Born to be Wild…or Born to Write?

Are you born to be wild? Is the weekend your time to cut loose or is finding a quiet corner your idea of a perfect Saturday? If you’re a writer, your imagination can take you, your characters, and your readers to either extreme. One thing is for certain…a writer is born to write.

Let’s explore the reasons why we write. You might find that some are more applicable to your life than others.

Writing for Money

If you’ve decided that you want to make a career out of writing, you must first recognize that there’s a lot of competition. That doesn’t mean you won’t be successful. It just means that you need to approach this career plan like a grown-up. That means you may have to combine your love of creative writing with corporate writing. There are many companies willing and in need of freelance writers to create blog posts, ad copy, brochures, newsletters, and employee documentation. It may be a bit drier than writing a steamy love scene, but you’ll be honing your skills while making some cash.

Writing for Self Expression

You were dumped in a text message. The guy in the check-out line brought 20 items into the express line, and he wasn’t even cute. The dog dug up your newly planted flower bed, but he on the other hand, did look pretty cute when he came wagging his way to you. Ever consider journaling about your emotions? It’s a great way to express your feelings, relieve stress, and work through problems. These passages may never find a place in your books, but it’s still a great way to practice your writing style. Just because you’re writing about an everyday issue, doesn’t mean you can’t use colorful language and make it a great piece.

You can’t help but write.

To me, this is the most important reason that someone decides to become a writer. To not write would be like eliminating water from your diet, squeezing lemon juice in your eyes, that moment when “True Blood” is no longer on the air. You get the idea. It would just be a very bad thing.

When considering why you decided to become a writer, make sure you practice the right reason to write. Every writer has experienced writers block, a bad review, the worry that your income doesn’t match your output. But remember, a writer writes! It’s that simple, and if you need a cheerleader, reach out to me.