Home > Work > Don't Live for Your Obituary: Advice, Commentary and Personal Observations on Writing, 2008-2017
1 " I don’t know Mr. Wilson to any degree—I am one of those who knew him best for creating the source material for Life Force, which was a terrible movie—but my wish for him was that he lived the sort of life where he didn’t actually care what his obits said, and instead enjoyed his life and left work that had the possibility of speaking for itself, over time. If you’re a creative (or indeed any other) person, let me suggest you don’t worry about your obits either. As well as you can, live the life you want to live and make the work you want to make. After you’re gone, it’ll all be sorted out or not. You won’t be around to worry about it. Focus on the parts you’re around for. "
― John Scalzi , Don't Live for Your Obituary: Advice, Commentary and Personal Observations on Writing, 2008-2017
2 " But my writing won’t ever reflect the diversity that literature in general should be capable of. You need writers whose lives are not like mine for that. "
3 " The thing creators have to remember is that to a very real extent they are fictional characters to their fans—and that what fans want (the product they like, they way they like it, served up by someone who they often see as being just like them, only more interesting/exciting/successful/etc) isn’t always going to conform to what they actually need in their lives. Additionally, fans will construct narratives to justify whatever behavior a creator dishes up…as long as the end result is more of what they want. Enabling! It’s a thing. "
4 " People will eat cheeseburgers, but very few people will eat crap. Don’t serve up crap. "