Welcome Chris Redding

Artistes Vs Professionals

That’s probably not the right spelling, but you get what I am getting at. My oldest son is an aspiring filmmaker. We talk sometimes about craft and he is eager to learn how to write better scripts. I commend him for this. You have to learn the craft and then you have to learn the business.

One of the things I talk to him about is artistes vs those who really want to make a living doing something.

Artistes wait for the muse to strike. Professionals sit their butt down and write. Even if they only write a sentence or two today. They do it on a regular basis. They make time to do it on a regular basis.

Artistes think everything they do is gold. Professionals realize that revisions and edits are part of the process. Me, I love a good revision letter. It is a chance to take what may be a steaming pile and make it gold. Yes, editing can be like alchemy.

Artistes think that everyone should love their work and if someone doesn’t, well they just don’t understand. If you have to explain your work, then you haven’t made your point clearly. Revise it so we can all get what you are saying.

A professional will do research to get facts correct. An artiste will rely on poetic license.

It is perfectly okay to be an artiste. Just recognize that you are one. Me, I want to be a professional.

Thanks for having me today Ginger.

Chris Redding lives in New Jersey with her one husband, two kids, one dog and three rabbits. She graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism with an English minor. When she isn’t writing, she works part time for her local hospital. Her latest book, A View to a Kilt will be out electronically July1 and print August 1, 2011.

To find her on the web:

http://www.chrisreddingauthor.com/

http://chrisredddingauthor.blogspot.com/

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www.twitter.com/chrisredding