by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I once heard a writer say that it was a danger sign when you start calling your writing “work”. That writing should be fun and something we look forward to each day.
I get where the writer was coming from. And I think most writers do start with a true love of writing. The creative process can be fun. It’s often fun. But it’s definitely not always fun, at least for me, and I think for most of us.
But the thing that troubles me the most is that statement discounts the fact that writing, at least for those of us who are doing it either part-time or full-time, is also a business. And that business is work.
Most of my day is spent on the business of writing. That might be formatting translations, placing orders for covers, communicating with my editorial team, updating my website, running ads, or reading industry articles to make sure I’ve got the latest information on best practices for selling books.
If we don’t treat what we do as a job, if we don’t call it work, if we speak of it to others as a hobby or minimize it in some ways, we’re opening the door for others not to take it seriously.
My family and friends always ask me when they call if I’m in the middle of anything and if they should call me back. They respect my time and what I do because I respect it, myself.
That being said, I do try to remember to put the fun in writing. If days go by and I’m not having fun (feeling delight over a bit of dialogue, enjoying tweaking a draft), it’s a sign that I might be burning out. That’s when I make sure to take time to fill my writing well.
I’m curious to hear how writing feels to you most of the time? Work? Fun? A balance? How do you refer to your writing when you talk about it with non-writers?
Is Writing Work? Should It Be? Share on XImage by Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay
It is like a job but there's no reason work can't also be fun, right?
Jobs can be fun!
You raise such an important point here, Elizabeth! Yes, the act of writing – of creating characters and telling their stories – should be fun if you're going to be a writer. Or at least it should bring satisfaction, joy, whatever. But it's a discipline, too. It needs attention, respect, and regular effort, and that means work. And yes, yes, yes, it's important to teach others to respect it. That means modeling what 'respecting writing' means (teacher in me coming out!).
You put it so well! Yes, modeling respect for writing is important. It’s important for others to take it (and our time doing it) as seriously as possible.
I think writing is work when you are a serious author. It's good to make it fun too so you enjoy the job. I'm on the fence about every becoming an author. So I write when I can and just enjoy the process.
If you enjoy it, you’ll definitely do more of it!
I have to treat it like a job or I'm failing my authors.
As a publisher, that makes a lot of sense!
I think writing is both work and fun. I really enjoy every aspect of it, even the research. Most of my series are set in real places, so I have to make sure my facts are factual. I only have one series set in a fictional town and it is near Portland, Oregon, so I have to make sure if the accuracy of my details regarding Oregon law enforcement. I often email organizations if I can't find what I need online. I have had some interesting email conversations with people in trying to get the facts straight. That's definitely work, but it's also fun. One of the most fun books I have written (not in any of my series) was Mush!, which takes place during the Iditarod dogsled race in Alaska. I had the bulk of the first draft done before the race started, then I followed the race online (Iditarod has an excellent website and I actually viewed live both the ceremonial start in Anchorage and the official start the next day in Willow, as well as the awards banquet after it was all over live online. I constantly checked the weather conditions along the way and followed the leading mushers. That was fun. The work part was getting the murder solved. But that was fun, too, and I even got to throw in a little romance.
Writing is definitely not boring, is it? As you mentioned, there are a lot of different elements to it: from research to brainstorming to editing. A book set during the dogsled race sounds like a lot of fun. :) Isn’t it amazing how much research we can do remotely, now?
As a teacher, I always told my students they needed to find a job that brought them joy. Not every moment of every day because real life doesn't work that way, but if they were going to do a job for a few decades, they'd be happiest if they chose one that brought them frequent moments of joy.
That's how I felt about teaching and how I feel now about writing. It's a job and there are parts that are a challenge, but it brings me lots of joy as well.
Excellent advice from an excellent teacher!
Yes, there are some parts that are tedious for me (often some of the business). But there’s a wonderful balance because of the joy you mention.
I admire people who gracefully pair the creative work with the business of writing. In my opinion, these are the writers who "make" it. They have the talent, the gumption, and the focus it takes to tackle all the aspects of writing a successful book. I call myself a hobbyist because I don't feel comfortable putting myself in the pro column. I could work harder at the craft, but then fear stops me from taking it too seriously. I mean if I try really, really hard and fail would I have to call it quits and accept the flaw is a lack of talent?
You’re an excellent essayist! I wouldn’t feel pressure to do anything other than what you *want* to do with your writing career. I’ve been in your shoes before. You have talent…do you want to see if you can go to the next-level? It’s really up to you. There’s no problem with staying exactly where you are (a very competent writer) unless you want to go further.
Hi Elizabeth – I have recently seriously thought about doing more with my blog – but realised it would be more like work, and stress! Though so just left myself able to enjoy my blog, its content and all readers/commenters … much easier for my brain! I do admire all the help you give us all – cheers Hilary
That’s very true! Sometimes we just don’t need to add any extra stress to our lives. Your blog is perfect the way it is!