Writing isn't my main job, so it's hard to explain to non-writers. To me, it's not "a hobby" or a "pleasant diversion" when I have free time (like I have any free time anyway). Writing is a necessary part of my life. Kind of like the way I have to read something every day before I go to sleep. When I don't write, something seems missing.
It's hard for me to think of it the same way as scrapbooking or collecting stamps. But I suppose some people are as passionate about those things as I am about writing. Maybe I shouldn't feel so bristly when people call my writing "a nice hobby". For me, it's more like a career, even though I'm not getting paid much for it at present. What do you think? Is writing a hobby for you or do you think of it in a different way?
P.S. There's a great contest over at Deborah Halverson's Dear Editor blog. You could win a substantive edit of your MG or YA novel, so you might want to check it out. The entry deadline is January 31, 2011.
Ooooh! Thanks for the Dear Editor contest tip!
ReplyDeleteAs of the beginning of this month, I've decided to focus exclusively on writing, so yeah, it's now my career. Which is scary, even though I've been happier this month than I have been at any time in the past 10 years. I needed the change. Now I just have to find a way to make it work! :)
ReplyDeleteWow, Alison, I bet you will make it work, if you want it enough. There's a lot to be said for doing what you love.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the IRS, my writing is a hobby. (Big sigh) Hopefully, one day my dreams and the IRS category will coincide :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest link. I'll be checking it out!
ReplyDelete~Debbie
I suppose hobby is the lightest way to express my undying devotion to my craft. I would say it's more like passion that's been lit on fire. It's the most intense thing on earth for me.
ReplyDeleteHmm...definitely not a hobby for me. More like a compulsion.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I can see how non-writers would think it would be a hobby though.
Karen, a compulsion definitely seems to capture it better than hobby.
ReplyDeleteWow, T.Anne, you've nailed it. Writing IS intense. It's like being in a whole other place in my mind.
Catherine, it's what you think about your writing that counts, right?
Hobbies are things you can pick up or lay down again. They're part of what you enjoy about life outside your main vocation -- your career and family.
ReplyDeleteSo many people think your career is your paying job. It ain't necessarily so. For some, the career is as yet unpaid but meanwhile they're doing something else for pay. Others are as passionate about the paid job as they are about the writing, art, music, photography, a small business, whatever other path they're pursuing, and these people have a dual career.
Most people are working stiffs, and I think that's where this tussle comes from. For them, your career is what you get paid to do. Period.
For those who are bored, life has no meaning. Everything is dull and gray. These people just like staying in one corner of the house or in the office, nothing else to do. This is not a very healthy life strategy as boredom often leads to depression. Once a person is depressed, his or her mental health can deteriorate, causing some social problems or worse, suicidal tendencies.
ReplyDeleteIf you happen to be a bored person, then you might want to find a hobby instead of doing nothing all day. There are different hobbies for different types of people. However, there is one that might fit for everyone. And that hobby is short story writing.
Writing a short story can be very pleasing and fun hobby. All you need is a notebook and a pen and also a healthy imagination. If you’re not that creative, then you can always base your short stories on people or events around you. Start writing down and you can even collect short stories that you have written. In this way, your life doesn’t have to be too boring anymore.
You can also use your personal computer, if you wish. I personally write down short stories in my PC and then save them in different folders. You can categorize your short stories as well in order not to confuse yourself. You can also use grammar checkers in order to check the spelling. All in all, writing short stories not only cures boredom, it can also enhance your grammar and writing skills as well. So go ahead and start writing short stories today!
When I write, I lose myself. The world could knock on my door, and I would be deaf to the thunderous bangings. In a world where it's not hard to get hurt, writing is a comforting arm across my shoulder. I never knew I'd come to love writing as much as I do. Writing is like a best friend. A friend that will never turn his/her back on me in troublesome times. My writing comforts me when I'm upset, & excites me when I think about certain people whom I cherish.
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