by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
As I get ready to start a new year, I always try to look back and find ways to avoid the things I struggled with last year. One of the things I noticed in 2023 was that I let myself get so exhausted, I forgot to rejoice in the things that make me love writing. So before I have a chance to get sidetracked, I'm making a list of the what I love best about being a writer!
15 Things that Make Me Love Writing
1. I get to use my own experiences—good and bad—to impact others. I’ve learned that we all share a lot of the same fears, hopes and struggles. Writing gives me a chance to share what I’ve been through and watch it impact others.
2. I hear voices in my head and it’s completely normal. Not only is it normal, but it’s downright scary when our imaginary friends stop talking to us
3. I can buy books and write it off. Books are some of my favorite things in the whole world. Now I need to buy them to further my career.
4. I can take revenge on those who irritate me. Of course I don’t make them recognizable, but it makes me feel better when I can expose their actions in my books and articles. After all, there’s a reason for that old saying, the pen is mightier than the sword.
5. I get to work in our pajamas. Or at least in comfy clothes. There’s something to be said for working at home where I don’t have to worry about how I look.
6. I get to be the boss. I’m a total control freak, so being in charge fits my personality perfectly. I’m in charge of me, my schedule (to a certain degree) and I get to tell my characters what to do.
7. I get to be friends with other writers – and some of them are famous. Some of my first heroes were authors. Now, I’m friends with other writers and get to hang out with the people I’ve always admired.
8. I get to research anything I want. I like to think of it as a healthy curiosity. I refuse to accept my husband’s description of me as nosey.
9. I get to hang out in coffee shops and libraries. I love the atmosphere of coffee shops and libraries. As a writer, I have a legitimate reason for hanging out there.
10. I get to buy pens and paper. Again, these are some of my favorite things. But since I earn my living as a writer, I have to have them for my business.
11. I get paid to make things up. No, not when I'm writing articles and things like that. But for those of us who write fiction, we get to create everything from our imagination.
12. I get fan mail. It’s not the fan mail exactly that’s the best. For me it’s hearing from someone I don’t know that has been touched by the words I wrote. I love getting to see glimpses of God working through me.
13. I get to be weird. Writers look at the world a little differently. I can embrace that because people expect it. No need to hide behind a mask of normalcy.
14. I get to daydream. All those hours of daydreaming are legitimate work time. Even if I'm working on nonfiction I still have to come up with new and different ways to present the information. That means time spent thinking and dreaming is a workday requirement.
15. I am courageous enough to follow my dreams. We talk a lot about the fears that come with being a writer. It’s important to never forget the courage it takes to following our dreams. That's something we should celebrate!
These are my 15 favorite things about being a writer. What’s your favorite thing? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie
TWEETABLE
Wow! Thanks, for this, Edie. So many of those fit for me, also. I thought of an additional one I love. Just before Christmas, I received my first shipment of my latest book of poems. I'd started it almost 4 years ago, just before the pandemic. I gifted one to an old [very old] friend for Christmas. Sure enough, here it came: "OMG! How did you ever find time to do this? [wait for it. . .] I've ALWAYS wanted to write a book." This most often comes from someone who is retired and who knows I'm a writer. I love being able to tell them to find a guild and refer them to a couple of blogs like yours - take that first step of the journey. And I take a little pleasure in asking, "If you don't write your book, who will?" Nothing like encountering a wannabe to remind me to rejoice in my own journey. Happy 2024, Edie.
ReplyDeleteJay Wright in Anderson
Awesome post, Edie! You nailed it on the head - all the stuff I too love about being a writer. I just smiled and smiled as I read your post. Happy new year!
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