The Creative Type
This post is part of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group blog hop. The first Wednesday of every month is Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. The awesome co-hosts for the November 2 posting of the IWSG will be Joylene Nowell Butler, Jen Chandler, Mary Aalgaard, Lisa Buie Collard, Tamara Narayan, Tyrean Martinson, and Christine Rains!
November 2nd Question: What is your favorite aspect of being a writer?
This is a kind of difficult question to answer. I mean, there’s so many great things about being a writer it’s hard to pick just one thing. From the millions of dollars my books makes me, to the yachts and mansions, the shopping sprees in Paris, always being invited on TV talk shows, the hunky male models feeding me chocolate…
Oh wait, let me come back from dreamland now!
Really, I don’t write for money, and if you start out writing to become rich, boy, are you in for a disappointment. The goal of being a writer, of course, should be the writing itself. That’s where the joy is. You may or may not make money writing. If you do, that’s great! If you don’t, writing is still a pretty awesome thing to do. Most writers will tell you that they don’t really have a choice about writing–it’s something we’re called to, and if we don’t do it, it will eat at us and wake us up in the middle of the night until we pay attention to the urge.
I’ve always been a writer. I’ve always known it was what I wanted to do with my life. It took me a lot of years to get it right, and I’m sure there’s still more I need to learn. But that’s the great part about it, is that I’ll never stop improving my craft and understanding it better. The journey doesn’t end with one book, or a hundred. It goes on and on. Writing is forever!
So–my favorite aspect of being a writer? It’s the writing itself. It’s the knowledge that I was called to this and that it’s my life’s purpose. Nothing feels better than writing and being involved in the act of creation. I wouldn’t trade it for all the chocolate-feeding male models in the world (okay, I might give up a couple books for Luke Pasqualino…). Writing is awesome!
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Writing is, indeed, awesome. Great answer to the question. Keep putting words on the page!
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I certainly will! Thank you!
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Writing IS awesome. Great post and attitude!
Mary at Play off the Page
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Thank you!
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Millions of dollars, mansions, yachts? Yes! Would love to write those kinds of books. Until then, I’ll write what I love. I’m enjoying myself.
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Wouldn’t we all? Writing what you love is even better, though. 🙂
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That’s right! If we make any money, it’s all bonus.
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Indeed! Thanks for stopping by!
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Makes me wonder what my dreamland would be. Maybe hanging out in Banff, taking long walks after a good morning’s work at the laptop. Of course, it would have to be August for this to work well.
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That sounds lovely! I guess we all have our own version of paradise.
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Lol. I love your dreamland! Mansions, chocolate, trips to Paris, hunky men… I’ll take it! 🙂
It is funny how people think that just because you write a book that you should be on the NYT Bestsellers list and make millions of dollars. Most writers barely hit 10K a year! People just don’t realize that.
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When someone makes that assumption, I draw a comparison for them: U2 and the guys who play at the bar on the weekends are technically both in the ‘music business’ but they don’t make the same money. Some of us are still the garage band of authors!
Thanks for stopping by!
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Mmmm, chocolate. I love the act of writing, the exhilaration when I get words on paper, and the acceptances when they come!
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Yes, yes, and yes! It’s all a wonderful feeling, isn’t it?
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Yep me too, love the writing itself. That said, you had me hooked with your first paragraph!! Haha!
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LOL if only it was true! Thanks for stopping by!
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Awwww…I love your thoughts. Yes, lifelong for sure and No matter what’s going on in your life you can always feel characters, questions, and possibility tugging in the back of your mind.
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Absolutely! When you’re a writer, you’re always a writer. Thanks for stopping by!
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I love what writing does for me. I’m totally selfish. It lets me make sense of so many things that might otherwise overwhelm me. Of course I like sharing stories with others, but whether or not they like them, get them, or care much at all is secondary.
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That’s a great response. I feel that–sometimes writing is the only thing that makes life bearable. Not that my life is horrible, but when things are really getting me down, it can pick me up and take me away.
Thanks for stopping by!
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Great post, Megan and I can relate on so many levels. I love Stephanie’s response – so I’ve got another 15 years to go – bit late for me that, I’ll need a pension before then 🙂
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With luck, maybe it’ll come quicker! Gotta keep our fingers crossed!
Thanks for stopping by!
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You are so right. Writing is awesome. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
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It’s the best!
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Thank you for this. I don’t know why, but reading your writing about writing being your purpose just resonated, and I thought, “yes, that’s it.” 🙂
Happy writing in November!
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I’m very glad! Thank you for stopping by!
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It took me about 20 years, but now I make a living writing. I wouldn’t call myself rich by any means…and most of my money comes from freelance work, but it pays the bills!
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That’s great! I only have…18 more years to go. 😀
Thanks for stopping by!
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Such a wonderful answer! I love it when people say, “Oh it must be nice to get paid to make up stories. How hard can that be.” I always tell them if they really want to know, go home, write me a 50,000 word manuscript by Monday, edit it until it’s as perfect as they can get it and THEN start submitting it out to publishers and agents. They never take me up on that. Hmmm…
Happy November,
Jen
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Ha, exactly! The same for anyone who thinks that writing is easy or that ‘anyone can do it.’ It’s funny how if anyone can do it, they’re not trying.
Thanks for stopping by!
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I can so relate. In fact, I’m relating all over the place. Thanks for visiting my blog, Megan.
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Ha ha, I’m glad! Thank you!
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Not rich for sure, but I’m highly inspired by the motivated indie authors who are learning to make a living off their writing. I think you can do both–write for love, and be strategic. I’m only starting out 🙂
Here’s my IWSG post for November: YA Author Stephanie Scott
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I agree! I’m trying to learn all I can about things like this and trying to replicate the success for myself. It’s not easy!
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I so agree. Someone recently asked me if I could live off my book sales. After I got done laughing, I told her no most writers I know can’t do that. We do it because we can’t not right. It is who we are.
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Yes, it’s so funny how so many people think I’m rich and famous because I have books published. Ha! Well, it’s nice they think that. 😉
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Fantastic answer! I’ve always been a writer too, and I’d keep writing even if no one read my stories. Mmmm… chocolate…
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Definitely! I do it for the love of the writing. Thanks for stopping by!
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Hunky males feeding me bonbons – sign me up 🙂 There definitely are voices in my head with stories that just have to be told. That’s what I love about writing, getting all of those thoughts out on paper.
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Sigh, I wish! I love that part of it too–it’s like making your dreams a reality!
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