The Writer's Life: The Freedom of Writing for Its Own Sake

 

As writers, we need to find our own reasons for doing what we do. I’ve asked myself that question many times. 

There is certain freedom in writing without worrying too much about the outcome. Somewhere along the way, however, enjoyment can become tangled with performance. We compare ourselves with others. We set targets. We become frustrated when progress is slower than expected.

For some, writing is a career. They may be the lucky ones. For others, it is a creative outlet, a means of self-expression or a way to preserve memories — a form of legacy that will remain long after the writer has departed. Some want to entertain, while others want to inform or make sense of the world around them. There is no single definition of success that fits everyone, and I suspect that for most who write, there are a mix of reasons for doing so.

And it isn’t always about the money! 

I concluded long ago that writing is like the creative world in general. There is an elite at the top who do very well, followed by a few who might make a decent living out of it. The vast majority probably struggle to make anything.

I remind myself of the world of YouTube as a classic example of the competitive world that awaits the creative mind. 97% of YouTube channels never become monetised. The fact that YouTube recently made it harder for new creators from next year, is the reality for anyone who wants to try. The numbers don’t lie.

I imagine the world of writing is similar.

As I get older, I find myself increasingly attracted to the idea that our time is valuable in its own right. The writer cannot control how many people will read what they write, or whether a book will sell. What we can control is whether we continue to make time for writing and keep on trying to improve. 

That seems a sensible place to start.

The outcome may be beyond our control, but the experience of creating something is for the writer to enjoy. There is a satisfaction of completing a finished article, story, or book. A piece of work that may have taken many hours, days, or weeks to create.

Writing should be something that brings us pleasure, otherwise, why do it?

 

 

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash