This is part of a two-part series. In my last post I went over some of the biggest downsides of being a writer. Now it’s time for the biggest upsides of being a writer.
Still haven’t read the first part?
Wait, what are you doing here then – Go, read it, I’ll wait for you
Back again? Or are you just saying that to make me feel happy?
That’s nice of you, but with that out of the way let’s get to the second part of the series: the biggest upsides of being a writer.
Why Become a Writer?
The money and fame, the impact, and the freedom – Do any of these ring a bell?
Does it make the passion inside your fingers tickle?
Because, then I definitely get you.
To be honest, the sea of upsides is as gigantic – like the real ocean. I could probably spend days listing them.
But you have other things to do – right?
I mean the stories don’t write themselves.
But don’t worry, I’ll do my best to convey it as quickly as I can.
Oh and, if you read the downsides, then I get if you fell in despair.
Some of those are soul-crushing and will have you stare at a blank page questioning if this really is worth it.
It is.
And I hope by the time we are done here, that you’ll see that the upsides, 100%, outweigh the downsides.
Photo by Mert Talay on Unsplash
I can’t make any promises, though.
Writing is such a complex thing.
And sure, I can sit here with my legs folded over each other, look you deep in the eyes, and say: “Yes you’ll get this and this”
But at the end of the day, the upsides really depend on the mindset you bring to the table.
You need to keep an open mind, be ready to explore and put in the hard work.
And if you do, then I can promise, this will turn into the most beautiful trip you’ll ever embark on.
I get that it can be overwhelming, but you’ve already made the step.
You searched for this.
You’re curious about the upsides of being a writer.
Why not stay focused?
I’ll do my best to convince you to pursue that dream of yours.
Making an Impact with Words
Here’s a story about how the first time I cried because of a book.
I was in seventh grade and I had gone through a 300-page book in 3 days. Which normally I’d be happy about, but I paid it no attention.
I was too busy reading.
Line after line, a feeling grew inside.
First it was a pebble, but by the time I closed the book it had turned into a boulder.
At the end the excruciating pain made the tears flow.
I was stunned.
Never tried something like that before.
And from that day I was hooked.
I wanted to do the same – Not in some sadistic way, but I was mind blown by the fact, words someone else had written, made me cry.
Think about it.
Somebody completely unknown to you, they grab your book and you elicit such an effect on them? It’s like a force that stops them from putting your work down?
I know money is great, but that’s magic.
To shape someone’s way of thinking, outlook on life or motivate them – having them give you credit for changing their life? That’s like a fuel under the passionate fire.
It’s definitely the one thing that’s motivating me to write.
The idea that your writing can help not only yourself, but someone else. That’s an obsession you can’t get rid of once you first feel it and probably the most underrated benefit of being a writer.
It’s that daily motivator, keeping me growing through the hard times.
Because yes, this takes time.
And while money and fame are great, it just takes waay too long before you actually get any, so I hope you can see why it’s natural to find something else.
What’s better than a smile on someone else’s face?
Reasons to Become a Writer
Okay okay, now that’s sorted out.
It’s time to look at some reasons for why to become a writer.
As I said the list of upsides being of a writer is long.
One I could probably talk about for ages.
I don’t want to rank them in any specific order as it won’t make much sense.
What’s important to me might not be important to you, but I’m going to spill my thoughts and I’m sure there are some that’ll fit with you.
Quick note: These aren’t specific to writing. They can and do apply to anything, but that’s irrelevant to this post – because you do want to become a writer, right?
That’s what I thought.
You wouldn’t have been here if it weren’t for some passion hidden somewhere inside of you.
Which leads me perfectly to the first of my upsides of being a writer.
You.
Yes, you read that right.
Writing doesn’t always have to be about the reader, sometimes it’s about you.
The writer and the personal fulfillment you get from writing.
Personal Fulfillment
Have you ever sat under a tree, feeling the sun hug your face while the light cast a massive shadow in the grass?
Maybe that’s a bit too specific…
But it does sound amazing right?
Feeling the warmth spread through your body while a smile stretches your lips apart.
It’s a magical feeling and it’s the exact same thing you experience once you realize what you want to do in life.
In this context, it’s writing.
You know there’s always been some personal passion commanding you from within, you just didn’t know what it was.
But now that you have discovered writing you’re standing in front of the most important journey of your life.
And that’s the perfect starting point.
As I said, you write because you want to tell a story to your readers, but have you ever thought about yourself?
Your personal passion to write down words, create stories, and to disappear into a fiction world? Everything is to help you satisfy the hunger inside. It’s like a hungry lion scouting the savanna. It needs food or else it won’t be the king anymore.
“But Jack, they say I have to focus on the reader.”
Yeah well, they also say that being obsessed is bad, but look at us? Still going strong.
Therefore, it’s a perfectly valid reason to focus on yourself and something you really need to pay attention.
Because the truth about this, if you have the desire to write and write the way you want, then you’ll forever feel fulfilled, even when the sales number says 0.
And to be honest, if you feel fulfilled, then it’s becomes much easier to actually write freely and let your creativity flow unrestricted.
Creative Freedom
To sit down at your keyboard knowing damn well you can write whatever you want – Is there anything better?
No of course not.
But this is one of the massive upsides of being a writer.
“Jack, doesn’t this apply to everything creative?”
Sure.
But I just feel like writing is basically a universe of freedom.
Sure, there are standards, but you can write just about whatever you want.
You can make a story about whatever you wish. Create messed up characters and plots, but do it in a way that’s exciting and people will read it.
It doesn’t matter what the content is, because it’s the perspective that’s important. One of the reasons this works so well is because personality is such an important element of writing.
It’s the freedom to create combined with your creativity that makes you stand out.
Even if the work might not apply to some high standards, it can still be considered amazing.
And, sure this is based on a hunch, but while people are attracted to books for the great plots, characters and stories, there’s something about the author writing it.
If you are capable of doing it in a new and exciting way then you basically have the audience in your hand.
One of the biggest upsides of being a writer is that you have the creative freedom to write whatever you want, in just about whatever way you want. It’s the perfect way to get the creative inside of you out and do it in a way that also satisfy the personal desire inside of you.
Perks Of Being a Writer
The writing life is a hectic, complex, but a beautiful one.
It’s like a life that’ll bend itself to your will once you show it that you are worth of its efforts.
“What the fuck does that even mean Jack?”
Sorry about my language, I just expected you to yell this out like when some politician tries to explain why what they’re doing is great, but basically all evidence says it’s not.
Sorry side not, back to the real post.
What it means is that once you have put in the time and shown that you’ll stay consistent, then you’ll quickly start to pick up on the perks of being a writer.
Everything might not fall upon you at one time, but with time it’ll start to pour down onto you.
The perks of being a writer are different from other creative jobs, but they allow a lot of freedom into your life, and while it can be a harsh life, I know these are some of the things that’ll help you stay on track.
Getting to Work From Anywhere
Ah yes, in the world of unstable jobs and free mindset.
Writing is perfect.
You disappear for x number of months.
You sit in front of a computer and type away as the stories fly around in your mind.
This is what I’m dreaming of and it’s a magical thing.
To be able to do whatever you want and just disappear completely into your story – Is there anything better?
One of the upsides of being a writer is that you get to work from anywhere.
Yes, I know you aren’t doing this a full-time thing yet, but think about it.
Off from work? Perfect time to work.
On vacation? Plenty of time to write by the pool.
And on public transport?
Okay you get the point.
Basically, there’s nothing stopping you from pulling out your laptop and getting a couple of words down.
Writing allows you to write not just from anyway, but at any time.
Feel like you struggle to come up with ideas? Take your work station with you and get out. It’s the perfect solution to defeating writer’s block.
Sometimes getting away from your environment can prove to be a massive boost to your creativity.
But honestly, I don’t know about you – But doesn’t it sound amazing?
You get to work on your passion and you don’t have to think about time nor place.
Talk about a dream.
Lifelong learning
We are heading towards the end, so I’ll make this quick.
If you are writing, then you’re learning.
Isn’t that a great saying?
Thank you – I coined it myself.
It might sound like a big load of bullshit, but it’s true.
When you start out being a writer, it’s a decision based on a lot of passion, but not a lot of experience.
You’ll feel out of place and like you don’t belong, but I’m here to tell you that you shouldn’t let it hinder you.
Because it’s a great thing.
Go in with curiosity, even if you feel blind.
I know it seems dangerous, but as long as you keep your passion, then it’s like walking through a door expectating a scare, but actually receiving a hug.
Because the truth is, the more you write, the more you learn.
It’s a constant journey to get better and you do this by continuing to learn.
You might not have thought about it, but maybe you have felt it.
It’s like the words come out a bit easier, the characters get a bit better. The plot feels easier to put together in your head – it’s a natural sign, you might not pay attention to, but you’re actually improving.
In fact, every time you put down a single word, you improve.
You put your mind to work and it’s honestly the best thing you can do as a writer. And no matter how you do it, you can always find something to improve at.
I know I said the other things were great, but this is probably my favorite upsides of being a writer, if I had to pick one.
Why Being a writer Is Rewarding
There’s a lot of arguments for why to become a writer.
Way too many for me to even list.
And the truth is, I don’t exactly know how to choose.
Yes, working from everywhere and being able to get creative freedom are great.
But to have an impact on others? Is there anything better than that.
To be honest I don’t know.
But if you choose to become a writer you don’t have to choose.
You get to have it all.
It’s part of the package. And once you do go down this journey, you’ll see it’s like I said.
You’ll never get bored.
There are simply just too many genres to explore and styles to learn.
What do you say – Ready to become a writer?
That’s a wrap for today.
What is your favorite upside of being a writer? Have you figured it out or did the post help you find one? Share your story in the comments or send me a mail – I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Until next time – Hope you have a productive and creative day.
Your writing buddy,
Jack