Comments on: Writing Doesn’t Have To Be Your Job… unless it does

By: tansyrr

tansyrr — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:19:51 +0000

Jonathan – that’s exciting! I don’t think anyone can really know whether ‘writing full time’ is for them unless they get a chance to try it.

I tend to think that writing is one of those things that is either done compulsively or not at all. Compulsively is definitely the more productive of the two! But then I only get anything done if I force myself into an addictive relationship with it…

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:33:36 +0000

It’s always nice to get another perspective on the writing life and what it means to different people. I have had the good fortune to be writing full time for the past 8 months. I have time set aside at least 5 days a week. I love it. I love forcing myself to forge ahead on something even when I’m not at my best. I’m working towards publication, but in the process, I’m learning every day and that gives me hope. I know that when the time comes to become once again gainfully employed, I will continue to write both for enjoyment and for publication. That goal of publication to pushes me to write otherwise I might convince myself into thinking I’ll write when I have time. That never helped me get words on pages the way working towards publication has. The coolest part is that there are so many ways to enjoy the craft and bully for anyone who derives pleasure, no matter the goals.

By: tansyrr

tansyrr — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:52:54 +0000

Motvind, I honestly think that there are many people in the writing community who assume people like you don’t exist! That everyone who writes must be in it for the dream career, etc. i know I used to think that way

And I also think a lot of people who are good writers get so sucked into the vortex of how to build a career that they don’t stop and think about whether it’s something they actually want, let alone – gosh! – that maybe writing should be fun.

I guess a lot of people still romanticise the starving-angsty-miserable writer myth. Which is odd.

I always love to hear about people who really do write for themselves!

By: Motvind

Motvind — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:32:31 +0000

This is really interesting! I am one of those people who only ever write for fun. The idea of trying to get published or turning it into a job is so foreign to me I can’t even imagine it. A good deal of the fun for me is that it’s just a hobby with no demands aside from those I put on myself, and there’s also the fact that writing is *private*. Even posting fanfic publicly online feels very unnatural to me. The interactive aspect does win out in the end, but it’s something I’ve had to struggle with.

I really admire people who can write full-time (or even part-time) – I think I’d go crazy with that kind of life!

By: Kaia

Kaia — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:56:17 +0000

I love reading all these blogs about writing! It’s very fascinating. And yes, apparently RPG CAN lead to you getting all kinds of ideas about other kinds of writing…

I like to say that I am always a bit insane about writing, but in November it goes from just insane to INSANEPEOPLEOMG.