Comments on: Creative Writing: Fun vs. Work

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:55:18 +0000

I don’t think you should feel obligated to partake in certain writing activities or styles just because someone else says that’s the thing to do. You just posted four paragraphs here and I think your style is fine. You should write whatever moves you! Stick with topics that ignite your passion.

One thing you have to remember when collecting writing tips and ideas — it’s all someone else’s experience and opinion. Just because one person promotes NaNoWriMo or another says you should write beautiful literature doesn’t mean those are your only options. Do what you love and you’ll find your way. And don’t worry about metaphors and adverbs unless you want to include them in your work. Just do your thing and find your audience. Or just do your thing and do it for yourself. Basically, do what makes you happy. Unless you want to be a career writer, there’s really no need to put all this pressure on yourself.

Having said that, I think it’s good that you’ve been trying your hand at different styles and activities. That’s how you will learn what’s right (and wrong) for you. Best of luck to you! And whatever you do or however you do it, I do hope you’ll keep on writing.

By: Maja

Maja — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:24:42 +0000

I really have trouble with a lot of writer’s mentalities. For years I wrote for fun in little spurts, and I loved it when I did it, and when I didn’t it didn’t really matter. I dreamed about getting published (still do), but it wasn’t the be all and end all of my life, and I was happy that way.

Then I started looking at all these writer’s things on the Internet, and it was like… I got tired. I tried NaNoWriMo (do you know about that?) and it made everything worse — I was putting all this effort into something I didn’t WANT to write, every day, and I hated the story, and all of it… it was too much. I did finish, though… but it didn’t make me happy.

I realized I had become influenced by the sorts of things people are “supposed” to be writing — “beautiful” works of literature, deep things, with unusual metaphors and no adverbs and all that sort of thing. I realized I couldn’t do that; I just couldn’t write that way; and I realized I might never be published, and that was really hard.

So… now I’m back to the drawing board. I’ve had a work-through-able case of writer’s block for several months now, after NaNoWriMo, and have been fiddling around with things, mostly collecting strange words and names and writing a page or so. I’ve almost completely stopped writing on the computer, favoring notebooks, and have trouble even considering myself a “writer” anymore, because I feel as though people are going to start pointing fingers at me and going “LIAR! Real writers don’t feel that way!”

I don’t know — do you think I have YWS? It’s complicated.

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:32:55 +0000

Hi Muna, Thanks so much for leaving your comment and expressing your passion for writing. It sounds like you’re looking for help with your writing. You can email me anytime. Just click the contact link up at the top of this site and send me a message. I’d be happy to help you in any way I can.

By: Muna

Muna — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:04:43 +0000

Thanks for that explaination! I love writing.Write as it comes and it is so bad that i have put pen to paper and i enjoy writing straight from my heart@most times my writing is influenced by experiences,situations or circumstances i find myself.I have being writing since 2001-till date but i get discouraged because i would love to share my work and bascially want pple to feel connected with it most especially people who are going through something or just apperciate the works of art. I won’t say my work is prefect but i wish to get someone who is an expert that can build it up to the standard it should be and publish so all can see!My work looks poetry but as more of a motivational feel!!!!!! I really need you to advise me what to do!

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By: Recommended reading for writers - March 2009 | Write for Your Life

Recommended reading for writers - March 2009 | Write for Your Life — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:26:46 +0000

[...] Creative Writing: Fun vs. Work | Writing Forward A comprehensive look at creative writing and what motivates us. While I wouldn’t necessarily describe creative writing as fun, I do believe you have to find ways to make sure you enjoy your work to help you write well. [...]

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:12:31 +0000

Me too WereBear! More reading equals better writing. No doubt about that. Plus, reading is so much fun!

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:05:04 +0000

Cath, I find it’s best not to compare oneself to the literary greats (it’s a good way to deflate your ambition). I remember when I realized all those novels and stories were heavily edited and proofread – by the author, the agent, a copyeditor, publishers, etc. And still, mistakes occasionally slip through! It’s amazing when you think about it. I must be backwards, because I was really more worried that I would copy another writer inadvertently – tell a similar tale or have the same characters – so I was always trying to read more and more to ensure I wouldn’t do that. Of course, I’m a natural reader anyway, so that was perfectly pleasurable for me! And you’re right, you can’t read a couple of novels, and then just easily mimic that author’s style. It sounds pretty funny when you put it that way.

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 18:48:00 +0000

Oh, it is SO frustrating when the muse won’t cooperate, but with patience and practice, you can learn to work through it. I’m not saying it’s easy, but it is possible. I find that reading a lot helps to keep the muse from wandering too far off, so that’s a good strategy

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 18:46:42 +0000

Thanks Alik! There’s no reason that hard work can’t be fun too. Of course, there are always those tasks that we find less enjoyable, but I think that’s unavoidable in any career or pursuit. Blogging is being taken more and more seriously as it becomes rooted into our culture, and it’s definitely both fun and lots of hard work! Keep it up; you’re doing a great job.