Thursday, February 15, 2018

What Do You Love About Writing?

The path to publication can be extremely frustrating, full of rejections, doubt, and uncertainty the whole way. It's great to take a step back every now and then to remind yourself why you write in the first place.

For me, I write because the characters chattering in my head need somewhere to go. Putting them on the page, expanding their world, and letting them come to life is the most magical thing I can do. When I'm not writing, my brain can get awfully crowded, and it's a relief to sit down with a blank Word doc and let my characters play.

I also love playing the 'what if' game. Writing lets me experience things that may never happen in real life, but can play out on the page. My characters can make terrible decisions, and I get to follow them through the accompanying consequences.

What do you love about writing that keeps you coming back to it, even when you're fed up with the publication process?

10 comments:

K. Plasket said...

For me writing allows me to tap into the side of me I try to keep under wraps. Writing for me is like breathing, I have to do it to feel real. I have tried to walk away from it but I can't I may never get a book deal all my own but I could never truly stop writing.

Laurisa White Reyes said...

I gave up trying go the traditional route. After 3 traditional pubs that were all disappointing, I now only SP. But the reason I write isn't for sales. It is because I love to write. It's what keeps me sane and happy. I just finished writing my 15th novel yesterday. Feels so good just to type that last word. :) Joy!

Andrea Rand said...

For me, writing gets harder and harder, and yet I can't not do it. There's a space in my brain that belongs in fantasyland, and I can't imagine never visiting it.

Noma Jack said...

Getting the voices out of my head. Then holding the final story and reading it as if it weren’t mine :)

Unknown said...

That's so true. It's an escape, and also a necessity. Thank you for sharing.

Unknown said...

There is nothing else quite like typing 'The End,' is there? Congratulations on finishing!

Unknown said...

I'm totally with you! I get very cranky when I'm not writing, and I do think it's because the imagination part of my brain really wants to be active!

Unknown said...

Oh, those voices! And yes, it's incredible to reread the finished product!

RocheleSmit said...

For me it's the quiet solitude of sitting down while getting the story out of my head. I am always thinking of the progression of my story and try not to think too far in advance. It's the challenge of getting the story down in the right words, and the satisfaction of seeing it all come together...(most days!) :)

Laurence King said...

Writing, for me, is definitely an escape. It's a quiet time when I can be one with all that goes on in my head. I also love playing "what if" and creating stories that expand my world and stretch my reality. It's a challenge, for sure, but one I keep going back to over and over.