In this modern day generation what are the most rewarding parts of being a writer because the perks seem to be scarce.How much are you paid for a story or a poem? How many copies are published of the magazine in which it appears? How many people actually read it? How often do you even earn a word of encouragement for what you’ve written? One of the most important rewards might actually be the act of writing itself. As I see it as a gift and privilege to be able to write, and surely every serious writer has experienced this reward when she or he is working at top end. Could we share our experiences as well?
The act of writing is for me the most rewarding part. I get a huge buzz when my characters take on a life of their own and I find them doing things I'd never planned for. I go back and update some stories just because I miss the characters, it's like visiting old friends I've not seen in a while. I generally find writing to be excellent escapism and rather cathartic, I'm sure it's been good for my mental and emotional health. I still get a buzz when I get likes and comments, it amazes me that people enjoy my ramblings. I've even got a few super fans who are very into some of my characters and message me about them, which blows my mind, it's incredibly humbling. I've never thought about monetising my work, it looks like a lot of effort which puts me off. Plus, if people are paying then I'd feel a certain amount of stress about producing work at frequent intervals to meet demands. I'd feel like I was writing for other people and not myself, which would take the fun out of it. I like the freedom of writing what I want when I want.
I've been a freelance writer. It's fun until it isn't. I've written and sold books. There are people that can make money and derive some satisfaction from the process, though damn few can make a living off of it. Personally, I made little money and derive little satisfaction from the few reviews. I've done zines, self-published, maintained blogs that updated weekly for years - I am a serial creator. It's what I do. I rarely get an audience of any size, but that's not why I do it. I do it because I don't know how to stop.
