WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT WRITING
Coming up with a story that works! Reading something you’ve written and, without arrogance, thinking yes this is good. Taking yourself into a different world (this is especially nice when the real world is giving you a hard time). Inventing characters and as you write about them sensing them coming to life, taking on their own personalities and knowing these characters are unique to you.
Developing ideas as you write which either improve the story you’re working on or give you scope for more stories to follow on with. The sense of achievement when you have completed a piece of work, which is only better when said work is published. Getting your name in print for your creative piece of work. Discovering you really can produce something publishable!
Knowing I’m creating something unique. Taking myself out of this world for a while, particularly helpful when going through a bad patch. Writing is therapy. When someone tells you they like what you’ve written. When you’re asked for advice because you’re a writer as it’s always nice to be recognized as such by someone!
All would-be writers are told to read a lot in genre and out of it so one major benefit of writing is getting to do a lot of reading and being able to claim you need to do it as part of your professional development! As a result of reading more, discovering new authors’ work to enjoy and as a result finding your own stories are inspired by a wide range of genres and styles, which will bring your work to (a) life and (b) keep it going for the long term. You work your reading and writing muscles here.
Creating stories is fun in itself. It’s also a positive thing to do. Stories are practically as old as humanity itself and though the form in which they’re told changes, the need for stories will always be with us. Stories are also great for getting messages across without preaching. And a good story entertains, makes you think and sticks in the memory. I want some of my stories to stick in people’s memories - for good reasons!
Getting the first draft down as then I’ve got something to work with. Getting the first edit done as I start sensing the story “tighten” up. Getting the final version out knowing I’ve written and edited it to the best of my ability. What is nice is when the final version is a dramatic improvement on the first draft, as it should be. It’s also encouraging to keep coming up with ideas to write about. Whilst there are humans, there are always human conditions and whims and ways to write about.
