Writing's role in your life

cptwentworth · Mar 6, 2011

What role does writing play in your life? I'm interested in knowing how other writers view writing and what it means to them. Some of you might pen something every now and then, others a more steady, regular stream, and others might spend every waking moment thinking about writing and/or writing.

Where do you fall in the spectrum? How do you feel about writing? Is it a fun pastime or a burning need?

muravyets · Mar 6, 2011

I have no idea. Writing's role in my life is in flux at the moment, as are the roles of just about everything else in my life, too. I need Dramamine just to get through a day, with all this fluxing.

I think about writing constantly. Except when I'm thinking about something else, like art or politics or sex. And half the time, those things contribute to thinking about writing -- or they contribute to thinking about art. So I'd say writing and art, together, take up the majority of my waking thoughts -- and many of my dreams, too.

However, I don't do them as much as I think about them, normally. This is because things I think about less seem to avenge themselves by demanding more action -- especially that pestiferous little turd called Money. I don't like that. I wish those things would leave me the hell alone so I could write and make art and bind them into the same book.

Recently, I had a what you might call a breakthrough on the writing, and I'm doing it more now than I did previous. So I'm once again thinking about getting published and giving writing a bigger role in my life. However, Money is kicking up a piss again, and even Art is distracting me with a deadline.

spectrefox · Mar 6, 2011

Because of my college student status, I don't have as much free time as I would like to read and write. Over the summer, I am a voracious reader, though. Writing seems to come and go, much like my other moods. For instance, one month may be hardcore gaming, another learning about insects, etc.

This writing cycle came about because I am the lead story designer for my college's Game Development Club, as well as my new knowledge of a short story contest at the school. Without these, would I have begun to be interested in writing again? Eventually.

These things make me put writing into the 'hobby' area of my life. School, for the moment, is my only 'not a hobby' thing (and the programming that goes along with it).

MissMacchiato · Mar 6, 2011

lately it's consumed a good portion of my thoughts and time. I love writing. I love living the scenes as my characters do, feeling what they feel.

I enjoy the satisfaction of a finished MS, and of editing and polishing it to something to be proud of.

It hasn't always been that way, and it may not always be that way, but at the moment, it takes up at least as much time as the first, most romantic stages of a new relationship

Susan Coffin · Mar 6, 2011

I love to write, both fiction and non-fiction. I write almost every single day.

In my career as a paralegal, I write substantive legal documents every single day. I ghostwrite intensive time consuming reports on cases, which go to those who employ us. This I do five days a week.

As for creative writing- I write almost every single day after work. Sometimes I have long writing sessions, other times short ones. I love creative writing.

As for the bigger picture- writing is not who I am, it's simply something I love doing.

mccardey · Mar 6, 2011

It's a job, but I really like it

Ask me again when I'm through this draft and doing revisions....

COchick · Mar 6, 2011

I write every day. Hopefully, I can one day make a decent amount of money off it so I can do it as a regular job. I think about writing a lot, but I wouldn't say every single moment of my day. But, a lot.

amlptj · Mar 6, 2011

I'm in that last category. Probably about 95% of my day i'm thinking about my series.Its been that way for 8 years now. Where is writing in my life? I think its the only thing that gets me through the day.

Mr Flibble · Mar 7, 2011

My day job gets in the way of writing/thinking about my stories. Blast it.

That answer your question?

AlwaysJuly · Mar 7, 2011

I write before work and oftentimes after, though grad school gets priority after work. I spend a considerable part of my weekends if not writing than revising, formatting, subbing and researching. I'm conscientious with my day job, but writing is the one thing that makes me feel I could become a workaholic.

I've been a hobbyist before, but nowdays I feel like it's a big, big part of my life.

Phaeal · Mar 7, 2011

Reason for living would be an overstatement, since life has many enticements. But if I didn't write, I'd be denying my vocation, and that leads to the dark side.

Anne Lyle · Mar 7, 2011

Definitely at the burning need/second career end of the spectrum. I don't write every day, as I tend to work better in intensive bursts so that I have some variety in my routine, but I work on some aspect of my writing career every day, even if that's just maintaining my online presence.

Yeah, I can tweet and call it work

NeuroFizz · Mar 7, 2011

Burning need? Certainly not. It is a wonderful personal challenge, one that gives a significant sense of accomplishment. The evaluation of writing (for publication or even for one's own personal satisfaction) is such a subjective endeavor, it isn't good to make it an one-dimensional, exclusive life pursuit (for most people--this works for some). I find the pursuit of happiness in other areas can actually enrich the challenge (and joy) in writing. My personal feeling is that life itself provides a good portion of the raw data of writing. Living a full life is thus beneficial to writing--it doesn't have to get in the way unless one can't find the time to write. Then, there are hard decisions to be made.

cameron_chapman · Mar 7, 2011

I write full time for a living, so writing makes up a substantial part of my day, every day. But that's all non-fiction, related to web design, social media, etc.

My characters and stories are always at the back of my mind. I usually write fiction in fits and spurts, so I might go weeks without really writing much of anything (other than notes). Then I'll write a few hours a day for a few weeks to get a first draft done. I edit in the times between writing (and sometimes while writing).

I don't think I could not write. If I stopped for any length of time, I'd be pretty miserable. It's a huge part of my life and something I enjoy immensely, even when it's driving me crazy.

bearilou · Mar 7, 2011

Some things in my life have moved such that I am now in a better position to write than I was before and I could weep from the relief.

I can say for certain it's a fun pasttime. The burning need to get the stories in my head down on the page is starting to return now so it's moving back into passion, something that has been lacking for many many moons.

In the time I've not been writing, I've been reading, gathering my resources and research and recharging my mental and emotional batteries. So it's still been on my mind, even though the words have not come, the ideas are still there and I think about them all the time.

[pushes up sleeves and gets to work]

Purple Rose · Mar 7, 2011

Most days it's a burning need. Some days, I just think about it. I just love to write and I write every day. Some days it's maybe twenty words in a diary using a pencil. Other days I can type a few thousand words. If I get published some day, great. If not, that's ok.

The Grump · Mar 7, 2011

I view it as a part-time job -- where the creating is fun and the marketing a pain.

Jamesaritchie · Mar 7, 2011

Burning need? No, not even close. I'd seek professional help if that were the case.
Writing is how I earn my living, and it's something I enjoy doing. That's all there is to it.

kaitie · Mar 7, 2011

Not a burning need here, either. I enjoy it and I do it because it's fun, and I do tend to see it almost as a part-time job as well even though I haven't been published yet. I see it as something that has to be done, and I often sit down until I get at minimum the goal I set for the day. That being said, my world wouldn't end if I wasn't writing. I'm always playing with characters in my head. Not that that means I would want to stop, either.

I tend to think it's unhealthy to focus on one detail of life as being what brings happiness. I love to write and that definitely contributes to my happiness, but so do a lot of other things.

amrose · Mar 7, 2011

It takes up most of my free time and my drafts and ideas are always on my mind. Could also be a compulsion, but a compulsion I enjoy.

Kitty27 · Mar 7, 2011

Writing is happy time and all things lovely! I enjoy the creative process and being as loony as I want to be in my fictional worlds. I don't view it as a chore EXCEPT when it comes to those damned queries. I write every day. It's a compulsion that I have to obey.

But other things make me even happier. My kids,money,chocolate,Victorian fashion,etc. Writing is just a lovely cherry on top of a wonderful cake.

bettielee · Mar 7, 2011

Normally, it's about 2 hours of bliss and freedom about 5-6 days a week and keeps me from hoarding large amounts of weapons.

Right now, and this is a terrible thing to admit... it's a weight. I'm not doing any, I can't seem to break out of my rut of insomnia/zombie-ism and late night reading to do any and I feel so guilty.

/patheticalness

Kitty27 · Mar 7, 2011

bettielee said:
Normally, it's about 2 hours of bliss and freedom about 5-6 days a week and keeps me from hoarding large amounts of weapons.

Right now, and this is a terrible thing to admit... it's a weight. I'm not doing any, I can't seem to break out of my rut of insomnia/zombie-ism and late night reading to do any and I feel so guilty.

/patheticalness

I completely agree. My neighbors and relatives have NO idea how lucky they are that I write.

brainstorm77 · Mar 7, 2011

I just enjoy it. :Shrug:

Victoria · Mar 7, 2011

For me, writing is cathartic, theraputic, and a way to let my dark side safely into the world. Now, getting published is another animal. It's like the once unobtainable dream that suddenly seems within reach. Yeah, sharing my work and having people enjoy it is what would really make me happy. I want to entertain people, but if I can make a little extra cash doing it, all the better.

Writing's role in your life

Did you hear that?!?

Old revolutionary

Bring on the Sweet, Sweet Coffee

Tell it like it Is

in a holding pattern

Speling & grammer murderer, Sorrie!

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

slugging through

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

Fantastic historian

The grad students did it

Makes Things Up

DenturePunk writer

practical experience, FTW

Hates Marketing. Loves Writing.

With great power comes

is Envy Augustine

So Goth That I Was Born Black

I'm a sparkly fairy princess!

So Goth That I Was Born Black

practical experience, FTW

practical experience, FTW