To Be A Great Writer

I've been told to be a great writer I have to be a great reader. That I have to read what other people wrote and to write like them. Okay, why?
I don't want to write like someone else, I want to write like me. I don't want to rewrite the great American novel, I want to write my own. plainly, I am me so why not write like me?
I have met writers that want to read your work but will not share their's, giving every excuse they can think of to not show you their work. Why? Cause writers are thieves. We hear a good idea and our mind begins to run. How can I improve this and make it better? How can I ride on the coattails of others?
But isn't the point of writing to get your work READ? Take measures to protect your ideas and then write them. People are going to steal no matter what you do, I know, I had a story stolen from me once. I got upset at first because they were profiting from my story and I was not getting my cut but then I thought about Karma. I had protected my story so there was no worries there. my name was on it so I still got credit.
A light went off in my head and I decided not to worry about theft anymore. Hey, if someone wants to take my idea and run that just means it's a great idea. Only I can keep my same idea going on my same track so what does it matter, when people read it they will know who wrote it.
I have been asked why I post so much of my work online for all the world to see? Well there is the point, I WANT the whole world to read it. If you read me you will like me. If you like me you will hunger for my work. If you hunger for my work you will seek it out and that is the point.
I want to be a writer that my readers can relate to. I want you to feel like I am one of you because I am. I do not want anyone to think I am too good for them because I'm not. I have joined a few fan clubs in my youth and I actually PAID to join just to get some picture signed by someone else sent to me and they never knew who I was. Common on, number one rule, without fans you would not be were you are. Treat people with respect and it will come back to you.
I understand that some people have gotten so popular that this becomes impossible to give that personal touch but that does not mean they have to hide from the world, at least I don't think but I'm not in their shoes.
So what makes a great writer? Who cares, just write.

Max M. Power

Writen February 15, 2009