Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Why I Write

via Deviant Art by TeaPhotography
Why I write

This first week of blog posts will be about me and things that I like/love. If you're going to show up for an entire month of posts, you should know a bit about me. This first one will talk about why I write. Aside from the little gremlin in my head that demands words flow out of my fingertips, I like writing stories.
I have always had a vivid imagination and a weird sense of humor, but how did I write that first story? What made me realize that I could gather words together and line them up on a page for the enjoyment of other people?

It was a bit of a fluke actually. I used to be a roleplayer. Mostly text based. It was fun. I learned how to weave words together to create the effect I wanted other people to experience. It's where I found out that I love creating characters. I had a few of them, too. I was always creating new characters with backstories and quirky little ticks.

I know, I know. Sounds geeky and weird. Maybe it was, but I loved it.

I wrote my first stories in that environment. They weren't very good admittedly. All that grammar I'd learned in school had left me. Commas? Please. I put a comma in during a pause, right? Or randomly wherever I feel like it? Ending with a preposition? Sure. That's what you're supposed to do, yes?

It was a year or two after I stopped playing that game until I started writing professionally. I was laid off from my job and needed some income. Then my car broke down, so I couldn't travel for work. I found this freelance writing gig online. For the first time, people paid me for words. Words out of my head that are available to everyone. I had finagled them into a pleasing arrangement and someone paid me for it.

I can't begin to explain how exciting that was. Unless you're a writer being paid for your work, you might be rolling your eyes at me. Those who have gotten paid for their writing know what I'm talking about here. Even if you're writing it and thinking, "Oh boy. I can't believe people pay me for this." They are! There's a certain joy and satisfaction in it.

Right now, I have two separate writing lives. I have the boring, dry text writing where I can't express my personality. That's the working day job. The wonder of someone paying me for words has mostly worn off after two years. I write for other people because I need the money, not to create stunning creative works of art.

On the other side of the writing life, I have the fiction. I could say something profound like writing feeds my soul. It's what I was building towards all these years. And okay, that could be true, but ultimately, I write because I like entertaining people. I love making them laugh. I've always liked telling stories, or saying something witty, funny or outrageous that makes people respond.

It really all comes down to that desire to entertain.



20 comments:

  1. It's always great to enjoy your passion. Keep up the work.

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  2. Missy,
    How great! I am still looking for the confidence to get writing gigs online. What I love about you is that you make up your mind and do it. I know that rush when I get paid for an article I've sent out.
    Do you belong to a writing group to hone your fiction writing? That's made a big difference in mine. What type of fiction do you write? Good luck with both!

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    1. Thanks, Amy! I started out with Textbroker, Constant Content and a few others before gathering up some private clients. I still struggle when I'm contacting potential new clients, too.

      I joined Scribophile recently. They have been pretty great so far, but it takes a long time for a chapter to reach the spotlight for a critique. I'm looking for another one if you have suggestions! I am expanding from chick lit to cozy mysteries. The mystery genre is tough to write, and I have an expanding respect for mystery writers.

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  3. I'm with you. I have no lofty motives - I like to entertain people, too. I think I like the fact that I can make words do that - that I can convey things from my brain to other brains that way.

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    1. Entertaining others is a noble pursuit! I have to use that as a shield to defend myself at times. We all need more joy and laughter in our lives.

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  4. Missy, I'm envious! I love writing too, and the thought of actually getting paid for it...well wow! Well done to you. Entertaining post, loved reading it. Andrea

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    1. Thanks, Andrea! I'm glad you enjoyed the post. There are many sites that are looking for talented writers online. Give it a try!

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  5. I'm in the beginning stages of learning to freelance world. I love writing. Two people in the past week. One being the husband and one being the best friend have told me my writing has improved since I started blogging. Maybe it is time to find the professional gig :) You are inspiring!

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    1. I improved my writing while doing it professionally. Some of the sites I've found online have editors who were kind enough to point out problems. Maybe it IS time for you to take a look around!

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  6. I loved learning more about you! With a degree in Journalism myself, I'm always interested in the writing of others, too!

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    1. I wasn't sure if it would be super boring for people to read. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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  7. I do the same thing, Missy, but now more and more of my writing is personal and fun, even when it's not necessarily "supposed" to be ;).

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    1. My dream is to put aside the dry writing and write fiction full time. It's probably the dream for 99 percent of all writers!

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  8. You write because you are passinnate about it. Truly successful people have passion behind everything they do. You may not be successful in the world's eyes, but if you do everything you do with all of your heart and soul behind it, you will have succeeded.

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    1. I love to write so much that I can't imagine not writing ever again. Even if nobody paid me, or if my stories never made a single dime, I'd still type away at my computer for myself... and the seven to ten people who read this blog.

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  9. Thank you for sharing your passion with us. I really love reading your work. I don't know if I could do it as much as you have. I mean I think of it as a gift. You have to really enjoy what you do in order to do it all day or over and over. I used to journal a lot but I stopped doing it so much because I honestly thought that typing it was easier than writing it.

    Please continue your passion because I enjoy reading it!

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    1. Thanks, Alicia. Writing isn't always easy. It's often extremely difficult, but it means a lot when the effort is appreciated. That's an amazing feeling!

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  10. Maybe some of your day life can appear somehow in one of your books...? I would love to review one on LadyBlogger! Just say the word.

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    1. I hadn't thought about that. I have a super boring life of typing all day. All the excitement is IN my head! I would love for you to review the book when it's ready. Thanks for offering. I'll let you know!

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