Discussion Topic 1

One thing that surprised me in the first few days of my internship was how many writers advocate for hard work over reliance on talent.  My Supervisor expressed to me that many people who are not writers or creatives of any kind tend to think that writers have a kind of pseudo-mystic gift that the common population does not have.  I think this assessment is largely correct in my experience.  Even rather famous writers of the past share this notion, like Wordsworth.  He believed that the poet must simply have a more "sensitive soul" than the common man.  When I went to a convention where my Supervisor, a fantasy author, was speaking on panels, I found that most of the panelists did not consider their writing to be a thing that the common man could not do.  By and large, panelists said that if you did not know how to do something, give it a try and learn from your mistakes.  If you don't feel confident in your writing, keep writing until you do.  It was surprising to me to never hear someone make a comment placing talent above practice.

Something that delighted me in the early parts of my internship was how relaxed and informal my work was.  My Supervisor is an independent writer who works at home often whilst taking care of her two children.  Her work space is chaotic and she expected no formality on my part when our usual workspace is a kitchen table partially crowded by the kids' toys.  My work times are flexible, and there is no dress code.  Getting to be in her usual workplace has let me get a glimpse into her regular life.  Her work is balancing writing at a professional speed with making chicken nuggets for her kids.  It is not a glamorous or an easy life that she leads, and I admire her ability to be productive in such circumstances.  

Something else that delighted me was my Supervisor's willingness to help me with my own pursuit becoming a writer.  She has been helping me prepare my own career, partially because I can help her better when I have a presence and a following of my own.  She has also been helping me because she wanted to, and it has been great to have her as a mentor.  My education is a priority for her and that has been delightful.