The Fun of Writing

I'm having so much fun with this new story, Lord Rakehell, about a Regency rake late to his own wedding, that I ran out of time to write a blog post! So here's one from last fall I hope you'll like.

Recently a tweet buddy mentioned she was working on her latest WIP, and hoped it didn't act up like it did the previous day. I suggested it be put in timeout, or made to stand in the corner, and added the #badmanuscript hashtag.

Another friend joined in, and for the next several minutes, we tweeted as if our manuscripts were horrible children, and we used all the famous phrases parents use to describe mischievous offspring.

It made us laugh, it sparked some great ideas, and it really kept the creativity going.

I got excited about how the words were dancing around, and it made me want to go work on my WIP.

All because it was FUN.

That's how writing should be. Too often, though, we focus on how hard writing can be. Don't get me wrong. It is hard work. That's what makes the effort worthwhile. And if it were easy, everybody would be doing it.

But sometimes we need the reminder that we got into this writing biz because we LIKED it. We got so caught up in our characters and their fun adventures that it didn't feel like work to us. In fact, it was a release from the workday travails. We were like giddy little kids making mud pies when we got to muck around with our manuscript.

Now we trudge around thinking what a mess that mud is making, and how we're going to have to spend all day cleaning things up. We've pretty much sucked out all the joy of writing. Is it any wonder our characters hide from us when we view our stories in this way?

So let's make mudpies today. Let's get excited about writing again, returning to those days when drafting our stories was the best form of enjoyment around. Starting today, let's have fun when we put those words on the page, and quit thinking of it as a chore to check off the To Do list.

After all, if we consider our work drudgery, how can a reader not feel that way too?

Comments

[Mae Clair]

I like your way of thinking, Donna. I've never lost the joy I have for writing . . . for creating characters and stories and hope I never do.We need a reminder of that from time to time. Thanks for a great post!

[Quantum]

I love science. Used to love messing with chemicals in test tubes.

Then gyroscopes, radio valves, electromagnets etc dominated my interest and I started to read physics books.

The inner mathematical theorist then took hold and I wanted to be a theoretical physicist. It started as a hobby but then it became a career. When your main hobby becomes your livelihood, then life can be really good!

Writing fiction is still only a casual interest with me. But it gives me a window into the world of a professional novelist. It allows me to join in the mud-pie fest or I would prefer a sand castle fest ..... means the kids can join in without upsetting their parents. And my biggest reading fan is a nine year old! LOL

With characters like Lord Midnight and the lovely Marissa wafting into your dreams, creating their story must be more a privilege than a drudgery!

Can't remember the first appearance of this post but its definitely worth a re-run!

[Donna Cummings]

Mae, I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Some days I need the reminder that writing is fun -- and usually all it takes is a little re-read of one of my stories, and I fall in love with writing again. :)

Q, I love that your hobby became a career. That's such a rare occurrence, so it makes me happy to hear that it worked out that way for you. I definitely adore my characters -- they are not a drudgery at all. But some days trying to get the story into the best shape possible, to demonstrate how fun these characters are -- THAT is when it feels like I'm creating a big mess that I won't be able to clean up! LOL