"Writers" why do you even bother? (part 2)?

Question

A couple of days ago, I asked the question why so-called writers bothered to write as a hobby. The answers were about what I expected. Which means that most people missed the point. I said if you want a hobby, learn the piano. Many aspiring writes were infuriated by this. I got responses such as, "well playing the piano won't make you any more money than writing will! So what's your point?" My point was I just picked the piano as an example. I could have said collect rocks, bugs, go fishing, join a nature walk group......anything basically. Just stop calling your writing a "hobby". It is not a hobby, in fact. Collecting bugs maybe but not writing.
Steven King once said that writing is a job. I have to concur. For those of you who work, if you went out and got a second job you wouldn't call it your "hobby", would you? You would call it, uh, your second JOB. Cause that's what it would be. And if you did treat your job as a hobby pretty soon you would find a pink slip in hand. You could have as many "call-in" days as you desire with your hobby. Not so with your job, huh? It iritates me to no end when people say, "well, I'm not in it for the money. In fact I don't intend to show my work to anybody, ever!" Allow me to say that your writing is a waste. You may as well go play video games all day. If a guy named Michael Jordan had been satisfied with playing basketball in his backyard his whole life he would have died obscure and unknown. But he didn't.
He decided to showcase his skill to the world and as a result he's MICHAEL JORDAN, understand what I'm saying? I'm not talking to the writer who scribbles out lines of poetry during a lunch break or who writes stories under a tree on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I'm talking to the writer who has their heart set on becoming a published author and a successful one at that. These types of writers who say writing is their "hobby", just please, stop being so cowardly and admit that you're in it to win it.

Answer 1

"Allow me to say that your writing is a waste. You may as well go play video games all day."



And many people do play video games all day. That's their hobby. Writing is mine. Hobbies are _allowed_ to be "a waste". They're what you do in your free time, when you're not worrying about your career and earnings.



"I'm talking to the writer who has their heart set on becoming a published author and a successful one at that. "



You really need to think your logic through. People who have their hearts set on becoming successful published authors _don't_ consider writing to be their hobby.



"These types of writers who say writing is their "hobby" "...do not exist. Some writers write for fun and say so. Other writers write with the intention of making it a pro career. They also say so.



I don't know anyone who writes with the intention of being successful but claims it's only a hobby. Though I have encountered a fair few people who claim they're writing with the intention of being successful but have no intention of putting in any more than a hobby level of effort.



"I'm not talking to the writer who scribbles out lines of poetry during a lunch break or who writes stories under a tree on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. "



Then don't address your question to "writers", please. Address it to "aspiring pro authors."



They'll all laugh at you, since these people do not consider writing to be a hobby in the first place.



Writing is a job for Stephen King. It's a hobby for me. Basketball is not a hobby for Michael Jordan...but do you really think that nobody plays basketball for fun? Don't be ridiculous.



"These types of writers who say writing is their "hobby", just please, stop being so cowardly and admit that you're in it to win it."



Like I said before. Writing is my hobby. Over half a million words of fanfic says that I write for fun. If I was "in it to win it", why on earth would I write in a genre I can never, ever sell?



Actions speak louder than words, kid.

Answer 2

I don't actually *get* how any of the things you listed are more of a hobby than writing. With the Michael Jordan reference, MANY writers attempt to publish their work, by finding an agent and publisher. It doesn't mean it will happen, but to many (such as Stephen King) managed to have their work published. Just like many basket ballers do not have the chance to join the NBA.



If someone calls a writing a hobby, though, *why* does it hurt you? All the more hobbies and jobs for you out there! Are you writing this because you are bitter due to being rejected by a publisher or something? It's the vibe I'm receiving.

Answer 3

Someone is digging themselves a deeper grave. This post barely even relates to the last.



If it is done for enjoyment, it's a hobby. Plain and simple. It doesn't matter what it is. If you do it in your free time because you love it, it's a hobby.

Writing is only a job, when you are doing it, for a job. When you are getting paid to write, then it is a job. Of course it's a job to Stephen King, he's getting paid to do it.

Writing for me isn't a job, nor a "second job" because I'm not getting paid to do it. It is definitely work. But work and job is not the same thing. Eventually, I "am in it to win it." I'd like to be published. But for now, it's still a hobby because I have no intention of publishing any time soon. I'm not working on anything serious.

Professional writers, yes, a job. But for most people on here who write for themselves, it's a hobby.



You do you think you are, telling people what they want? What makes you all knowing? Not everyone wants fame. Even a writer who has their heart set on publishing, will still at one point regard it as a hobby. Odds are, it began as one. Hobbies can be serious. And maybe it's a hobby to them, and later they decide to get more serious. But really, who cares? It's personal. Why someone writes, and how serious they want to be about writing, is their own business. It's their free time, their hobby.



Before Michael Jordan started getting paid to play basketball, it was probably a hobby. Of course it isn't now, he gets paid to do it. You can't compare aspiring writers to a professional basketball player, it doesn't work



Aren't you a little self righteous? You can step off your soap box, because who are you again? Your post is inconsistent and contradicts itself. You don't even sound like you know what you're talking about.

Answer 4

Writing is a hobby to many people because it doesn't take a certain skill to write, just as it doesn't take a certain skill to collect rocks or go bug-catching. As long as you enjoy what you are doing, it is a hobby. You have to remember that many people don't like their jobs, so I definitely wouldn't call writing a job. [;



Most writers are in it to win it. I have hopes of becoming published someday. But some people are insecure about their writing. They want to squeeze in more practice first. I don't see why it bothers you so much. As you a writer? Are you published? If your answers are "no" to either, then you should have no reason to complain.

Answer 5

Some people enjoy writing. Others enjoy playing the piano, or playing basketball, or hiking. There are those who dream of publication someday, yes, and those people should treat their writing as a job. But there are also a great many people who only write for fun, with no intentions of pursuing publication. They may share their stories with family or friends, or post them online for others to read and enjoy.



Why does it bother you so much that some people waste their time writing?



In my humble opinion, it's better someone waste their time writing (and hopefully learning basic grammar and spelling skills, while they're at it) than playing a video game. At least they will have some practice when they start writing resumes and looking for jobs.

Answer 6

I am hoping to be published one day, so I don't think of my writing as a hobby. If I never got published it would suck, but if you were to foretell the future and say I'd never be published it wouldn't make me stop writing. I know for a fact I would keep writing because I love it.



Now, may I counter your question? What stops me in my tracks is that what I'm basically hearing from you is that if someone isn't the best and doesn't become famous they're virtually worthless. I disagree with that. If a person is happy with their life and themselves then who are you to say they're "cowardly"?



When I'm writing if I think of my book as something to publish I nitpick way too much. I get horrible writers block when I feel pressure to finish something and make it perfect. I have to think of my writing as something no one will read for me to write well.

Answer 7

Excuse me, I am in it to win it. I write what and when I can, it's like a hobby to me for right now—but why can't people have a hoppy and still be in it to win it? If I go to college for writing, then it becomes my job, right?

I don't know why you're so bothers by "hobby writers."

I think writing can be and is a hoppy. I enjoy it, and I know a lot of other people who do, too—and I don't think any of them are going to make a job out of it. So why does that mean that they can't keep it as a hobby? Because they're not "serious" about it? Because it's not their job?

Best of luck and wishes,

~Red Jane

Answer 8

Cath summed it up beautifully: If people are writing with the intention of succeeding professionally, then they -don't- consider writing a hobby.

The definition of the word "hobby" is: "a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure/leisure."



So, by this definition, I can assume that YOUR hobby is bigotry (and arguing a losing debate).



Sounds to me like you're trying to justify YOUR motivations for writing by pointing your finger at others. And judging by your lack of debating skills/writing skills/communication skills...



"Allow me to say that your writing is a waste."



Anyway, grow up and stop trolling B&A. Your next rant will be reported. Cheers.

Answer 9

There are plenty of people out there who write and never show their work to anyone.



I'm not one of those writers, and I'm "in it to win it" as you would say. But in your last question you were basically calling BS on the desire to write without getting paid to do it.



I think everyone agrees that NOBODY begins writing with the goal of getting paid, except in very rare cases. Instead, the usual story is: "I began writing because I loved it. I wrote as a hobby until I was good enough to have it be my job. Now I have a job that I love, and getting paid is a bonus, because I'm doing what I love."



MANY writers never make it past "hobby" and are never in it for the money, and are only in it for the joy they derive from it. They don't expect to ever get paid, and yet they still write. Why? Because it brings joy that other hobbies don't bring.



One of my hobbies is doing community theater. I have NO aspirations to be an actress or a singer, and yet I consistently audition for shows. Why? It brings me joy. I love being around people, I love performing, I love theater. Just because I am doing something that COULD be a profession in the future, doesn't necessarily mean I have aspirations for that profession. I'm not good enough to be professional, but that doesn't mean I don't want to continually get better at acting and continually have fun learning new things.



Does that mean I would turn down the opportunity to be on TV if someone thought I was talented enough? HELL NO! I would take that opportunity in an instant, because of how much I love acting. But knowing I'm not good enough doesn't stop me from deriving joy from being in community theater. If I could get paid for acting, I'd love it. Heck, I pay $100-$200 to be in community theater (makeup, costume fees, member dues, etc) so I'm DEFINITELY not in it for the money.



So even though I'm writing with the intention of being published someday, I can recognize that there are people like me and community theater, who write without the intention of pursuing a career.



Don't diss writers who are doing it for the love of writing because you're simply wrong about writing being either a profession or pointless. It completely, 100% qualified to be someone's hobby. I often TELL people that writing is my hobby, because it's not yet my profession. When I'm an author, I'll tell people I'm an author. It's not because I'm not "owning up to it" it's because I don't want to be fired from my job as a graphic designer, when they realize that my long-term goals are for writing, not for graphic designing.

Answer 10

You contradicted yourself, first you were talking about people who didn't intend to show their work to anyone, then you said you were talking about people who want to be a published author, which one are you talking about? The former does it for fun, to express themselves in paper whether they want anyone to see or not, the latter would probably enjoy writing and wants to share their writing with other people. If they make some money out of it, then it's a win win.

Answer 11

i write because i enjoy it, that's all i need. I don't have a flare for poetry, my singing is off key, musical instruments hate me, my garden just dies, Sociology is dull. Besides writing the only other thing im good at is art and animals... I just enjoy it, but it wont stop me getting a real job or living a real life sort of thing...

Answer 12

writing should be a hobby.the money should just be a secondary thing like fame people shouldn't just want to be famous they should want to be singers or actors or musicians etc and fame should just be something that comes with doing whatever it is you love a job is something you wouldn't do for free.

Answer 13

You're wrong already because your generalizing and profiling. "Writers" aren't duplicates of the same person. Different people, different thoughts, different ways of living...



Get over yourself and learn to tolerate things that irk you.

Answer 14

there is more...!! hahahahahahahahahahaha u must have been in datings period lately, u've covered everything, missed nothing u r the star of today ;-) *

Answer 15

I'm in it to win it. Now go check out my blog.

http://icariansbooks.blogspot.com/

Answer 16

Your ignorance is just exceptional.

Answer 17

lolwhat? We don't need more broke English majors, we need doctors, engineers, and mathematicians.