We all know writing is hard. The combination of dynamics — trying to find the story, cajoling our characters into talking to us, the daily grind, being original, this page, this paragraph, this sentence, this line, this word, the thousands of choices we are forced to make to craft a story — adds up to an enormous challenge.
What keeps us going?
What keeps you going?
If it’s our job, that’s easy: We write to make a living. But even then, we could choose to walk away and do something easier (I read a quote once from a writer who said, “Anything is easier than writing”).
And if writing is not our job, but an avocation. Or an aspiration. Where the words we write are all written on spec with no guarantee of financial gain…
What keeps you going then?
Think about what you conjure up each day to plunk your ass onto chair to write.
Think about the darkest moments of your creative life where you thought about quitting. Or perhaps did quite writing… but found your way back to it.
What is at the core of that thing that keeps you going?
I want to create something that affects people – preferably in the way I intended.
I'm not one of the "I *have* to write" people, I just *want* to write – because when it works, it's great.
And if it's not working, I want to make it work.
I can't imagine not writing. I can imagine not aspiring to be a professional, but I'll always write because it's more an addiction than anything else.
On the best days, it just feels damn good to do it. On the bad days I do it because it feels better than not doing it.
And when I don't write at all, it affects my whole life. I do worse at my day job, my relationships get messed up, I lose my time management skills, it just screws me up.
So I write because I have to, because it feels good, because it's the most stable and structured thing in my life right now.
Also, I fucking love movies.
-G
It's the only thing I've found that I don't get bored with. I love writing because I'm better at expressing my thoughts and feelings on paper than out loud. I love coming up with characters that come to life in front of my mind's eye and surprise me. I love the rhythm of a screenplay, mid-way between prose and poetry. I love the structure as my mind wanders a lot and it helps keep me on track. I love films and I'd love to be able to give people the same kind of entertainment those who make movies give me. …
I guess it's because I have a need to tell stories — but in a more left-brained kind of way, like cracking a code. In another way, it's like a drug… when I write something good, and then read it, that's the best kind of high I know, and I'm always chasing it.
This quote: "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."
It's credited to Thomas Edison (though I don't know if that's accurate or not.)
I couldn't bear the thought that success might come tomorrow but I decided to give up today.
I don't know.
I just do.
I am hostage to my characters and writing is my ransom.
To say something that's never been said…
To shine a light that's never been shown…
To entertain… to make people think, hope & dream…
To make magic…
Wrote a typically lengthy response, but boiled down it basically came to this: my parents, sister, and wife have all supported my efforts to attain a writing career to a frankly ridiculous, and I can't bear the thought of them being ashamed of or for me.
They've never said or implied in any way that they would be ashamed of me if I quit, mind you. But I think I would be if I were in their shoes and I quit.
So I keep going.
It helps that I'm going in the right direction (manager, agent, partnering w/ established producers to shop projects, all without even visiting LA, at least so far), albeit at a glacial pace.
The belief that one of these days I'l get something made – and that this could be the one.
I'm lucky enough to get paid for my writing, but my criteria when I accept a job is "Do I think this could be made – and would I watch it?"
I could never write just for the sake of it – you've always got to kid yourself that it's the first step to getting something up on the screen.
Not thinking about the audience anymore. Bit of a risky thing to say really isn't it when all the advice points to 'knowing your market' I'm not sure I ever had or want a market really, the words come I write them down and move on.
I need to write. It is my voice, my way of expression. And I need to express myself. I have a very pompous – and yet humble, I belive – need to tell the world things I think is important.
Then a more down-to-earthed reason is that it is one thing I'm really good at, and I don't feel comfortable in my current day-job situation and want to be able to control my time and life in another way than today. If I don't write anything, I'm stuck where I am.
I honestly have no idea. Like those who posted before me, I think it’s my passion to tell stories, but I’ve been doing it for so long it’s entrenched into my life. We lost power here for two days, and I went nuts because I couldn’t write on my laptop (battery died). Pen and paper is alright, but now I have to decipher the chicken scratch that is my handwriting.
Fundamentally satisfying. The constructing, the walking characters through, pretty much always fun. The writing gets to be fun when it's tuning the strings, fine edits, making it sing (before then, like pulling teeth).
A few more…
To expel demons, slay dragons & unleash angels…
To go deeper into the light…
The satisfaction of having written a story that excites me.
I am a filmmaker. I love storytelling hence I write and direct my own stuff. The quest of getting better in both aspects pushes me to be keep going.
Nobody's mentioned it yet so I guess I'll be the class suck up here…
GITS keeps me going.
3 to 4 times daily you post something informational or inspirational.
When the words don't flow, when my disdain for Hollywood grows, it's off to the nearest browser to top off the tank at the GITS service station, wipe the dead bugs off the windshield, check the oil, the usual.
@Foley – Love the honesty. I feel the same way. Disappointing those who have sacrificed and have been supportive scares the shit out of me.