cant do that anymore. I need to start living and not dying. I need to be reborn. I need a new start.

To me, my life isnt supposed to all add up to a job that takes your soul, life, and mind. Where one has no freedom. Thats not right. And I aint buying into it. I want more. I deserve more. We all deserve more.

Do you really want to get a job at a factory that billows toxic fumes out, and kills others and then kills you as well?

The only option I see, is a commune. Being completely cut off, completely shut off from mainstream society is one of the more political acts one can engage in.

I am at the point where I dont really want to even know who's president in 2008. I want to be that disengaged from society, in the commune.

I am sick of dying, I want to live, be free, be me. Thats not going to happen in mainstream society

 

college is sham. I spent nearly 4 years there. It was a waste of time. As Kerouoac said, "college is the gateway to the middle class nonexistance".

The people who run colleges dont just run them for fun. There is a reason when someone majors in Soc or Philosophy, that you are looked down on. Its always "how will that apply in your job".

School and college train us to be workers, obedient to authority and docile and quiet. We are trained to be little monkeys.

Whats sad is I think there are many people like you and me who are lost. This war and current political climate encourages just that. I dont think we are alone either. When that movie Garden State came out a few years ago, the main reason Zach Bradd wrote directed and starred in it was because he wanted to give voice to those in our generation who are lost. What he found was people responded. They connected to the story. And he said he got many responses from people saying they were completely lost as well.

Being lost is scary, its a feeling that continues to grow in me. The only way to deal with it I think is to leave the crap in mainstream society, and actually LIVE how you want to live, and show the world it can be done.