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As I said in another post, I know this is a controversial statement, but: I don't always find writing fun, sometimes it's hard work, and I treat it like a job (because I'd like it to be my primary job someday).

I'm interested to hear how other writers approach this topic. I think it's great if it's always fun! But I thought I'd talk about the other side. And please chime in with any thoughts.

Basically, I enjoy writing--most of the time. Even when it's hard work, I enjoy it. Even when I'm banging my head against the desk trying to figure out a sticky plot point or working through feedback, I enjoy it. But sometimes it's just plain hard work.

I've been writing for years, and right now I have three completed novels. I'm working toward trade publication, and I would love to someday make my living as an author. You know, because it would be a job I love, even if it's not always fun. As a source of income, I won't have the luxury of stopping when it's not fun. When a deadline is looming and I'm tired and would rather nap or play a game.

But that doesn't mean it's not also exhilarating to have finished, to have written, to have pushed through the sticky plot point and come up with something amazing. There are highs and lows, like everything else. For me, of course. I've been told admitting this makes me less of an artist, or is a sign I somehow put out "lesser" work. I disagree. All art can be hard work.

So, it's your turn.

Is it always fun for you? (If yes, I might be a little jealous wink )

Do you love writing because it's an outlet, because it's fun, because it doesn't feel like work?

Would you feel badly about your writing if it was hard?

Oh writing. What can I say about the evil life of a writer? If I could just be satisfied writing as a hobby then I'd be happy. But once you stop dabbling in it and make it your career, plan for it to be your future, you start looking ahead and seeing a lonely, bleak life. I don't think any of us chose this life. I think a passion burning so hot inside us force us into it.

To answer your question, yes, sometimes I am unhappy. A lot of the time in fact, but I push myself because I need to write. It is my outlet, my art. And I think if you continue to write, even through that pain and hard work that will make your a true artist.

Psh, those other soft artists who don't suffer everyday don't know our pain and suffering. That's not to say they aren't artists, but they don't know if they would stick to their craft once it started to feel like work. They don't know how much they love their craft, how much passion burns inside them.

Is writing work? Yes. Is it an art? Yes.

Is it always fun? No bloody way in hell.

There's always those nasty sticky bits that decide "Hey, we're not gonna just come to you. You have to come to us." You have to work for those moments, but oh, what moments they are when you finally get them! It's a rewarding feeling. Almost as rewarding as finishing a book or a series itself. So while it may not always be fun, and sometimes it might be ridiculously hard, it is, for me, at least, always rewarding.

I used to write as an outlet for all my tweeny emotions and teen angst, but I came to love the characters I was consistently beating the crap out of. On top of that, I fell in love with the concept of storytelling, which is why when I read a book or play a videogame or something, I'm more into the characters and their individual stories than the overall plot in and of itself. I love to test my mettle against established stories and see if I'm any good at it.

So far, feedback says yes. But we shall see, shan't we?

Yes, absolutely always rewarding. Sometimes to get myself through a part like that, I'll force myself to go somewhere really boring where I can't distract myself with reading or games or making food and sit there until I work out the problem I'm having. And it's always awesome when I finally do.

And I definitely spent time in class plotting and taking notes. Not so much actually writing, because I prefer typing, but there was a bit of that as well. It kept me awake during more than one dull lecture.

I want to make it clear I didn't say they aren't artist. They just haven't been test yet. I guess that's just how I feel about life. I feel like at some point in your life you are going to screw up/get test/blah, blah, blah, and that's when you find out what kind of person you are. Them same applies to writers.

We are all at different stages in our writing careers/lives, we have different levels of experience and have had different experiences. I have "OMG, I'm a writer!" moments all the time. Like when I finished my first novel, when I wrote on the back of a receipt for the first time because it was the only paper I had, when I created my index card system, ect.

My friend Ray wants to be a writer and he's always complaining that he can never finish anything. So whenever he IMs me I send him an IM saying "Write!" I told him I don't want to hear his "I have no time" excuse because if he has enough time to IM me and talk to me about Batman comics then he has enough time to write a damn book.

You keep talking about being a writer. In my opinion anyone is a write. Anyone can write story, anyone can write a book. I think Author, I want to be an author, not a writer because I already am I writer. I believe that the only thing that makes you an author is how others view everyone in this guild as a write. I don't care if you are an author or not, I think you are only an author if you are actually known, and published in PRINT. I am not one for that E-book... It is nice, but a lot of crap can be published on E-books.

But delusions are fun! mrgreen

It's true that the market is smaller in Britain, but there's no reason you can't submit to US publishers and agents as well, once you have something you think is ready! There's a bit more room over here, and since most places take email (or will make exceptions for overseas submissions), there's not even a cost barrier. ninja