WRITING STUFF: WRITING FOR FUN AND WRITING FOR ANYTHING ELSE
What's the difference? Well, writing this blog is fun, writing comments on other blogs is fun. Writing short stories that come out of nowhere is fun. Even writing a White Paper at work is fun – well, mostly.
Writing on Absolute Write or Evil Editor is fun.
What's not fun? Uh, lemme see… for me, writing on deadline when I don't have a good idea. Writing because someone is holding something over my head and telling me to write. Wait, am I saying it's no fun to write for money?
No. What could be more fun than getting paid for your writing?
I'm saying it's no fun when I don't feel like doing it. It's no fun if I make it into work.
So here's the secret: always make it fun. If you write for money, make sure it's what you want to do. I write for money all the time, but as I write short stories, I write them in my own time and THEN try to market them. The few times I have written on deadline, I found myself chafing and squirming and wanting out, so I pretty much avoid it.
But maybe you like a deadline, enjoy the adrenaline high as it approaches, write better, faster, higher when there's a wolf at your door, gun at your head or editor barking. That's okay – go for it. Enjoy the high!
I try to write every day as a matter of discipline and because otherwise I might lose my physical as well as my mental dexterity. But if I don't enjoy it – find it fun – I stop and do something else.
Life is too short to spend it doing something you don't like.
THREE BEAUTIFUL THINGS
The look on the neighbor's face when he saw that horrible diseased peach tree I have been complaining about (on his side of the fence) pruned to within an inch of its life by a friend of mine who had a ladder, a saw and a long reach. Okay, maybe this is more of a WMML (What Made Me Laugh) than a 3BT.
The spaghetti my DH made last night after watch Giada de Laurentis cooking on TV.
About a hundred different kinds of cheeses at the supermarket yesterday. I opened my eyes and really looked at all the stuff there. I can't believe how much wonderful food is available in my part of the world.
What's the difference? Well, writing this blog is fun, writing comments on other blogs is fun. Writing short stories that come out of nowhere is fun. Even writing a White Paper at work is fun – well, mostly.
Writing on Absolute Write or Evil Editor is fun.
What's not fun? Uh, lemme see… for me, writing on deadline when I don't have a good idea. Writing because someone is holding something over my head and telling me to write. Wait, am I saying it's no fun to write for money?
No. What could be more fun than getting paid for your writing?
I'm saying it's no fun when I don't feel like doing it. It's no fun if I make it into work.
So here's the secret: always make it fun. If you write for money, make sure it's what you want to do. I write for money all the time, but as I write short stories, I write them in my own time and THEN try to market them. The few times I have written on deadline, I found myself chafing and squirming and wanting out, so I pretty much avoid it.
But maybe you like a deadline, enjoy the adrenaline high as it approaches, write better, faster, higher when there's a wolf at your door, gun at your head or editor barking. That's okay – go for it. Enjoy the high!
I try to write every day as a matter of discipline and because otherwise I might lose my physical as well as my mental dexterity. But if I don't enjoy it – find it fun – I stop and do something else.
Life is too short to spend it doing something you don't like.
THREE BEAUTIFUL THINGS
The look on the neighbor's face when he saw that horrible diseased peach tree I have been complaining about (on his side of the fence) pruned to within an inch of its life by a friend of mine who had a ladder, a saw and a long reach. Okay, maybe this is more of a WMML (What Made Me Laugh) than a 3BT.
The spaghetti my DH made last night after watch Giada de Laurentis cooking on TV.
About a hundred different kinds of cheeses at the supermarket yesterday. I opened my eyes and really looked at all the stuff there. I can't believe how much wonderful food is available in my part of the world.
6 comments:
Every time I've thought about doing something "fun" for money, it suddenly isn't so fun anymore. Art, writing, whatever. I have some weird conditioning that says if you get paid for it, it's work, and if it's work, it's no fun.
Not a good attitude if I ever want to make a living doing something I love!
Thanks for the encouragement. I used to get a lot of pleasure out of writing made-up stories. It's something I haven't had time or inspiration for lately, but your post put some of that excitement back in me. And I do have a story idea right now...I guess I'll just see what comes of it.
Sonnjea b - that's why I write first and try to sell it second - it keeps the fun in!
Greta - go for it! Make up those stories and have some fun!
I should have titled this blog entry "Fun, fun, fun!"
Yup.
It's only "work" if you don't want to do it.
That was a nice little piece of encouragement. I enjoy reading your blog. Keep up the good work!
I think your neighbor's peach tree had it coming. (.. and I think, in this case, it is a "Bautiful Thing").
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