Being a writer is one of the craziest things a person can ever do. We engage in a profession where we know we'll be rejected, multiple times, and we still choose to go through with it. We create characters out of nothing and we slave over multiple drafts of thousands of words until every last typo and grammatical error has been put to rest (except for that one that you won't catch until after you've sent your manuscript off to a top-five publisher). Sometimes, it feels like we should close our computers, throw our manuscripts in the trash and quit. But we never do, because there are so many reasons why being a writer is worth all the hardship. And, if you're having trouble remembering why you do this, here are a few moments in the life to remind you:
1. Missing conversations because the one going on in your head is so much more exciting.
Your cousin's pregnant? Best friends are in a fight? You wouldn't know, because your two main characters — the ones who've been refusing to talk to you for weeks now — are finally speaking up. So, come on, we all know where your attention really is.
2. Losing sleep and not even being aware of it because new ideas are vying for your attention.
You laid down to go to sleep six hours ago, except you got distracted by a nagging idea and, soon enough, you've mentally detailed eight new scenes. Oh, and your alarm clock is going off.
3. Using names of people you dislike for the antagonists in your story.
Let's be honest, we all do it. And we may or may not have killed one or two of them off in the process.
4. Saving texts or writing down conversations because they're excellent source material.
It's only creepy if you make it creepy.
5. Knowing what a critique partner is and how they are the only people keeping you afloat in this world sometimes.
Agent requests, publisher rejections, writers' block — they've been through it all, both by themselves and with you, each time you've walked them through the ups and downs of your life. Their advice is invaluable and you don't know where you'd be without them. (Shout out to Debbie — you keep me sane, you wonderful person.)
6. Those epiphanies that stop you dead in your tracks no matter where you are.
Life stops, and all of a sudden, you know exactly how to fix that pesky plot hole. So, you drop everything and get right to it. You just have to pray this doesn't happen while you're standing on train tracks or something.
7. Being able to disguise your excessive reading and Netflix binge watching as "research."
You have to understand the trends, you know?
8. The feeling of utter elation and despair when you send your materials away.
It feels like your heart is going to burst and your lungs are going to collapse, and you can't tell if this is a good or bad thing.
9. When you send those materials away and automatically have five new ideas on how to improve your book — and find five separate typos.
Never has the world been so cruel.
10. Some of your favorite people are and always have been fictional characters — and there's a good chance some of those characters are your own.
Just don't tell this to your best friends — unless your best friends are also fictional characters. In which case, doesn't really matter, does it?
11. Telling yourself you'll remember the idea you just had and there's absolutely no need for you to write it down.
Don't do it. Don't do it. For the love of J.K. Rowling, DON'T DO IT.
12. Trying to remember that idea later and crying when you realize you do this every single time.
You did it. Of course you did. You always do. And this is how it always ends.
13. Laying in bed, staring at the ceiling, planning an entire novel in your head.
Everyone tells you that you're lazy but they'll be eating those words when you produce an 80,000 word novel by the end of the month.
14. Living in the elaborate scenarios your mind creates and being hit hard when the real world comes knocking.
Reality is definitely not better than fiction.
15. Getting to do work with no pants on.
Like, literally, how cool is that? How could you ever turn that opportunity down?
16. Imagining yourself on a talk show discussing your recent bestseller.
You've done this more times than you can count. And, truthfully, more times than is socially acceptable.
17. Sometimes forgetting that real life isn't like a book and getting temporarily depressed.
18. But, despite all the hardship and rejection, you remember that your job is creating extraordinary stories.
And there's nothing better than that.
