B&A - Writers: If you're a writer that depends on something, does that make you weak?

So if I'm a marathon runner and I have this brand of shoes that I know works well for me, and have tried other shoes but seriously, these shoes are just RIGHT.... then I'm not necessarily DEPENDENT on those shoes, but if it's one less thing to worry about as I'm training for the marathon, then WOO! If I have to start worrying about it again because they discontinue the shoe, then yeah, there might be some issues with getting back into a groove that I'm comfortable with.

That's how I feel about certain quirks with writing. Writing (and running) are very mental, even though it comes down to just buckling down and DOING IT in order to achieve your goals. Finding something that helps you get the job done shouldn't be seen as a crutch or some kind of dependency. For me, I discovered that I love writing in public. Going to the cafe or to my favorite bar, popping open my laptop and plugging away.... I'm so much more productive than when I'm at home.

Does it make it harder to work at home? A little, but only because I know how much more productive I am when I'm out at a cafe or at the library.

BQ - I get stressed easily, yeah. Stress is contagious somehow, so even if I just hear stress in someone else's voice, I pick up on it and start fretting myself.

BQ2 - Right now the 3rd draft is 78,000 words but I have to edit it down to under 50,000, because the genre is Middle Grade. I've been getting feedback from agents that say the story's good, but the length is what's hurting my chances the most.

An interesting question. I would say that it can depend on the person. It is a mental thing, and some people can make themselves truly believe that they need that certain thing when they really don't. It can make you "weak" if you think that without a doubt that if you didn't have that certain thing, then you couldn't write. Others may just prefer to have it, but they can write just as well without it.

BQ - I don't think I get stressed easily unless it's maybe late at night, and I keep trying to make something right. For writing, I don't get stressed to often. If I feel that I can't write, then I don't. Not the best habit for my writing. ;P

BQ2 - Well, I completely started over with my story recently because I had to take a huge chunk out ( so I had to change the beginning, and blah blah blah). On my "new" first draft, the word count is 2,968. Oh, now after looking at my "old" first draft, I realize that I recently surpassed the old word count. I also have a lot of writing o paper that I haven't typed yet.

I only find a personal characteristic weak/deficient if it inhibits any regular abilities/activities/beliefs/thoughts, etc. So in this regard, yes. If a writer's dependency inhibited their ability to write then that is a psychological weakness.

Does it lessen their talent? No. A talent is an innate ability that you're born with. You aren't born with dependency issues. That's a learned behavior. You cannot lose an innate aptitude for something (unless you had severe brain damage). So it's safe to say that a talent always remains there. It would just lay dormant if it wasn't applied, the same way a closet-painter fears criticism on his paintings so never paints anymore (or tells anyone he *can* paint)...but he still has the technical ability to paint.

If a person was inhibited by their dependency, then they should seek help to address the issue at its source. You have to "unlearn" the behavior/dependency. Would it cause a mental block? The result of the dependency varies per writer.

Do I have this issue? Yes. All humans do.

Example: sight/vision is required to write. Other than blind individuals who learned to overcome this (and barring the use of voice-activated software), inability to see would inhibit a person's ability to write coherently/legibly.

I usually need to have silence in order to write. I have a very prickly nature when I'm working by a deadline. My tolerance for distracting sounds almost absolves completely. This stems mainly from a lifestyle filled with overwhelming stress. People's tolerance levels gradually corrode after so much assault on their senses. (The fact that children are also highly selfish/dependent people who disregard their parents basic human needs also wears on me). So without my silence, I can't write seriously and therefore, can't accomplish anything productive. I write at night or find other ways to get around this when I have to.

BQ: Easily? No. I'm good at multitasking and I'm used to a lot of stress. But my lifestyle being such that it is, I won't be surprised if I develop high blood pressure eventually. haha.

BQ2: I haven't transferred it from paper to computer yet. So I don't know.

I think it depends on how much you *think* you need it. If you (generally speaking) get melodramatic about something and have yourself convinced there is no way you can write without [insert item here] then yes, I do think it makes a person weak. You're using that item as an excuse to not write. Sometimes drinking coffee does perk me up and help my writing but I generally won't say I *need* coffee to write (unless of course I am having a bad day and feel like total s**t).

BQ: Sometimes. I'm a bit of neurotic worrywart so I panic over little things and get stressed too easily at times. Exercise and eating well helps with that.

BQ 2: Umm, I think one blog post is 150 words, another is around 230, and other miscellaneous drafts range from 200 - 400 words. I need to finish them and post.