“When I sit down at my writing desk, time seems to vanish. I think it’s a wonderful way to spend one’s life” Erica Jong
Okay, I know there are times when you want to grab that monitor and hit yourself over the head with it. I know you’ve had assignments that you can’t wait until they’re done, clients that you can’t wait to fire, and days when being a dog-catcher seems preferable to sitting there trying to put nouns and verbs, adjectives and adverbs together in a way that will satisfy everyone: you, your editors and your readers. Been there, done that.
But for every frustrating moment you spend, there should be many more that are satisfying, stimulating and just plain fun. Writing is hard work but it should also be a source of pleasure. Otherwise, why are you doing it? For the money? For the prestige? For the ego boost? (Okay, you can stop laughing now…)
If your writing time seems filled with more pain than pleasure, you have two options: find another career or find a way to inject some joy into your writing life.
If you pick Door Number Two, maybe you need to join a writers group where you can get feedback and encouragement. Maybe you need to change up your schedule to integrate some “just for me” writing time. Maybe you need to bring other creative stimuli — music, artwork, whatever! — into your writing space.
Whatever you decide to do, find something that will remind you that the ability to write is a gift and like all gifts, should be a source of anticipation and happiness!
2 comments:
Or maybe it's time to write what you really enjoy writing and find a home for that kind of writing. I love inspirational writing and each time I pick up the pen or sit at the keyboard, the words pour. When a minister in the community asked if I could help him tell the story of him growing up in a cold mine, I knew that even though I'd earn $$$, it would be hard writing and I pointed him in the right direction. This is the year to write what we really want to write...which I find, will write itself. Happy writing!
You are so right. I try to consistently make time for writing fiction, doing it before I start my "work" writing, and find that, when I do, the satisfaction carries through the rest of the day!
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