Young Writers Society

Writing for a living: a joy or a chore?: Nine authors give their views

Interesting article. Any thoughts?

Ha, funny that, I've just been reading this article.
I love Will Self.

Nice article. It's more like a hobby that you get paid for--I would take an ordinary job until I make enough from writing, then I'd give it up and just write, not worrying much about deadlines, if that makes sense. These people are too cynical!

But then, maybe just write comedy? That'd be fun!

I know little about professional writing. =)

I don't know any of those authors but they depress me.

[s]They're just trying to scare everyone off.[/s]

I remember reading one author who said that, for her, writing for a living was like having to do homework everyday. XD

Honestly, no matter what job you get, you're not gonna love it all the time. I wouldn't expect writing to be any different - and as I enjoy writing, I imagine it would actually be a step up from doing a job based around something I didn't like already.

I have to toil over math homework, so thanks for providing a distraction.

Anywayz, I think writing is a valid career, but I can't imagion it being something to do every single day. I mean, I'd need the inspiration and the time.

Hah - I love how all these authors compare writing to sex. What an odd analogy. xD

I love to write, but I can't sit at an office and stare at a blank piece of paper all day. I can't just write. Believe me, I'd kill to be able to, but it doesn't work that way. *sigh*

I've never really imagined writing as my job. For some reason I've always seen myself at midnight on my laptop, cranking out the last pages of my novel while the family is asleep or something. XD

But then again, I can never see myself in any job that involves sitting behind a desk all day. I get too much of that in school already.

Like Sureal said, anything you do for a job isn't going to be enjoyable all the time.
I want writing to remain a pleasure for me, plus I'd rather go into other fields.
Also, having to write with a deadline would be too much stress for me. I'm already terrible at being on time for anything, so I most definitely would never get anything done properly.

For some reason I've always seen myself at midnight on my laptop, cranking out the last pages of my novel while the family is asleep or something. XD

That's exactly what I do. I stay up till three in the morning just writing sometimes. Often times, I'll re-read it the next day and delete it because it's complete trash.

I love to write and I would totally love to have it as my only job. The only thing that would suck is the deadlines... I'm not much good with those... Plus, I don't think I'd be able to support myself by just writing novels unless it becomes widely read like Harry Potter or Twilight.

Saph

I love writing, but I can't do it with deadlines looming. I always end up procrastinating one way or another. I always wanted to be a teacher, or a tutor, or something like that. Writing is a passion, but I don't want to have it as a job. You do it day after day and it loses all of its spark, especially if it's been a slow week.

I can see myself writing for a living, but only if I marry someone rich. Otherwise I'd have to get a job to earn money and then write all night, foregoing sleep. Nice.

I saw a couple of weeks ago that the average writer earns only a quarter fo the average wage, so I'm trying to prepare myself for that. On the other hand, I might get lucky and be as rich as JK.

I don't really know. I agree with these writers. More often than not, I hate to write. It depresses me, but for some reason, I can't see myself doing anything else. Writing soemthing awesome and being remembered forever would be incredible.

I can dream.

I despise deadlines. I'm fine with them with most things, but with writing - especially creative writing, I can't do it.

Also, I like instant gratification too much. I can't see going for two years without a paycheck but working my butt off every day anyways.

And... I like money too much? lol. I'll always write, and I want to be published, but I'll do it in addition to other jobs. It'll only become my full time job when I retire from everything else.

~JFW1415

My plan is to be an elementary school teacher because I love kids and for other reasons too, but a huge plus to that job is that you get a lot of vacation time. And that leaves tons of time to write as a hobby. I can see myself trying to do it as a job, though, because I like deadlines. They make me actually do stuff. As long as I have something to start with, I do much better when I have to finish it by a certain time, since it makes me finish. If it was just up to me, I'd never have finished a novel. That's why I love NaNoWriMo.

I'm hoping to get published and maybe get a deal with some company or something, but even if I don't I'll be happy just having writing as a hobby.

And I'm really surprised most of those authors don't like writing... I wouldn't have expected that.