Writing

The Life Of A Writer

WRITER

I am a writer.  Those four words came from Jeff Goins, author of You Are A Writer (So Start Acting Like One).  No sooner did I write these simple words in my writing notebook did I receive an email from the editor at PhotographyTricks.com.  It was at that moment that I was offered a paid position as a contributing writer, and the very first time I have been offered a writing job instead of randomly sending out query letters to people I seldom get any response from; a simple acceptance or rejection letter would suffice, but please don’t keep me hanging in the wings for all of eternity.

As a writer, one must write.  Write all day, write all night, and fill-in the spaces between days and nights with more writing.  Perhaps my greatest obstacle is distraction; there are just so many other things in my daily life which require my attention, and none of them have anything at all to do with writing.

Roald Dahl once said, “The life of a writer is absolute hell compared to the life of a businessman.  The writer has to force himself to work.  He has to make his own hours and if he doesn’t go to his desk at all there is nobody to scold him…  A person is a fool to become a writer.  His only compensation is absolute freedom.  He has no master except his own soul, and that, I am sure, is why he does it.”

A true writer writes for a multitude of reasons, none of which include financial compensation.  Anyone who writes simply for profit, status, or financial gain is writing for the wrong reasons.  I write as an expressive form of art, and in some ways, I sometimes suffer for my art; it simply wouldn’t be art if it was any other way.  Put simply, it is the life of a writer.

13 Comments

  • Rizzee Cerdeñola

    I admire those writers for sharing what they feel and think because it is not and easy job to do it. It is mentally exhausting compared to those physical works. Respect to all writers in the world.

  • brainedet

    True that a good writer writes for many reasons and it shouldn’t just be for profit or status but an expressive art that is written with passion.

  • Maury Cheskes

    It’s true, the life of the writer can be a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it can be very therapeutic expressing your feelings in a creative format, but on the other hand it can be exhausting finding sustainable work. For me, I like to pursue creative projects while doing other kinds of work. I find, I get more sources for material being up and about instead of sitting all day at home hoping my writing career will take off.

  • Rae

    Despite being a writer for a hobby, I somehow feel you with this post. I enjoy writing but the stress and competition is too much for me sometimes. Being a writer requires amazing motivation and dedication as well as patience.

  • jolly555

    I have been writing since childhood. My dad was a good writer and I saw him as my mentor. Definitely a good writer must be expressive and very open.

  • thewanderrunner

    Im always fascinated how a writers mind works.I always admire the stories that they make!And please dont belittle yourself and always be proud of what you do!

  • esgyll

    This is something that truly, literally stabbed me right through the heart. I have always thought of how odd I was, even my way of thinking of writing every day, filling in my notebooks, always looking into researching about far off places and things, is something that no sane person would accomplish. I now understand that I am probably, now quite possibly, living the life of a writer. Maybe. Thank you for such a beautiful, touching, and very inspiring post. I am not crazy after all lol!

  • Grace K

    I’m an upcoming writer. Its seems like a challanging task from your story, but one thing i like the most is that i am my own boss.

  • Alejalotus

    I have no words to express how accurate this article is. Once I heard someone dear to me say ” I have invested more than 10k hours in polishing my skills, If I was someone else, a doctor, a business man, I would be the best in my field, but since its art what we are talking about these 10k only served me to be somewhat good, this is a very difficult path”, he was a painter. Not very different for a writer or any other kind of artist.

    • Thomas

      Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Alejalotus! The often referenced 10,000 hour rule has become the benchmark for anyone who is to potentially master anything. I have been taking photographs and writing since the age of eight, so I have literally spent almost my entire life pursuing my dream of being a successful photographer and writer. I have recently been referenced as a ‘master photographer’ by the media, though I don’t know how I feel or should feel in regards to such an achievement, as I have had no formal training in photography.

  • Danielle M

    I like what motivates you to writte, writting is not eassy at all I tried it once but I never got to finish the story.

  • Glad

    Writers are such wonderful people, because the fact that they have to put words together to make sense is amazing. THumberside up to all writers

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