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Sometimes when you are writing--whether it is a blog post, a book or just in your own personal journal-- you have to just throw things out there and see what sticks. Today I am throwing this out there betting many of you can relate.
Writing? It is hard.
When I sit down to read a new book, I rarely ponder the hours the author spent writing, re-writing and editing every word. I don't think about the hours of pacing the floor, questioning their abilities or worrying about other areas in their life they are sacrificing in order to get their manuscript into my hands. No. I just curl up and enjoy a good read.
I imagine it must be easy for them. Not unlike my friend and fellow mom and bestselling author Stefanie Wilder-Taylor of the blog Baby on Bored who summed up a writing project perfectly. The questions and comparisons we have when we are going through our own manuscript and wondering...
This book I'm writing is not about parenting. It's not about anything.
But it's about everything. And although it's funny cause I'm a joke
writer primarily, it's not all funny. Some of it is downright
depressing. When I write I will tell you straight out I feel like a
fraud. Will people think these are no more than journal writings?
I ask myself over and over again. I pick up books by some of my
favorite authors; Augusten Burroughs, Cynthia Heimel, Merrill Markoe
and I marvel over how effortless they make it seem - like putting words
on a page is no different than pouring a cup of coffee - like choosing
which sentence which metaphor is the same as choosing a brand of peanut butter.
Now that I, too, struggle with every word and phrase on the finishing touches of my own manuscript, I admit that there are times I am evil and hope that other authors struggle at times, too. Mean? Of course it is. Natural. You bet! Now I appreciate a well written book. The first pages I read of any book are the acknowledgments. Those are the people who helped get this author through the process. The person who talked them off the proverbial ledge when they felt that it was all pointless and WHY did they choose to be a WRITER of all things?!
I know many moms who are writers. I pick their brains for ideas on how to stay productive in both their home lives and their writing lives. How do they deal with the guilt when the kids want attention and the book needs an edit? I ask them when they write and most importantly, do they ever sleep while mothering and writing? They laughed. Laughed. What kind of answer is a laugh?
When it comes down to it, most of the mom writers I spoke to answered the question of why they put themselves through it much the same why I do: They write because they can't imagine not writing.
Motherhood is a full time job. Writing is a full time job. Managing two full time jobs? As I said, it is hard. Even the best writers I know have times when they struggle. On the site Writer's Daily (that has amazing tips, hints and support), I found something that really struck me.
The ONLY reason you hear of writer's making big bucks, is because they have slaved for the craft for many years.
J.K. Rowling was not a hit her first time. Stephen King, not even close his first time out.
It takes a lot of time and patience to do this for a living. Writing will
be one of the hardest endeavors you will ever experience. If you are
not patient you will not succeed.I also hear at meetings and events about writing. "This is hard work." "I can not believe how hard this is."
You thought, bang out a few cleaver words, talk to a few people, sell it
and sitting in fat city. Words are ringing Déjà Vu, I've said this
before.I think you have to look at writing as a JOB, that you LOVE to do.
I have a note taped to the monitor in my office: "You write because you love it...so start loving it!" It takes patience and bumps in the road along the way but it is worth it. When you get that call from an agent that wants to represent you? It is worth it. When you see your words in book form? It is worth it. But it is
