Welcome to A Writer’s POV. If someone had told me that writing a novel would cause me to loose sleep, gain weight, snap at my husband, pull my hair out, (literally and figuratively) and kick the dog, if I had one, I never would have put pen to paper. But as they say, ignorance is bliss, and I plunged in and began writing my book with the naïve expectation that I’d be finished in a year. Needless to say, five years and seven drafts later, I’m still on my quest for the Holy Grail, a published novel. Although frustrating, I spent that time growing as a writer. Every rewrite, revision and critique taught me something. Every book I read or workshop I attended offered new insights and ways to improve my craft. My goal with this blog is to share with you what I've learned so far. To talk about issues that plague all writers, to talk about the nuts and bolts of writing. Despite the fact that it's all been said before, each of us has our own way of telling a story and hopefully you'll visit often for help, support or just for the fun of it to read the posts written from this writer's point of view.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Writing Isn't Really Work, Right?

Physical work is obvious: sweat, bulging muscles, dirt under your fingernails etc... But writing while sitting in a chair isn't really work, Right? 

To some, unless you're expending some kind of energy you're not actually working. Little do they know that writing is exhausting. Muscles tense up in frustration as you struggle with a scene transition. Your vision blurs from staring at the computer screen as you rack your brain for just the right word. When you finished working your "shift" your body feels like you've run a marathon...twice.

 But is it actually work? You bet it is and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Just because you can do your job while still in your pajamas doesn't make writing any less tiring. And just because you work from home doesn't make it any easier to accomplish the task undisturbed.

So the next time someone tells you how easy being a writer must be tell them; yeah, but the boss is a tyrant, the benefits stink and I can never take a vacation. Writing is work all right and the best job I've ever had.

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