What's the Hardest Part of Being a Writer?

What's the hardest part of being a writer?

I sometimes struggle with others taking my writing seriously. But when I finally stopped searching for a "job" and began my own company I think the realization hit many that what I really wanted to do was work for myself.



Photo by lett -^=, courtesy of Flickr

Sometimes I have a hard time getting to work. Because I'm at home and the house is screaming to be cleaned or the grandchildren are screaming to have some time or I'm screaming for a break, I have a difficult time focusing on the job at hand.

Writing isn't always fun. Really? Writing is work and sometimes the writing itself is a struggle. But when this happens, I pull out another writing project or spend a few moments working on a writing prompt.

Sometimes it's hard waiting for the money to come in. I don't get a regular paycheck, and sometimes I get a little stressed about that, but the stressing comes less now as my focus has changed to more important things like sharing and helping others with their own writing.



Photo by: noricum, courtesy of Flickr

Sometimes I have too many projects and so can't focus on the most important one at hand. I get ideas often, but that doesn't mean I can do everything at the same time. Many projects are put on the back burner until the finishing up of a particular project leaves room for a new one.

The hardest part of being a writer, for me, shifts every day and depends on my mood. But I don't let a day go by without writing something.

Because I need to write.

What the hardest part of being a writer, for you? Share your thoughts.

Are You a Writer? Getting Paid What You're Worth

There's been a lot of talk lately about getting paid what your worth--at least in the circles that I am a part of. And I guess this has a lot to do with the economy.

If we don't have a current job, we're searching for any job that will work.
If we do have a job, we're hoping for better. Always hoping for better.

A few of us do what we truly love, and if it's writing, we find that we love what we do (we'd better) while still dreaming of the big bucks to make it all worth it.

The funny thing about writing is, in my opinion, that it is all worth it, yes, even when we're not bringing in the bucks we think we're worth.

Photo by: MSVG, courtesy of Flickr

Getting paid what you're worth is kind of like finding a needle in a haystack--you know it's there, but the task in finding that needle makes your eyes sore and your knees weak.

And perhaps that's where we need to get. On our knees.

I am always happiest when I'm not thinking about the money I "should" be making but using my gifts and talents. When I am listening to God. When I care more about his agenda for me and less on the agenda I'd like to create for myself. And this takes a bit of daring. It's not easy to give up the control we think we have.

My husband recently got a new job and this was after much soul searching, waiting, and enjoying the life that was currently present for us. Getting that job was as much about being appreciative for what we had then as it was opening up the mind for greater things.

As a writer I don't have to be the mainstream income provider, but there are things I do to pitch in. And I find I am pitching in the best when I am more focused on creation and reaching out to others, more than I am on how much money I expect to get from my efforts.

It's always been that way for me.