Funny story: I've had this blog post in mind for the last few days. And then when it was time for me to sit down and write it, my blog host, Typepad, had two DOS (denial of service–I looked it up) attacks, on Thursday night and Friday morning. So I had to give up the chance to write it for a while. And because Typepad was out all morning and now I don't have as much time as planned, this will be a short post. (Of course, I often say that and then run on. And on. And on.)
Anyway.
Years ago, I heard an author (whose name has been lost to the mists of time) say, that in order to write a novel, "You have to be willing to give up sunny days."
That might not mean as much to those of you who live in climates that are sunny year-round, but here in Portland where it rains a lot, it's practically a law that on a sunny day you have to be outside.
And so this author had given up her sunny days in order to stay inside and write. And her comment has stuck with me all these years.
I wonder what all of us have given up to write. Maybe:
Money
Maybe for some of us, its the higher income we'd have if we had a full-time job. And then there's the fact that writers can shell out a lot of money for classes and conferences, not to mention computers and paper and notebooks and pens.
Time
For most of us, this is the biggie. Because, as we well know, books and articles and stories do not write themselves. So we have to make time for them to get written. Time that might otherwise be spent watching the shows everyone is talking about, like Game of Thrones. Time you might share with family members or friends. Time cleaning house or organizing closets or doing laundry.
Fun
Have you ever declined a social invitation in favor of writing? And then if you explain to your friends why you've declined they say, "You need to get out and have some fun." And you say, "But writing is fun." And they think you're nuts? Yeah, me too. But we've all probably given up a chance to have other kinds of fun.
Sex
Kidding. Sort of.
Why Writing is Worth It
I just realized that this post is starting to sound a bit negative–like, poor us, we have to give up so much in order to ply our beloved trade. But I don't mean it that way at all, I really don't. Believe it or not, I conceived this post as a sort of celebration of what we've let go in order to succeed as writers. Sounds counter-intuitive, I know. But there's a lot of power in choosing how we want to spend our time. So many people don't–they fill their days with mindless activities that they aren't fully invested in.
But we choose to spend our time honing words and telling stories. I've shared this quote before, but I love it so much, so here goes again. It's from Christopher Vogler, The Writer's Journey (one of my favorite writing books ever):
"But take hope, for writing is magic. Even the simplest act of writing is almost supernatural, on the borderline with telepathy. Just think: We can make a few abstract marks on a piece of paper in a certain order and someone a world away and a thousand years from now can know our deepest thoughts. The boundaries of space and time and even the limitations of death can be transcended."
And that, my friends, is why writing is worth it.
What have you given up to write?
Photo by lemort.
J.D.
Yes Charlotte, your start is way too negative. lol. You make up for it with the quote from Christopher Vogler. That applies in so many ways to what I think, dream, and put on paper.
Charlotte Dixon
I'm glad you like the quote as much as I do! It's my favorite ever!
Sent from my iPhone
Rebecca
I haven’t really given up anything to write, instead I have learned how to delegate and involve the family more with things so I have less to do and can spend more time writing and not feel guilty about it.
Rebecca
I love Emma Jean and the book, it’s great. Hopefully soon, posting a review at Amazon.
Don Williams
It’s certainly true that we have to give up something to write, but I rather think of what I get out of writing rather than what I give up and that includes the satisfaction of doing something to the best of my abilities.
Charlotte Dixon
That's great, Rebecca. I need to get better at delegating–especially when it comes to housework!
Charlotte Dixon
Oh thank you so much! I love hearing it, and I'd love it if you have a chance to post a review!
Ariane Hopman
This is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately (pertaining to writing my blog, but also many other things) and I often remember this beloved quote by Mr. Thoreau – “The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” I think this is a great measuring stick and one that writing clearly measures up to.
Charlotte Dixon
Well put, Don. You said exactly what I was trying to get at.
And guess what? You didn't get stuck in the Spam file this time. Yay!
Charlotte Dixon
That is such a wonderful quote! It sums everything up perfectly! Thank you so much for sharing it.
Ledger D' Main
Write Write
While writing in my broken down shack
It was quite a surprise
I found myself in an Ogden Nash ramble
Verses in three-quarter beat, quite a surprise
Thu the night that guy kept me up
He kept on moaning. Write, write now rewrite
I’ll show him what I can do in my broken down shack
It’s not just a place to store wheat and corn
Write write. Write! Write! Write write. Write! Rewrite!
The ghostly chorus went write write write. Write! Write!
I pushed my quill till its nib was no more
Whoa that guy was making me shake
That Ogden Nash ramble caused me to quiver
He wouldn’t relent, I began to quake
He must of thought it needed more ands and buts
As he kept on tooting his reframe. Write! Write!
I’ll show him what I can do in my broken down shack
It’s not just a place to store wheat and corn
Write write. Write! Write! Write Write. Write! Rewrite!
The ghostly chorus went write write. Write! Write!
My quill went into an eternal gear
And took off in a black ink flowing rush
Soon I thought I could do this nightly
I must have left his prose in the dust
When I looked up to dip my nib in the jar
I couldn’t believe my eyes
That Ogden Nash rambled right behind me
That Ogden was an annoying spirit guy
Write write. Write! Write! Write write. Write! Rewrite!
The ghostly chorus went, write write write.
Now I’m writing everything over again and again and again
It certainly was an exhausting pace
A race it would be, that Nash rambler and me, sadly
I couldn’t let up and fall in disgrace
That guy must’ve wanted to show me up
As he kept on tooting his reframe. Write! Write!
I’ll show him what I can do in my broken down shack
It’s not just a place to store wheat and corn
Write write. Write! Write! Write write. Write! Rewrite!
The ghostly chorus went, write write write.
Now I’m doing sixty words a minute and the well ain’t empty
It was as fast as I could go
Then that Nash rambler sat right beside me
As if he had something more to show
Then leaned in real close as if he was a decent fellow
And whispered for me to hear
“Hey, Buddy, only vampires and zombies will be published this year!”
Write! Write! Write! Write! Write! Rewrite!
Charlotte Dixon
I heard a rumor Vampires and Zombies are passe, outre, old-fashioned, out of date, no longer selling. So you might as well keep on writing!
Zan Marie
Time! You nailed mine!
Charlotte Dixon
Mine, too, Zan Marie. And–you're my first commenter after Typepad was out for days–yay! Its great to be back.