Poll: Writer or Reader?

[Gavin Luper]

Hmm, I like the idea of being a snowcone... except that I'd melt in any temperature above freezing. Plus, I'd rather be cherry than rainbow.

XD

Writer it is, then, for roughly the same reasons that Gavin mentioned. (I call dibs on the audiobook loophole!)

Shit, I didn't even think of that. Sigh. Just pretend it doesn't exist, yes? ^_^

Interesting to see that of the three of us so far, it's three choices of 'writer'. I'm curious that you guys both wrote about music, too - do either of you write music or lyrics or play an instrument?

Personally, I have an acoustic guitar and a harmonica, and I am so frustrated at the fact that I don't have the patience to learn either of them yet, even though I really want to. I would love to be able to play the guitar really well - I'm not talking Eric Clapton (although that would be a dream ...) but, you know, well enough to play in a rock band. I'd seriously like to take some lessons but I can't really justify spending money on it.

[mr_pikachu]

I'm curious that you guys both wrote about music, too - do either of you write music or lyrics or play an instrument?

Well, I used to play the piano about 15 years ago (good God, I sound old), but I always had a keen ability to play "by ear," as the saying goes. In more recent years I've tinkered with writing a few short tunes. Nothing serious, but it's something I occasionally do in my spare time when I'm particularly inspired by a jingle in my head. (I personally use a free program called Anvil for composing purposes, if you can call what I do composing. It's hardly the most sophisticated piece of composition software, but it's also free, so who am I to complain?)

Also, readers are absolutely essential, I agree. What impact can a writer have on the world without someone to read his or her words? We can just say I'm selfish for picking "Writer."

[mattbcl]

I'm curious that you guys both wrote about music, too - do either of you write music or lyrics or play an instrument?

I've dabbled in trying to write something meaningful, music-wise, but never anything really serious. I worry that the moment I start viewing it as anything other than a hobby that I can lay to the wayside whenever I please, it'll become less fun. That tends to happen with my writing in general - I don't want the feeling of being obliged to do it. I just want to do it.

I own a B-flat clarinet and a B-flat bass clarinet, but I don't touch either one most of the time. I'm also fluent in saxophones; I'm a single-reed nut. No strings experience, though, and keep me far away from the brass. But if you sit me down at a basic drum kit, I can pound out a few good beats. I can also tap out basic tunes on a piano.

I think my family regrets that I haven't kept up with my musical skills on my woodwinds. I know my mom, in particular, was disappointed. Long before I joined any school band, she suspected I had "perfect pitch" - the ability to discern and memorize which key a tune was played in - and wanted to see me apply the talent. It wasn't an extracurricular I was interested in pursuing, but as with so many other things when you're a kid, my mom made me do it anyway. Now I kind of miss it. Lately, one of my roleplaying buddies has expressed an interest in seeing me get an acoustic drum kit so that he can put together a garage band. I must say, it'd be a new application of my creativity - though my other friends tell me I'd be far too boring and level-headed to be a legitimate rocker.