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Old 11-27-2012, 02:27 PM   #1
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Are you better or worse for writing?
Does the act of writing make you a more disciplined person in other areas of your life?

Has it changed your opinion of yourself?

Just curious.
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Old 11-27-2012, 02:58 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by butterfly View Post
Does the act of writing make you a more disciplined person in other areas of your life?
Yeah, I guess. (It's really hard to tell with me, because my early years of writing were in my adolescence, so there was changes I cannot view)

I can say I'm far more patient than most people, as long as their progress. I don't like standing in lines, but if it moves every ten minutes, I'll wait for several hours to get my turn.

Most of my "discipline" came from working and learning how to fix cars. Trial and error for years before I started writing. So I'm used to screwing up and reworking everything.

One example, would be that I barely passed all my classes in high school, 'cause I was bored and taking honors classes.
In senior year, I decided to straighten my shit up, and passed with a 5.0GPA(weighted). I kept telling myself: Trudge on, take it step by step.
And that's how I deal with writing. Step by step. As long as I have progress, I can keep moving.

Quote:
Has it changed your opinion of yourself?
Like I said earlier, I really can't tell for certain if my views have changes.

I think my writing has changed my views of life, of myself and others, so the opinion of myself has changed.
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Old 11-27-2012, 03:19 PM   #3
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Does the act of writing make you a more disciplined person in other areas of your life?


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Has it changed your opinion of yourself?
I've been inventing stories and writing since childhood, so the act of writing is a normal part of me. When I stop writing, that's when I begin to think something's changed with me.

Writing isn't therapy for me. Those are two separate things in my head, and apparently I can't get enough of either. =(
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Old 11-27-2012, 03:21 PM   #4
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I started writing as therapy to get daydreams out of my head. I could stop fantacizing all those "I shoulda said...!" moments by having characters act them out. I can focus on other things now that I've processed them. Also, as a result of what I've learned from writing, I can more enjoy books and movies when they are told well (although I am less tolerant of poorly told books and movies!).

The evenings here get pretty dull, so writing has really helped me stay occupied. As far as my feelings about myself, it's allowed me to see that I do have an artistic outlet that other people can enjoy. I have never been good at sports, and I fail completely at anything musical. I enjoy doing things other people enjoy, and writing lets me do that.
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Old 11-27-2012, 03:51 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by butterfly View Post
Does the act of writing make you a more disciplined person in other areas of your life?

Has it changed your opinion of yourself?

Just curious.
Not really. I don't think I'm more disciplined in any way. In fact, my room looks terrible right now and I'm still procrastinating if I should kick the clothes to a corner, or just hide them under the table.

My opinion still remains the same. I'm still a lazy, undisciplined baboon.

Oh well.
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Old 11-27-2012, 04:11 PM   #6
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It's made me a little less disciplined in some areas - I no longer worry as much about housekeeping, etc. Of course, that may be a product of no longer having youngsters in the house.

I have become more self-confident. I call bullshit far more often than I used to, which I think comes from having characters who believe in things I don't. That's made me look at things from a more objective POV overall.
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Old 11-27-2012, 04:11 PM   #7
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More disciplined? No.

It has changed me, though. It as really brought me in tight to the realization that words have power and meaning. That applies through my whole life, not just my writing. It's also teaching (still a work on progress!) critical reading, thinking and expression skills. Stuff that I never really groked when I was a younger woman.
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Old 11-27-2012, 04:25 PM   #8
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Old 11-27-2012, 05:13 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by butterfly View Post
Does the act of writing make you a more disciplined person in other areas of your life?

Has it changed your opinion of yourself?

Just curious.
Why do I even want to answer this? No, I'm not more disciplined. Probably should be 'cause I ain't.

Right.

As for my opinion of myself, at this particular moment my opinion of myself is less than stellar. Subject to change, dependant on variables which are out of my control. Ask me again, some other time, I may have a different answer.

Maybe.
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Old 11-27-2012, 05:14 PM   #10
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I'll go with Kelly in saying writing is not therapy or therapeutic in any way for me. It's an intellectual challenge and a creative outlet, but it is not the flag bearer of my personal self-worth or happiness. It runs a parallel with the intellectual challenges and creative outlet of my day job, which holds a larger stake in who and what I am. And writing hasn't impacted my self-discipline, although the self-discipline I developed in other areas of my life have served me well in my writing. Like all intellectual/creative challenges, there is tremendous satisfaction in formal and informal achievements, and this is one area where feedback comes quickly and pointedly in each and every story that is submitted/published.

Writing also allows continual opportunities for improvement and encourages experimentation and innovation. The financial rewards are not always in line with the efforts, but there are substantial emotional rewards and, of course, the confidence building that comes from gaining competence in an activity that requires structure (and thus background knowledge of the craft) at the same time it encourages innovative ways to break free from that structure. I guess the way it has impacted me the most is in the ongoing intellectual and creative challenge--to improve, to try new things, to be innovative, and above all, to do these things in ways that continue to entertain readers.
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Old 11-27-2012, 05:36 PM   #11
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I was definitely much more disciplined in my day job than I ever have been with writing. With nobody but myself to answer to, it seems I'm hopeless. I suppose my writing does change my opinion of myself; when I'm unable to write, my opinion gets even lower.....
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Old 11-27-2012, 05:41 PM   #12
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I read books with a more critical eye.

I listen more intently to others' conversations.

Other than that, I'm the same ol' stormie.
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Old 11-27-2012, 06:21 PM   #13
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Yes.

I'm far better at writing papers and presentations than I was before I started writing for a few reasons:

1. I'm used to getting thoughts out of my head

2. I'm used to revising and taking criticism constructively (vs. being all "OMG! How can you not love my work!!!!!")

3. I think in terms of story structure - who is my audience, what can I assume they know, how can I present this in ways that will keep them engaged?

In addition, writing forces me to accept a lot of criticism and rejection. These are good skills to have, just in general.

So yes. I think that writing has made me a better person. (And employee.)
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Old 11-27-2012, 09:06 PM   #14
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Writing breaks me free from the circularity of everyday life and gives me a linear path, a progression.

Circles are nice in their way, but the line is infinite.
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Old 11-27-2012, 09:14 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by butterfly View Post
Does the act of writing make you a more disciplined person in other areas of your life?

Has it changed your opinion of yourself?

Just curious.
I'm not sure it has produced any net sum at this point. It has changed how I read and analyze writing, but I haven't gotten more disciplined, and I don't consider myself any more awesome or pathetic for it....it has just been one more "thing" I do...
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Old 11-27-2012, 09:16 PM   #16
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I don't consider myself any more awesome or pathetic for it....it has just been one more "thing" I do...
I for one am way more awesome since I started writing.
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Old 11-27-2012, 11:11 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by butterfly View Post
Does the act of writing make you a more disciplined person in other areas of your life?

Has it changed your opinion of yourself?

Just curious.
I'm far more consistently disciplined in other areas of my life. At times I can be a big fat procrastinator when I'm agonizing over parts of my story and then I have to force myself to write. Other times I've got everything under control and have no problem keeping to a schedule.

It hasn't changed my opinion of myself any, I'm just more honest about what's really going on in my head; who I am and what my motives are. Too, I'm more analytical and observant.
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Old 11-27-2012, 11:28 PM   #18
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I love writing and it makes me happy to do it. Or at least it makes me unhappy when I don't do it. And I've gradually become more disciplined, although I don't know if that's because of the writing.
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Old 11-28-2012, 01:32 AM   #19
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Quote:
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I'll go with Kelly in saying writing is not therapy or therapeutic in any way for me. It's an intellectual challenge and a creative outlet, but it is not the flag bearer of my personal self-worth or happiness. It runs a parallel with the intellectual challenges and creative outlet of my day job, which holds a larger stake in who and what I am. And writing hasn't impacted my self-discipline, although the self-discipline I developed in other areas of my life have served me well in my writing. Like all intellectual/creative challenges, there is tremendous satisfaction in formal and informal achievements, and this is one area where feedback comes quickly and pointedly in each and every story that is submitted/published.

Writing also allows continual opportunities for improvement and encourages experimentation and innovation. The financial rewards are not always in line with the efforts, but there are substantial emotional rewards and, of course, the confidence building that comes from gaining competence in an activity that requires structure (and thus background knowledge of the craft) at the same time it encourages innovative ways to break free from that structure. I guess the way it has impacted me the most is in the ongoing intellectual and creative challenge--to improve, to try new things, to be innovative, and above all, to do these things in ways that continue to entertain readers.
What Neuro said.

For me writing is all about the intellectual challenge. It's the challenge of putting together a cohesive story, and researching areas of Roman history I am unsure of. I did my first degree because I enjoyed writing and wanted to explore literature further. I'm starting my second because I began writing Roman historicals and realized the history was becoming more important to me.
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Old 11-28-2012, 01:48 AM   #20
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Old 11-28-2012, 02:18 AM   #21
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Does the act of writing make you a more disciplined person in other areas of your life?

Has it changed your opinion of yourself?

Just curious.
Not really, because I'm an pretty undisciplined writer. So I'm still working on that. (Now that I think about it, I don't know one area of my life that's disciplined. Not since college basketball and schoolwork ended, anyway.) But my writing hasn't really changed my opinion of myself, because I've never thought I = my work. Beyond making me realize I can come up with some really twisted stuff, I'm the same before writing as after.
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Old 11-28-2012, 02:29 AM   #22
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I've been writing since childhood, so how it has changed me doesn't apply.

As far as discipline goes... meh. I'm not the most disciplined person when I write but I do finish what I write, even if it sucketh mightily.
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Old 11-28-2012, 02:55 AM   #23
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More disciplined? Sadly, no. But I'm more reverent, irreverent, happy, sad, excited, bored, clearer, and more confused than ever.

It's better than reincarnation, because I get to have multiple, overlapping lives.
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Old 11-28-2012, 05:10 AM   #24
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I'm not more disciplined because of writing fiction. My discipline from school in general is the only reason I'm disciplined at all in fiction.

OTOH, I get even more disciplined in non-fiction when I get paid good money, I found Really! If I ever get paid well in fiction, maybe that'll have great effects, too
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Old 11-28-2012, 05:17 AM   #25
butterfly
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These responses are great and reveal truth and that's a good thing.

Quote:
Originally Posted by shadowwalker View Post
It's made me a little less disciplined in some areas - I no longer worry as much about housekeeping, etc. Of course, that may be a product of no longer having youngsters in the house.

I have become more self-confident. I call bullshit far more often than I used to, which I think comes from having characters who believe in things I don't. That's made me look at things from a more objective POV overall.

I get the not worrying about housekeeping and mine are over 20 and still at home. I just don't take it serious anymore. I don't take bs anymore either but it might be my age.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamesaritchie View Post
Why does everyone assume writing takes discipline? Writing takes no more self-discipline for me than playing a game I love, or sitting on the beach with a margarita and watching the surf roll in.

Sitting on the beach with a margarita would take serious discipline on my part. I'm neither a drinker nor a sitter.


Self-discipline is important in life, but should be reserved for doing things you don't want to do, but must do for one reason or another. Darned if I'd want to spend most of my time doing anything that required self-discipline. I write because I love writing. It's the way I want to spend that part of my day.

Things I have to do I do without thinking. They just have to be done. For me now those things are rhythmic and less of a chore.


So, no, writing has not made me any more disciplined in the rest of my life.

Changed my opinion of myself how? Writing isn't the Nobel Peace Prize, or risking your life saving a drowning child, or anything else special. It's just sitting down and making stuff up, and no more special than any other activity. Less special than many.

I disagree. It is special, very special. And completely different from saving a life IRL.

Quote:
Originally Posted by quickWit View Post
I for one am way more awesome since I started writing.

Excellent!

[QUOTE=ladylilchubb;7770002]Not really, because I'm an pretty undisciplined writer. So I'm still working on that. (Now that I think about it, I don't know one area of my life that's disciplined. Not since college basketball and schoolwork ended, anyway.) But my writing hasn't really changed my opinion of myself, because I've never thought I = my work. Beyond making me realize I can come up with some really twisted stuff, I'm the same before writing as after.

But don't you think we do, to a degree? Unless you have your own business or are madly in love with your job, your writing reflects you and if you write twisted stuff you must be learning about your feelings towards that.[/QUOTE]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Perks View Post
More disciplined? Sadly, no. But I'm more reverent, irreverent, happy, sad, excited, bored, clearer, and more confused than ever.

It's better than reincarnation, because I get to have multiple, overlapping lives.

Love this!
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Last edited by butterfly; 11-28-2012 at 05:26 AM. Reason: formatting, structure, being particular about appearance No idea what happened to ladylilchubb.
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