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dictionary.com (yes, I’m too lazy to open a real dictionary) defines work as “exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something; labor; toil.” That sounds about right. But just yesterday, my BF said, “All you do is work, work, work on the weekends.”
I was about to come back with a snarky retort, but took a pause instead. I’d just told him I’d finished a short story, a snippet of another, and sent off more query letters, and he was calling that work? The query letter part? Yes. Definitely. But the writing part?
Huh?
That’s not work, at least to me. Sure, it’s hard. Sometimes you want all your characters to become zombies just so you can shoot them in the head because they’re not listening to you. Sometimes the plot makes absolutely no sense (chime in here, first draft TGW critters). Sometimes you wonder if you’re wasting your time, when you could be, oh, I don’t know, cleaning the pigsty you now live in.
Yep, it’s hard. And yep, you’re exerting yourself and you’re eventually going to accomplish that final draft. But, at least in my mind, work is something you have to do. Writing is something I want to do. It’s my escape. Writing has become such a huge part of my life, I honestly think I would completely lose it if I stopped. I get quite antsy if I haven’t written anything in a while. Antsy, as in grumpy, as in don’t come near me, BF. 😉
Did I explain all this to the BF? No. He wouldn’t understand. He’s not a writer. Instead, I distracted him with talk of BLT sandwiches. AND GUESS WHAT WE HAD FOR DINNER?!
So, what do you think? Is writing work? Please help me ponder this.
P.S. I went to the Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top concert this weekend. It was pretty cool. Foo Fighters epic, it was not. It was still a lot of fun.
P.P.S (or is it P.S.S.?) The picture has little to do with this post, but gosh it’s cute.
I do think writing is work. (At least for me because I want my hubs to consider it work too. I want him to respect the time I put into it and to see it as an effort that will pay off in the long term, not just a hobby.) But I don’t it’s work in the sense that most expect. It’s not drudgery. It’s not a nine-to-fiver. And it’s not something you can just “leave at work” at pick up tomorrow.
When you find your vocation instead of a j-o-b, I think your passion (your work) grows to fill your life… so you live it 24X7. But because it’s your passion it doesn’t *feel* like work. We all need breaks, even from our passions. But if my choice is lame TV show or reading about craft, I’m picking up that book. However, if the choice is spend time with family or friend (after-hours) or finish a story, I hope I’m choosing them.
Writing is work (awesomely wonderful amazing work). As with any work or passion, the key is to find the right balance.
Great post! Thanks for getting my cogs turning!
D.B. – Thanks for stopping by! You make some great points. I guess I don’t see writing as work because I enjoy it so much, and you’re right – it doesn’t feel like work.
You’re so lucky. Whenever I mention I my writing, people are like … eh, but how about a real job (and, damn it! I have none of that). So… it’s good that your BF sees it as work as opposed to a waste of time. Whether it’s work or not?
I think it is – but it’s doing something you like. And that’s why it seems easy to what.
To me, work is something I HAVE to do. Writing, I don’t, so I consider it a hobby/passion rather than a job/work. And it’s good. Being forced to do something makes you not like it anymore 98% of the time.
And you’re soooo right. The kitteh is adowable!
Stef – great points! Maybe I need to thank BF for seeing my writing as work. And you’re sooo right – I don’t have to write, and if I did have to, I might not like it so much!
I consider writing a lot of hard work… but like you I found non-writing people don’t quite understand it and hence are quick to make such passing comments… best thing is to not go into it… distraction with BTL is a very good option:)