Why Do We Do It? Ironies of the Writing Life
October 20th 2007 11:48
One Perspective On the Writing Life
We writers often entertain lofty dreams of great success, as we sit before the idle keyboard, staring, glassy-eyed at a monitor that silently but accusingly glares back, daring us to make something magical happen.
Our notes and odds and ends of ideas lie strewn about--ideas hurriedly jotted down on scraps of paper in handwriting we often wonder whether we'll ever decipher. Long lists of website links litter our desks, inviting us to take just one more cyber journey to that land of never-ending research in preparation for the nebulous future article--the blog post, chapter, essay, or report that we will surely write one day.
Reference books, notebooks, legal pads and journals, style books, grammar books, computer manuals, and software documentation surround us--and we wonder how we'll ever manage to turn all this utter chaos--both internal and external--into an orderly piece of literature; yet, we always manage somehow...when deadlines loom and push comes to shove.
Why Do We Do It?
Why do we sit up late, rising, bleary-eyed the next morning to pour a cup of strong black liquid energy, forcing our minds awake to ponder e-mails, voice mails, snail mail, writers' sites, fellow blogger-feeds, manuscripts put to rest the night before--incomplete and uninspired--waiting for that spark of life that only we can give them?
Why do we send query after query...bio after bio...cover after cover, each one dutifully tailored to the individual market, choosing another ever so-appropriate writing sample...pasting it into the body of an e-mail (of course)--showcasing our unique talent, in competition with a hundred or a thousand other writers--also uniquely talented and equally hopeful of snagging the very same gig?
Why do we do it? Because we're writers. It's in our blood. It's who we are...heaven help us.
_____________________________
Just thought I'd try something a little different today: an exercise in writing with a different voice and a bit of a different perspective than I generally use. Some of it may be a bit exaggerated; yet, I think that, deep inside most of us, there will always be those times when we are acutely aware that the writing life can be somewhat less than perfect.
Thanks for reading!
Jeanne
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Comment by Sonya 1
Writing Words
I think you are spot on here. The writing life is bleak sometimes. And sometimes it is simply fantastic and well worth struggling through those bleak times. For me, the pros of being a writer far outweigh the cons (have to admit I might not see it that way if I were currently going through a rough patch).
Enjoyed the read - thanks
Sonya
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Thanks for your very balanced perspective! As you say, there are two sides to writing--which is also true of everything else in life. And I certainly do agree that the pros outweigh the cons and the struggles are more than worth it!
Thanks for the visit!
Jeanne
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I also do it because it allows me to be someone that I can't be in real life.
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
I actually do love it--but that doesn't change the fact that, at times, it can be tough! And, yes, it's true that when writing is your business--or an important part of your business--you don't have the luxury of avoiding it, whether you happen to feel like writing at the moment or not.
Thanks for your input!
Jeanne
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Glad I was able to give voice to some of your own thoughts! It's always good to know that someone else can relate to our experiences.
Thanks for dropping by!
Jeanne
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
That's a great reason for writing--and one that makes it worth all the trouble we go through to do it!
Thanks for the visit!
Jeanne