Walttriznastories's Blog

WRITERS CROSSING THE LINE

July 12, 2016 at 9:57 pm Leave a comment

While attending a dinner with a friend, his wife said, “Glad you have a hobby like writing.”  My then-wife saw me bristle and understood why.  This incident occurred some time ago but not forgotten.

At the time of this event I had already been published and aware of the agony associated on being a writer on the quest to being an author.  I have pondered the issues of writing and differences of the title as writer as a hobby or writer as a profession and arrived at the following conclusion.

My thoughts are these.  As I went for putting words on paper to attempting publication,  I felt writing could no longer be deemed a hobby after experiencing the rejections, multiple times of my work.  After some thought, I realized writing can be a pleasant pastime; that some write for the sheer joy of the experience.   Never seeking publication, only enjoying the mind wandering to places they would never have considered.  Simply enjoying the process of creativity. 

Writing is a hobby until you decide to publish.  It is then you crossed the Rubicon.  There is no going back.  You crossed the line from hobby to profession, and God help you.  For unless you are extremely talented, a writing gem hidden from the world, you will most likely experience rejection.  The words you consider magnificence will push upon the brick wall of reality.

But if you goal is to become an author you will experience a level of doubt and rejection you never anticipated.  But someday, if you carry on, your work will find a home and you are on the road of being an author.  The difference between writer and author is perseverance.

You made it!

You’re an author now and the years of writing as a hobby are behind you.

Entry filed under: OBSERVATIONS & OPINIONS, THOUGHTS, Walt Trizna, WALT'S OBSERVATIONS, WALT'S OPINIONS. Tags: authors, hobbies, publishing, Walt Trizna, writes, writing, writing profession.