Pages

▼

Friday, January 28, 2011

Is Writing Worth Your Time?

When we hear agents get hundreds of queries a day, when we suffer rejection after rejection, when we’ve agonised so long on a piece we can no longer tell if its any good, when writer’s block strikes with a vengeance and won’t let go – this is when we inevitably ask ourselves, is writing really worth my time?

My answer is a resounding yes. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t agonise over word choices, I wouldn’t spend hours plotting ways to make life horrible for my characters, I wouldn’t pour all my hopes and dreams into such a time consuming career.

Why do it? Because I love it. It’s as simple as that. I love creating stories, painting pictures in the minds of strangers, playing with words, building worlds, having the power to bring a moment of joy into someone’s life.

And so I write.

I don’t need to be published to do these things, but I do need to write.

What keeps you going?

--
I’d also like to officially thank two wonderful bloggers who gave me the Stylish Blogger Award this week.

Thanks to Michelle from Perfecting the Craft and Madeleine from Scribble and Edit.

Please visit these lovely ladies and say hi from me.
at

51 comments:

  1. Golden EagleJanuary 28, 2011 at 9:08 AM

    YES.

    What keeps me going is the love of creating something and the way stories and words can travel from person to person--the communication.

    Congratulations on the award!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Laura EnoJanuary 28, 2011 at 9:09 AM

    Congrats on the award!
    Yes, writing will always be worth the time.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lindz PagelJanuary 28, 2011 at 9:09 AM

    You're speaking to my soul right now, this couldn't have come at a better moment. Thank you!

    I write because I love how it feels to engage with characters who feel anything but fictional.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wendy A.M. ProsserJanuary 28, 2011 at 9:26 AM

    I've been writing since I was about six years old. Writing is addictively exhilarating when it's going well, but just as often it makes me so miserable! Still, I get even more miserable if I don't write.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyJanuary 28, 2011 at 9:26 AM

    Golden, yes, the communication is a wonderful thing

    Laura, thanks

    Lindz, yes, the best characters are the ones who come alive.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Carol RiggsJanuary 28, 2011 at 9:27 AM

    Congrats on your award, and I SO agree with you. I've kept writing, even though I'm on about novel #15, and haven't been traditionally published yet. Because I love it! It's freeing and "completes" me in a way my artwork never did. Oddly enough.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyJanuary 28, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    Wendy, exactly right. I need to write to stay happy and sane (and my hubby stays happy and sane because I'm happy and sane lol)

    ReplyDelete
  8. DEZMONDJanuary 28, 2011 at 9:30 AM

    writers are dreamers, and dreamers wouldn't be dreamers without dreams.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyJanuary 28, 2011 at 9:31 AM

    Carol, oh wow! I hadn't realised you'd written so many! For you I'd suggest publication is not a question of 'if', but 'when'. And yes, writing is freeing.

    Dezzy, dreaming is our breath

    ReplyDelete
  10. Alex J. CavanaughJanuary 28, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    Congratulations!
    And writing was worth my time.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyJanuary 28, 2011 at 9:45 AM

    Alex..was? not anymore? (hehe, just teasing) ;)

    ReplyDelete
  12. LTMJanuary 28, 2011 at 10:02 AM

    Thanks, Lynda! What an encouraging, uplifting post. You are stylishly inspirational~ ;p <3

    ReplyDelete
  13. L.A. ColvinJanuary 28, 2011 at 10:06 AM

    Congrats on the award. Writing is certainly worth my time. But ask me in two months when I'm smack in the middle of revision. I might have a different answer. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  14. HannahJanuary 28, 2011 at 10:19 AM

    Doing something you love is always worth the time!

    Congrats on the awards!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Old KittyJanuary 28, 2011 at 10:25 AM

    Congratulations with your fab stylish award!! Yay!!!

    What keeps me going with the writing? The Madness!!! I truly believe you have to be a little crazy to be wanting to write stories! Crazy in a good way! LOL! Take care
    x

    ReplyDelete
  16. Stephanie ThorntonJanuary 28, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    Writing makes me feel more alive- I notice more in the world when I'm writing. So, yes, I need to do it too.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Jeff BeeslerJanuary 28, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    Writing's always worth my time. It's the cheapest form of therapy I know.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Heather HellmannJanuary 28, 2011 at 10:33 AM

    I enjoy writing too much to stop. It's what I look forward to every day.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Denise Covey January 28, 2011 at 10:39 AM

    Who could live without writing? Not me, nor any of the bloggers I know.

    Congrats on your Stylish Award. You so deserve it.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Toyin O.January 28, 2011 at 10:41 AM

    Congrats on your award; and yes, writing should be about your passion and not getting published:)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Susan Gourley/KelleyJanuary 28, 2011 at 11:52 AM

    Getting published has its rewards but even without it, I would still be writing.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Melissa GillJanuary 28, 2011 at 12:52 PM

    Lynda I agree, it can be so tough, but on the other hand it's so rewarding. There's nothing better than creating a whole world, it makes you imortal.

    Also, you're my next What I love about you Wednesday blogger, so check it out on 2/2.

    ReplyDelete
  23. NataschaJanuary 28, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    I keep a pocket sized notebook in my purse with several quotes, lyrics, and tidbits of motivation whenever I have a bad day :) It works for me!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Misha GerrickJanuary 28, 2011 at 6:17 PM

    Writing is absolutely worth my time.

    It is my sanctuary and my sanity.

    It's the glue that keeps my soul together.

    Really.

    :-D

    ReplyDelete
  25. AnonymousJanuary 28, 2011 at 8:31 PM

    Good question Lynda and one which we all ask ourselves especially in doldrum moments. Great answer too. We have to believe in ourselves and we write because it is what we love. Well done for being awarded the stylish blogger award twice! :O)
    Hugs Madel e ine x

    ReplyDelete
  26. Tabitha BirdJanuary 28, 2011 at 10:36 PM

    Thats a great question. What keeps me going is that I am a writer. How can you not do something which lives inside you and is apart of who you are? :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Michael Di GesuJanuary 29, 2011 at 2:46 AM

    HERE! HERE!

    You said it. You know it's worth it. Just look all around you at all the awesome people who write. If writing wan't worth it, would we ALL do it?

    I thing not!

    Michael

    ReplyDelete
  28. Talli RolandJanuary 29, 2011 at 5:15 AM

    Great post, Lynda! You definitely have to do it because you love it!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyJanuary 29, 2011 at 6:31 AM

    LTM, and a stylish thank you to you :)

    LA Colvin, yep, that's where I am at the moment: in the middle of revisions.

    Hannah, for sure

    Old Kitty, so true. Lets be crazy good together! :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyJanuary 29, 2011 at 6:33 AM

    Stephanie, oh so true! I notice more as well. Great point.

    Jeffrey, hahaha love it.

    Heather, awesome!

    L'Aussie, so true...and thanks :)

    Toyin, I couldn't do it if it were just about getting published.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyJanuary 29, 2011 at 6:37 AM

    Susan, yes, absolutely

    Melissa, oh! How cool! I'm honored :)

    Las Vegas, oh that's such a great idea!! I love it! Can I borrow your notebook? ;)

    Misha, well put. I believe it :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyJanuary 29, 2011 at 6:38 AM

    Madeleine, oh my gosh! I spelled your name wrong! I'm so sorry! I always try to get people's names right too because they are forever getting mine wrong. AARGH!! I'll fix that immediately!

    ReplyDelete
  33. CathyJanuary 29, 2011 at 6:38 AM

    It's the same for me. Painters love the smell of paint, the colors, and so forth. I love the words we use to communicate ideas, on an intellectual level, and to tell stories on an emotional one.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyJanuary 29, 2011 at 6:42 AM

    Tabitha, that's like denying who you are...never seems to work.

    Michael, we could, of course, all be crazy ;)

    Talli, for sure.

    Catherine, yes absolutely! Words are magic.

    ReplyDelete
  35. M PaxJanuary 29, 2011 at 9:14 AM

    If we didn't get the R and admit to it, every other author on the planet would hate our guts. We're in good company.

    It's a tough career choice. But, yes, worth it. Every minute.

    ReplyDelete
  36. AlexisJanuary 29, 2011 at 9:31 AM

    I need to bookmark this post. So often I feel overrun and put down with my writing, but I need to remember that I do not do it for other people, I do not do it to get published, I do it beacuse I have a story inside of me that need to be let out. and I need to see it to its end. I write for me first, I need to remember that.

    ReplyDelete
  37. UnknownJanuary 29, 2011 at 10:50 AM

    For me, the voices keep me going. No matter what the publishers say, the voices keep talking to me. Congrats on your award.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Jemi FraserJanuary 29, 2011 at 1:10 PM

    Wonderful - I totally agree. I wrote for years before attempting to get published ever crossed my mind. So I imagine I'll always write! :)

    ReplyDelete
  39. ali crossJanuary 29, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    Writing gives breath to my life. I need it. I used to write because I loved it. Then I wrote to be published. Now I write it because It. Is. Me. I'm in it for the joy of it now, for the journey.

    Congrats on the award!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Lola SharpJanuary 30, 2011 at 2:57 AM

    YES! Definitely. We write because we love to, need to, want to.

    CONGRATS on your well deserved awardage. :)

    Have a lovely rest of your weekend.

    *hugs*
    Love,
    Lola

    ReplyDelete
  41. AnonymousJanuary 30, 2011 at 7:01 AM

    YES!!

    CONGRATS on your award!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Tamara Hart HeinerJanuary 30, 2011 at 8:30 AM

    the thing that I wonder if it's wort my time is blogging. I put so much into it and so far I'm not sure it gives much return as far as marketing goes. as far as friends go, it does great!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyJanuary 30, 2011 at 10:06 AM

    M Pax, for sure!

    Alexis, yep, I have to often remind myself as well ;)

    Clarissa, ah yes, the voices. It's a wonder the powers that be let us write and don't lock us up ;)

    Jemi, hehe, very cool

    Lola, thanks :)

    Susanne, thanks

    Tamara, blogging is a definite time-sink. I have to carefully schedule my time when it comes to blogging because it's so easy give up all my time to it.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Sharon K. MayhewJanuary 30, 2011 at 12:26 PM

    I can't imagine what I would do with my time if I wasn't doing something writing/reading related...

    Congratulations on the awards!

    ReplyDelete
  45. WritingNutJanuary 30, 2011 at 6:21 PM

    YES... I hear you... I love to imagine and dream, and I think my head would explode if I didn't have somewhere to put it all.

    Congratulations on your award too! :)

    ReplyDelete
  46. Terri TiffanyJanuary 31, 2011 at 2:58 AM

    I could never stop. What keeps me going is the love of doing it:) I may never grasp the art of writing fiction but that's ok. I love it.

    ReplyDelete
  47. alexiaJanuary 31, 2011 at 3:25 AM

    Great post! Yes, you have to really love writing to go through all of the rejection... my stories are part of me, so I couldn't very well do away with them.

    Congrats on the award!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyJanuary 31, 2011 at 8:06 AM

    Sharon, yep. I'm the same

    WritingNut, hehehe exploding heads are messy so yep, it's best to stick to writing ;)

    Terri, that love will keep you going and keep you wanting to learn

    Alexia, good point! Our stories are a part of us.

    ReplyDelete
  49. CathyFebruary 1, 2011 at 8:42 AM

    Oops. I just gave you the stylish award on my blog as well. You deserve it!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyFebruary 1, 2011 at 10:09 AM

    Hehe, thanks Catherine :)

    ReplyDelete
  51. rblFebruary 10, 2011 at 2:18 AM

    I am amazed that we both touched the same subject on the same day on our blogs! Thank you for posting your thoughts!

    ReplyDelete

I'd love to hear your opinion. Thanks for leaving a comment.