I hate it when people write off hard work as an act of allegiance to capitalism – it's so lazy! Which makes me sound like some sort of hard work addict à la Kim Kardashian in that video where she's telling young people their problem is they don't want to work. But it's more like what you said, where it's just a part of liking something enough that you're willing to put up with some discomfort. And also, how on Earth does anyone expect to 'overthrow capitalism' or whatever by not putting work into it? Even if it's for a boss and not your own creative pursuit, I think having pride in whatever you do, however soulless, sets the foundation for creative energy. Loved this piece.
Loved reading this. I've been thinking a lot about Jon Repetti's tweets and the (imo extremely weird!!!) backlash he got for them—I think he perfectly described what it takes to sustain an intellectual/creative life.
The rewards are worth it: you get to engage more deeply with the world, with other people's ideas and perspectives and insights, and you get to make work that you're proud of…and work that can shape other people's intellectual/creative lives, too!
Basically nothing good happens without time and devotion. The idea that writing can just happen, that intellectual curiosity can be fulfilled without any real effort—it honestly feels more misleading and dispiriting to me!
Loved this, and 100% agree. Write, even when you're tired (eventually, you get into it), do it consistently, and be nice to other writers (promote them, they promote you back, etc.) and read their work too because that's helpful in developing your own.
I was an intern at Random House responsible for reading the slush pile in 2009. There were some really great novels in there that never made their way up the ladder but wow the tenacity, commitment, and grit of the folks that sent their work was unparalleled. Sometimes people mailed in hundreds of HANDWRITTEN pages.
One of the important skills I ever learned is how to write through writer's block. Will that writing ever see the light of day? Probably not, but some of it is not bad and, at the very least, it kept my fingers moving.
Already glad I subscribed. Your description of your youthful efforts, reminded me that my own writing career was nipped in the bud (= 6th grade) in in 1957, when both a classmate and I wrote short stories for our school newspaper. I compared her draft to mine and realized I was never going be a writer. (In fairness, she later decamped to the West coast and became, if I can believe Wikipedia, a fairly successful screenwriter.) Although I am (was at this point) a competent writer in a professional context, and had an occasional small, flash success in the years since 1956, I am still in awe of those who can write gracefully and memorably for the sheer accomplishment of writing.
Great essay. Writing is hard work. I have only ever heard a handful of people say writing was easy, and I didn’t believe any of them, frankly. It’s easy to write on days when the words flow beautifully like ink from a fountain pen. It takes discipline to do it on days when every word feels like trudging through six feet of snow. But if you can write on those days, you’re truly a writer.
Never have I written more than while doing the morning pages for the Artist’s Way workbook. Three pages every day first thing when you wake up for the twelve week duration of the course. No prompt or guidance, just writing down whatever comes out and fills the pages. To be forced to fill those pages is indeed affirming what you’ve laid out about writer’s block. Most days I’m doing my morning pages and then continuing to write throughout the day (jotting ideas down in my notes app, fleshing out essay ideas, writing letters). This is the most disciplined I’ve ever been about my writing and it’s changed my whole relationship with writing.
I hate it when people write off hard work as an act of allegiance to capitalism – it's so lazy! Which makes me sound like some sort of hard work addict à la Kim Kardashian in that video where she's telling young people their problem is they don't want to work. But it's more like what you said, where it's just a part of liking something enough that you're willing to put up with some discomfort. And also, how on Earth does anyone expect to 'overthrow capitalism' or whatever by not putting work into it? Even if it's for a boss and not your own creative pursuit, I think having pride in whatever you do, however soulless, sets the foundation for creative energy. Loved this piece.
Loved reading this. I've been thinking a lot about Jon Repetti's tweets and the (imo extremely weird!!!) backlash he got for them—I think he perfectly described what it takes to sustain an intellectual/creative life.
The rewards are worth it: you get to engage more deeply with the world, with other people's ideas and perspectives and insights, and you get to make work that you're proud of…and work that can shape other people's intellectual/creative lives, too!
Basically nothing good happens without time and devotion. The idea that writing can just happen, that intellectual curiosity can be fulfilled without any real effort—it honestly feels more misleading and dispiriting to me!
i agree 100%!!
Loved this, and 100% agree. Write, even when you're tired (eventually, you get into it), do it consistently, and be nice to other writers (promote them, they promote you back, etc.) and read their work too because that's helpful in developing your own.
I was an intern at Random House responsible for reading the slush pile in 2009. There were some really great novels in there that never made their way up the ladder but wow the tenacity, commitment, and grit of the folks that sent their work was unparalleled. Sometimes people mailed in hundreds of HANDWRITTEN pages.
damn, making my Comic Sans printed stapled pages look like ass!!
One of the important skills I ever learned is how to write through writer's block. Will that writing ever see the light of day? Probably not, but some of it is not bad and, at the very least, it kept my fingers moving.
Great writing btw.
Haha so many bits and bobs kept in the darkness here, too. As long as we're doing something! (And thank you, appreciate it!)
Heck, even sitting down and replying to emails can help power through the doldrums and into inspiration.
I am so happy I found your page. I share so many of these thoughts and deeply appreciate your ability to put them down so eloquently on paper.
Already glad I subscribed. Your description of your youthful efforts, reminded me that my own writing career was nipped in the bud (= 6th grade) in in 1957, when both a classmate and I wrote short stories for our school newspaper. I compared her draft to mine and realized I was never going be a writer. (In fairness, she later decamped to the West coast and became, if I can believe Wikipedia, a fairly successful screenwriter.) Although I am (was at this point) a competent writer in a professional context, and had an occasional small, flash success in the years since 1956, I am still in awe of those who can write gracefully and memorably for the sheer accomplishment of writing.
well that's a well-written comment, if i ever saw one!
Great essay. Writing is hard work. I have only ever heard a handful of people say writing was easy, and I didn’t believe any of them, frankly. It’s easy to write on days when the words flow beautifully like ink from a fountain pen. It takes discipline to do it on days when every word feels like trudging through six feet of snow. But if you can write on those days, you’re truly a writer.
“PhD twitter guy” put it on my tombstone 🫡—and thank you, sincerely, for saying it better than I could then or now. Things should take work actually!
haha well thank you very much for starting thought-provoking twitter debates!! appreciate your thinking a ton.
Never have I written more than while doing the morning pages for the Artist’s Way workbook. Three pages every day first thing when you wake up for the twelve week duration of the course. No prompt or guidance, just writing down whatever comes out and fills the pages. To be forced to fill those pages is indeed affirming what you’ve laid out about writer’s block. Most days I’m doing my morning pages and then continuing to write throughout the day (jotting ideas down in my notes app, fleshing out essay ideas, writing letters). This is the most disciplined I’ve ever been about my writing and it’s changed my whole relationship with writing.