What do you like about writing?
We writers struggle from time to time. We describe the writing life as a roller coaster, full of ups and downs.
But in the end, we do it because when it’s all said and done, writing benefits our lives in one way or another.
Below, 10 writers share their thoughts on what they’re grateful for, how writing benefits their lives, or simply what they like about writing. How about you?
Grateful for my writing tribe…
And to anyone who wants to become a writer, my advice: Believe in yourself despite the negativity and the rejection.
Believe you have something great to share and share it with the world. Surround yourself with people you trust to not only tell you the things you want to hear, but more importantly, to tell you the honest, hard truth and hold you accountable.
I know I wouldn’t be here today without my writing tribe and I’m grateful for them every day.
~Cari Lynn Webb, romance writer
Writing has given me my sense of me…
Writing is simply my routine and my therapy. It is the battleground I chose on which to fight my demons. I regularly take up my position, facing the enemy, armed only with a cheap pen and a journal open to the next blank page. For me, it is enough.
I’m getting the better of these unseen foes and making ground every time we do battle. Writing has given me that opportunity, that sense of release. It’s given me, more importantly, my sense of me, of being me, and of living how I want to live. For that, I’m so grateful.
~Carl Towns, aspiring writer
Cherish your critics…
I have learned that I rely too heavily on my voice to carry a story.
My editor wasn’t necessarily a fan of my voice, which can be a little jilted, sarcastic, and subtle. I believe in negative space when it comes to a sentence, encouraging a reader to study the shadows of information given in hopes of discovering a little more meaning, and she seems quite the opposite.
At first I felt like this was going to be a huge problem, and then I realized it was an opportunity for me to develop my storytelling ability. I can’t change my voice, and I’m not sure I would ever want to, but I can do everything in my power to make Tanzy’s story and character so compelling that even if my editor doesn’t love the way I turn a phrase, she will still be compelled to turn the page.
If I could do that, I could reach readers two ways, and that would make for a very strong book.
This process has taught me to be grateful for supporters and fans, but to cherish your critics. They’ll make you better.
~Jadie Jones, YA writer
I’m fortunate to be surrounded by fabulous people…
All writers experience rejection and setbacks. Figure out strategies for not letting these experiences undermine your confidence (whether it’s being rejected by agents, getting bad reviews, or whatever).
Make sure that you have supportive people around you. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by a fabulous group of people who inspire me to keep going, especially when things are hard.
~Chris Patchell, thriller writer
I appreciate the sunshine…
I’ve come to accept that I won’t always feel terrific, that I’m not always as productive as I’d like to be, and the long, dark winters take their toll. Instead of fighting the ups and downs, I’ve tried to embrace and honor them.
And instead of feeling bad about feeling bad, which only makes the feeling last longer, I let it drift through. I recognize it but don’t dwell on it (thank you yoga practice!). Hot chocolate and a workspace by the fire make those long days of winter more tolerable. Candles lit all over the house when it’s gray and rainy feel cozy.
When I’m able to open the windows, I appreciate and celebrate the burst of energy and creativity that comes with the sunshine.
~Tabitha Lord, science fiction writer
Writing helps me forget my problems…
The great thing about writing is that you create a make-believe world, a place where you can forget your problems and relax.
My husband had leukemia and endured two years of chemotherapy before he passed away. I used to drive him to a clinic every few days where they pumped him full of drugs. Watching him suffer without being able to do anything about it was truly terrible—as so many of you must know.
When we arrived home, I made him comfortable in bed or in front of TV and escaped into the wonderful therapeutic world of my book. Wrapped up in the plot, I relaxed for the first time in hours.
~Ilene Birkwood, mystery & non-fiction writer
As a writer, I can escape…
I don’t have a single place to write. I have a couple of favorite creative nooks within my home. If I am really inspired and go over my thousand word goal, I switch spots. It keeps me from getting all stiff and sometimes changes the direction I was going with my words for the better.
I find I write just as well when fulfilling my word count goal as when, upon rare occasion, I feel particularly inspired. The story and the characters usually suck me into their world one way or another. We all love the escape of a good book. As a writer, I can escape to a fantastic world that I control.
~Melissa Rae, women’s fiction writer
Writing is a therapeutic tool…
Working in prison was a bit of a two-edged sword in preparing to become a writer. You learn to develop a thick skin from insults and death threats, so a rejection doesn’t have that same sting. The problem is you still “feel” it.
I do what most guys do, you stuff that emotion down so far that it will only come up on the third full moon during a leap year. That’s not healthy.
Writing has proven to be a therapeutic tool. My resting heat rate is back down without medication. What better way to work out your stored-up anxiety then blowing up something on the page.
James L’Etoile, suspense writer
Writing helps me meet fantastic people…
In the end, it’s my love of writing itself that keeps me going. Unless you’re a hugely successful author you won’t make a lot of money so you have to love what you’re doing.
I love the way words and stories connect people. One of the best things about being a writer is meeting fantastic people—both writers and readers. I also teach writing and seeing the way new writers blossom is truly inspirational.
~Pamela Cook, romance writer
If it’s what you love, it’s worth it…
I’ve been fortunate in that my spouse, Joanna, can do cover layouts and formats for me, since that is her profession. If my teenager turned around tomorrow and told me she wants to be a writer, I would tell her to be prepared for the slow build.
When you first start, almost no one even notices if you’ve published a book. Two books in, it’s the same. Around the 4th book, you start to build a little momentum.
It’s work, but if it’s what you love, it’s completely worth it, every moment.
~Caroline Slee, fiction writer and poet
What do you like about writing?