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.
