I’ve talked in general about disappointment, I’ve mentioned the rigors associated with beginning to write. Today I’d like to talk about some of the upsides of being a writer, and specifically of living the “writing life”.
What is the writing life? The answer varies from person to person. For some writers, it can mean getting up at 5am to write for two hours before going to work and then coming home in the evening to play with the kids. For others, it can be working part-time and spending the extra hours writing. Some writers are the full-time caretakers of their kids and also write. And some writers are writing full time.
I don’t mean to romanticize the writing life or downplay any of the real difficulties involved in being a writer. Sometimes, though, it’s good to remember the positives. So without further ado, here are some of the side benefits of being a writer:
1. Schedule flexibility: Writing doesn’t need to happen during business hours, so this means you can squeeze it into your schedule however you please. Sure, the squeeze might be difficult to manage at times, but it’s amazing how versatile some writers become. You have the early 5am writer mentioned above and the late-at-night I-don’t-start-writing-til-midnight writer. Some writers work during school hours and some write in ten minute increments around their other obligations. There are the weekend warrior writers and the write-every-day-without-fail writers. Ultimately, you get to decide what works for you.
2. Working from home (or anywhere else you want): Some people don’t like working from home, but I love it. It means I get to hang out with my dog, be surrounded by useful books and reference materials, and pop in a quick load of laundry while I work. I also love that I can grab my laptop and work from anywhere. The muse struck me in Maui, so I sat outside on the lanai and wrote a story. I feel like getting out of the house, so I pop over to a local café. Flexibility of location is a major perk.
3. Writing community: This is one of my favorite fringe benefits. I love writers. Yes, I am completely biased, but the writers I’ve met have, on the whole, been intelligent, curious, and supportive. They are my fellow dream spinners, tale tellers, and idea unfolders. The process of narrative is about creating meaning and order from chaos, and the people engaged in such a process tend to have thought about aspects of life and the world very deeply. Also writers often know lots of random and interesting facts, so they make great party guests.
4. Research: Mmm, research. A wonderful and enabling reason to go on non-fiction shopping sprees on Amazon, spend way too much time surfing the internet, or make a trip to a shiny university library. Plus research gives you an excuse to try activities you’d never otherwise do or travel to places you wouldn’t have gone (budget allowing, of course). Plus sometimes you learn more than you expected.
5. Challenge: I love a good challenge. In college, I sometimes said the reason I’d decided to study music was because it was difficult enough that it kept me continuously engaged and striving to be better. Writing is the same way. There’s always something new to learn, some new technique to try, some aspect of your writing that can be improved, a new story to tell. I’m constantly able (and even encouraged) to stretch my brain and explore my capabilities further, which means I stay excited about the work.
6. Regular Creation: I had to end with this one, which is, of course, not a side benefit but rather a main cause of becoming a writer in the first place. One of the best parts of being a writer, in my mind, is the satisfaction that comes with writing a daily word goal or time quota, finishing that story or novel, or brainstorming a new promising idea. The writing life ultimately revolves around—you guessed it—sitting down and writing. And if you love the process, then it can be a rewarding life indeed.
Thinking about a benefit of the writing life that I’ve missed? Comment and let me know.
The Practical Free Spirit 
I thought about this for a bit, but I think you’ve covered most everything.
The published out there might say ‘inspiration’. To know they helped someone through a tough time with their work. Or convinced someone struggling not to give up the fight.
Also, there’s the chance of making a money bin full of cash. That’s by no means a certainty (and odds are usually against it), but I do enjoy a good gamble. 🙂
Yes, helping others by inspiring them is a very good one.
As for the money, I didn’t realize you liked your odds quite that long. 😉
It *is* a romantic life. But we writers are often also drama queens, and it’s so easy to focus on the struggle and the hardship.
But it really is the best job in the world.
It’s the artistic temperament! We can’t help our inherent drama queen nature!
But I can try by writing posts like this one. 🙂 I agree, it’s an awesome job. I feel very lucky.
Do writers receive fringe benefits? Are you self employed?Are there lots of openings?Is there any disadvantages to this career? Is there any equiptment or materials that you must buy yourself?
There are a lot of different types of writers, so it really depends on what you do. If you wish to be a copywriter, tech writer, or copy editor, for example, then you can apply for jobs at corporations that will provide various benefits. In my experience there are never enough of these writing jobs compared to how many people want them.
And then there are writers like me, who don’t get paid anything. So if you need money, that would be a significant disadvantage….