Feeling like a writer
Filed under Writing Journal on June 16, 2009
Tagged: fantasy fiction, writing
I write for a living. I spend eight hours a day, Monday through Friday, sitting at a desk writing. I write business requirements, use cases, test cases, and technical documentation. It is a rare occasion that I finish my day feeling like a writer, however. No sense of euphoria or completeness, as though I’d found my calling.
My lunch time writing has become a highlight of my work day, and I’ve enjoyed a lot of progress on my fantasy fiction projects. “Relvan’s Rescue” is finished and making the rounds. I finished the second chapter of Shattered Amulet and am pounding out scenes from chapter three.
Moments of “feeling like a writer” have been common over the last few weeks. They came as I hit some of the milestones I’ve mentioned, so I decided it might be a fun exercise to analyze those milestones and compile a list of generic events that trigger those “I really am a writer” feelings. The list could then serve as encouragement during those dark times when I wonder why I even bother turning the stories in my head into words on a page.
I feel like a writer when:
- I finish writing an entire scene in one sitting.
- I don’t have the urge to immediately go back and edit what I just wrote.
- I finish writing 1,000 words or more in one day.
- I spend more time writing than I do thinking about what I want to write.
- I write the last word of a scene, chapter, or story.
- I drop the manuscript in the mailbox or click Send on the email with the manuscript attached.
- I read “by Kameron M. Franklin” under the title.
What are some of your “feeling like a writer” moments? Share them in the comments.
June 17th, 2009 at 7:29 am
I hear you. I write corporate training courses 9-5 M-F, but only feel like a “writer” on the weekends or the odd weeknight I have enough creative juices to write on my own stuff.
But at least you have a pub credit to your name.
Me, I’m hanging my hat on actually finishing my first draft (soon).
So, I feel like a writer:
When I sit back a realize that an hour has passed and I have a decent chunk of words and/or scenes to show for it.
When I get lost in the process of creation.
When I start reading an old chapter and forget that I’m supposed to be editing.
When I close the file for chapter 50, because I’m done with the first draft of the book…. /shakes fist at open file
Someday, I hope to see my name under the title of a book on a shelf.
Stuart´s last blog ..Starting the Last One
June 17th, 2009 at 8:58 am
“When I start reading an old chapter and forget that I’m supposed to be editing.”
Oh, that’s a good one. I’ve had those before.