The other day I told my therapist that the minute someone refers to my creative work (writing, weaving, playing music etc) as a hobby I think to myself "oh, I guess we can never be friends," because anyone who refers to my life work as a "hobby" in opposition to the work I do to make money, simply doesn't understand anything real. So thank-you.
Really, this whole post resonates hard right now since I've decided to unearth my stalled book project (it's been a year since I worked on it) and try to take myself seriously about the whole thing. I have a secondary book project hovering in the background as well. All the usual suspects have been blocking me (negative self-talk, eldest daughter with aging parents, work/time stress) but even so the ideas are alive and well in me and want to get out onto the page.
Thanks for writing this, it was 100% what I needed to see in my inbox right now. If this was a "hobby" it would be so much easier to walk away from.
This is such an excellent piece, thank you so much for writing it. Your candid expression is exactly what I needed today…and every day. I agree wholeheartedly that I am a writer because I write…but g-damn, it gets tiring to explain that to folks. Maybe I should just say yes, I am, in fact, a big dramatic artiste (because that sounds kinda intriguing too lol)!
Whenever I tell people that I'm a full-time writer, I get an eyebrow raise. You're right. Everyone's next question is: But can you actually make money doing it? The thing is that you can make money doing lots of stuff you wouldn't believe as long as you treat it like a full time job. I get up and I'm at my desk at 9am everyday. I take my fiction writing as seriously as I did my deadline-focused work as a journalist. If I didn't, then no, I probably couldn't make money doing it. I think many people think writers stare out at the sea and write a few beautiful sentences a day -- but writing is a job. It takes practice, diligence and work. Daydreaming only gets you to your desk. But the work takes place there.
The other day I told my therapist that the minute someone refers to my creative work (writing, weaving, playing music etc) as a hobby I think to myself "oh, I guess we can never be friends," because anyone who refers to my life work as a "hobby" in opposition to the work I do to make money, simply doesn't understand anything real. So thank-you.
Really, this whole post resonates hard right now since I've decided to unearth my stalled book project (it's been a year since I worked on it) and try to take myself seriously about the whole thing. I have a secondary book project hovering in the background as well. All the usual suspects have been blocking me (negative self-talk, eldest daughter with aging parents, work/time stress) but even so the ideas are alive and well in me and want to get out onto the page.
Thanks for writing this, it was 100% what I needed to see in my inbox right now. If this was a "hobby" it would be so much easier to walk away from.
This is such an excellent piece, thank you so much for writing it. Your candid expression is exactly what I needed today…and every day. I agree wholeheartedly that I am a writer because I write…but g-damn, it gets tiring to explain that to folks. Maybe I should just say yes, I am, in fact, a big dramatic artiste (because that sounds kinda intriguing too lol)!
Love this, on many levels. Thank you ❤️
Thank you. I love this so much I laughed out loud (in appreciation or recognition) despite a migraine. This is refreshing, acerbic and restorative.
Whenever I tell people that I'm a full-time writer, I get an eyebrow raise. You're right. Everyone's next question is: But can you actually make money doing it? The thing is that you can make money doing lots of stuff you wouldn't believe as long as you treat it like a full time job. I get up and I'm at my desk at 9am everyday. I take my fiction writing as seriously as I did my deadline-focused work as a journalist. If I didn't, then no, I probably couldn't make money doing it. I think many people think writers stare out at the sea and write a few beautiful sentences a day -- but writing is a job. It takes practice, diligence and work. Daydreaming only gets you to your desk. But the work takes place there.