Writing? I’m Feeling the Good

Charles Stross discusses whether writing is a lifestyle or a job. Stross is pretty cranky about the whole thing. I agree with the writer who asks why he's still doing it. If it comes to that, why am I still doing it? Because I'm not particularly cranky about writing, although I am sometimes dissatisfied.

I have adult students who carve out time to come to class. They spend their weekends on homework and spend money on baby sitters. Even though, clearly, it costs them to come to class in terms of their work, cash and personal life, they see the opportunity to improve themselves and get an education as something worth doing.

My writing time is valuable to me because I have to find time to do it. Whether my writing time cooperates with my hunger to crank out words or not, the point is I'm making the effort. I want to do it. Why should I hate it? I chose to write, and I value the time I spend at it.

Stross battles the misconceptions about writing lifestyle fairly and effectively, and there are myths to be dissolved. Every once in a while the question stirs up in me: what's the difference between being an author and a writer? Some would say the difference is whether or not publication and payment are a factor. I think a little differently.

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Mirrored from Writer Tamago.