Anyone here an author?

[p-hawk]

Who here on phatmass considers themselves an author? Even if, nay, especially if they are as yet unpublished? I think theculturewarrior mentioned something about writing once, but beyond my vague recollection I don't know of any others on here. It would be nice to have some discussions on books and the writing thereof, and what a Catholic worldview brings to the process.

[philothea]

I have written four novels, a couple dozen short stories, and a few poems.

[Anastasia13]

I wrote a book review for my old church, a newsbrief for the paper at my old school, and an article for a magazine through the internet which I believe also publishes in print.

Also, over the last year, I wrote over 1000 lines of poetry, most of which was posted online.

[Era Might]

I'm not an author, but I would like to be in the future.

Here's a cool magazine for Catholic writers:

[url="http://www.dappledthings.org/index.html"]http://www.dappledthings.org/index.html[/url]

[Tink]

yeah, I write music, poetry, prose, and short stories.

[jmjtina]

I write cool Catholic themed books for my CCD students.

If only I can get an awesome illustrator........

[philothea]

I will attempt to actually discuss something about writing tomorrow.

[Theoketos]

My wife has written 25 books.

[Brother Adam]

I know a published author of 9 books, Father Jim Cavanaugh

[p0lar_bear]

Steve Kellmeyer was on pm for a bit. He's a fairly well-known Catholic author. He wrote [i]Bible Basics[/i] and a book on the [i]Da Vinci Code[/i]. I think he has a couple of more books coming out too...

[DeeDee]

I write short stories and poetry. A lot of the poetry was online at one time, but I can't find the site.

[Socrates]

[quote name='Theoketos' date='Sep 20 2005, 09:34 AM']My wife has written 25 books.
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That's a lot! Published? How old is she? (It appears you're only 23).

[Socrates]

I've written some short stories, plays, comics, etc., but I've never published anything. Most of it's not very Catholic, to tell the truth.

[p-hawk]

[quote name='Socrates' date='Sep 20 2005, 08:04 PM']I've written some short stories, plays, comics, etc., but I've never published anything.  Most of it's not very Catholic, to tell the truth.
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Flannery O'Connor would disagree. If it's written by someone who believes and lives the truths of the Catholic faith, then even if it isn't explicitly about the Eucharist or priests and nuns it is still a take on reality as presented by a member of the Catholic faith.

(I just checked her [i]Mystery and Manners[/i] out of the library, and so far it has been worth my time.)

[SpyderGirl]

if writing numerous short stories and poems counts then yes i am an author.

[philothea]

[quote name='p-hawk' date='Sep 19 2005, 11:41 PM']Who here on phatmass considers themselves an author? Even if, nay, especially if they are as yet unpublished? I think theculturewarrior mentioned something about writing once, but beyond my vague recollection I don't know of any others on here. It would be nice to have some discussions on books and the writing thereof, and what a Catholic worldview brings to the process.
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I have been most heavily influenced in wanting to be a [i]Catholic[/i] writer by Gene Wolfe. He writes brilliant, very sophisticated science fiction. I want be be him when I grow up.

I read his books before I became Catholic, and I loved them, but there was nothing especially "religious" about them (well, except for an obvious messianic-type story in [i]The Book of the New Sun[/i]).

Years later, I learned that Gene was Catholic. (Like me now! Yay! ) When I reread those books it was so obvious that they were deeply influenced by Catholic mysticism, I wondered how I'd missed it before. I have heard him say that everything he writes is about religion.

I guess I want to write like that, but I'm not that good. I am a little hesitant about having Catholics I know read my fiction, because like Socrates says... it's not especially "Catholic". In fact, some of it is pretty grim and violent. (So far Journeyman hasn't stopped talking to me yet, so maybe it's not too bad... OTOH, I haven't heard from him in a while now...! )

I do have a kind of an agenda when I write. All my novels revolve around a difficult moral question. Sometimes the answer seems to come through the story, and sometimes it shows up in stark, unanswerable relief. I hope that working through those questions might lead a reader who is not religious to begin to search for God. At least, that's my intent.

In writing fiction, I am trying to do what I think God wants me to do. I honestly think it's a dumb, pointless kind of career. (There are so many good writers already! I'll never manage to leap through all the publishing hoops! I'm much better at other things!) I tried to get out of writing for years... but all signs point to this being what I ought to do. So, I'll write as best I can. I have no expecation that I will ever have readers, or that I will ever be published, though I'll try. Perhaps it's just an exercise in learning humility.

So there's some writing babble. Don't know if it was the kind of thing you wanted to discuss or not.

(P.S.: I loved your smiley-comment thread!!)

[Theoketos]

[quote name='Socrates' date='Sep 20 2005, 06:03 PM']That's a lot!  Published?  How old is she?  (It appears you're only 23).
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Well one was a day away from being published, but the publishing company decided that it would be to contraversial coming from a High School Senor. <We really should revisit that now>

And she has not written a book since sophmore year of college. Mostly because we are insainly busy all the time with the ministry work we do.

[Nathan]

I've published tons of articles, essays, and reviews in film/literature magazines like [i]Fangoria[/i], [i]Rue Morgue[/i], and [i]Cemetery Dance[/i], among others -- literally dozens of pieces. So, yeah, I consider myself an author. However, I'm in the process of switching gears in life -- going back to school to get my Bachelor's, thinking about the priesthood.

[Nathan]

Here's one of my old [i]Fangoria[/i] articles archived online, if anyone's interested. It's a short set-visit piece on the movie WRONG TURN:

[url="http://www.fangoria.com/fearful_feature.php?id=1084"]http://www.fangoria.com/fearful_feature.php?id=1084[/url]

[Maria]

I have a story in my head I might someday write. It's a semi-fairy tale. And, of course, I write a lot.