bitchfest | w – writing #atozchallenge

Posted on 27 April 2017 by what sandra thinks

#atozchallenge 2017 | bitchfest | what sandra thinks

w | writing

Hear me out…

I love writing. I really do. But maybe I love it on my own terms. Is that the same as loving writing? Maybe… maybe not. I love to write what I want to write. Could I ever, though it seems like a great idea, write for a living in a role that requires me to write on a specific topic, not of my choosing? Maybe I could. But I’m not sure. Maybe because I’m not a real writer.

I’ve always leaned toward the belief that a real writer is a published author or one who writes professionally in some other capacity. Is that true? Or is it all a matter of opinion? In a literal sense, if I write, I’m a writer. But in the same sense, if I run, I’m a runner. But I am not a real runner… I’m probably just being chased.

I play around with poetry yet really have no idea what I’m doing. I’ve written fiction since I was a kid but I don’t know if I’m following any of the ‘rules’ (which I don’t believe in anyway). Maybe some of it… the poetry and the fiction… is even good. I don’t know how to judge my own work. I only know if I like it. Does this make me a writer? I don’t know. I never thought so.

Am I just talking myself out of the label writer because I’m too afraid to pursue it? Because I don’t think I could get any sort of writing job? Because I don’t think I’m good enough to be published?

vintage typewriter.

Besides questioning myself far too often, I think the real ‘bitch‘ here is frustration.

When I’m desperate to get words on paper (or screen) and none appear.

When I know I could write if my random mixed up thoughts would coalesce.

When I can’t seem to stop letting every little thing distract me.

When I think I’d be happy if I could get a writing job but then realize that I may hate it or suck at it.

When I am so frustrated that I actually cry over it. (This is, perhaps, not as severe a reaction in me as it might be in others.)

I do love writing. And I hate writing. I guess this is true of almost anything. The love/hate thing. Anything. Except coffee.

wave

what sandra thinks @ redbubble

#atozchallenge | bitchfest
© 2017 what sandra thinks

About what sandra thinks

Sandra is a writer, sometimes blogger, poet, artist, emotional disaster. She thinks far too much and sleeps far too little. Sandra lives in the Northeastern U.S. but dreams of an oceanfront home in Italy, but she would settle for a non-oceanfront home in Italy. She loves books, brutal honesty, coffee, and the color black. She hates insincerity, beer, whipped cream, and facebook. And she is uncomfortable talking about herself in the third person.
This entry was posted in challenge, writing and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

47 Responses to bitchfest | w – writing #atozchallenge

  1. The V Pub says:
    27 April 2017 at 1:28 pm

    Coffee and Coldplay. Just sayin’….

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. gigglingfattie says:
    27 April 2017 at 2:03 pm

    Whatever anyone says, I think you are a writer. And your work IS published – here, on your blog. Sure you might not get paid for it but its still here and I think that makes you a writer!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • what sandra thinks says:
      27 April 2017 at 2:36 pm

      Thanks… 🙂 I never really count here as published… but I guess it is, in a way. Still doesn’t fit into my mind’s definition of a writer, though. I’d love to get paid for it… Like, for what I write now. Basically, keep doing what I’m doing but get a big fat paycheck for it. Ha! Yeah, that’s not asking too much. 😛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • gigglingfattie says:
        27 April 2017 at 2:39 pm

        Hehe! You could always put a paypal link on your blog?

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        • what sandra thinks says:
          27 April 2017 at 3:28 pm

          You know… I made a paypal account for ‘what sandra thinks’ but I couldn’t figure out how the hell I’d put a link asking for anything for nothing, know what I mean? It feels kind of obnoxious. Oh, plus I couldn’t get around entering my full name. Not a total tragedy… but I’ve never given out my full name…

          And then I created the bitch store… which I knew would generate zero sales. Who’s going to wear that? Mostly I did it because ‘bitchfest’ sounds like a concert tour… so it has to have tour shirts. LOL Maybe I need to create more products for that store. At least then people would get something for their ‘donation’… I don’t know. It still seems obnoxious. I don’t know how to ask people for things. Hell, my sister volunteered to pay for the kids’ karate classes and every time a new payment comes due, I stress over having to ask her for it even though she’s said not to ever feel that way!

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
          • gigglingfattie says:
            27 April 2017 at 8:19 pm

            Awww yeah I know what you mean! Maybe you could have like a “members only” section with special posts for those who pay? Idk i would feel weird too but i have seen it on other blogs

            Liked by 1 person

            Reply
  3. Simon says:
    27 April 2017 at 2:06 pm

    Hi ya Sandra… Nice post. Anything we do is normally either because we want to or we have to for money. If you can combine it then you’re lucky!

    I would like to be able to do it for fun. But basically if you want to – do it 😊

    How are you?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. magarisa says:
    27 April 2017 at 2:22 pm

    I relate SO well to this post!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. ladieswholunchreviews says:
    27 April 2017 at 2:41 pm

    I get it! Writing can be a love/hate thing for me. I just can’t seem to stop…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Meg Sorick says:
    27 April 2017 at 2:57 pm

    Every writing forum I have ever visited has writers asking themselves and their fellow writers this question. The problem is that NON-writers don’t think of us as writers unless we are published/getting paid/making a living at writing. That attitude is out there. Trust me… none of my real world friends would ever refer to me as a writer if someone asked them. And that totally sucks. HOWEVER I think it’s true of all the arts. Unless it’s your means of supporting yourself, painting, music, dance, theater, writing…. outsiders don’t CALL you that. But we can’t let others define what we are. So you are a writer, a real one!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • what sandra thinks says:
      27 April 2017 at 3:49 pm

      You’re right — it is the same for all the arts. Maybe I’m an outsider because my brain kind of works that way, too… if it’s not your job, it doesn’t count. I don’t know why I think that way… No one in my life calls me a writer… or anything else like that that I do… baker, artist, etc. I do those things but I’m not a baker or an artist… or a writer. Unless I am. lol

      Like

      Reply
  7. sonofabeach96 says:
    27 April 2017 at 3:04 pm

    I don’t think you have to be a professional to be considered a “whatever”. You don’t even necessarily have to be particularly good at “whatever”. For example, I consider myself a beach bum, but I don’t get paid for it. I consider myself a whitewater kayaker, but I don’t get paid a dime. I consider myself a surfer, but I’ve never entered a contest. I consider myself a photographer, but I rarely get paid for it. But, all those things are passions, and things I do for me. Do you love writing? Do you enjoy writing? If so, you’re a writer. Rave reviews and a paycheck aren’t the only requisites to be considered “something”. 😃

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. Operation Awesome says:
    27 April 2017 at 5:07 pm

    Anyone who writes is a writer. I’ve sometimes seen the published/unpublished distinction used for describing oneself as an author, but that’s different. And yes, writing can be the most frustrating thing in the world, but it can be awfully rewarding too!
    operationawesome6.blogspot.com/

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  9. Marquessa says:
    27 April 2017 at 6:41 pm

    You are a writer dear! Plain and simple.😚

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  10. shanjeniah says:
    28 April 2017 at 12:13 am

    Writers write. I’ve been doing it since I was seven. I’ve made enough money to maybe buy my family of four a nice meal or two (MAYBE – I have a teen and another hovering on the edge of teendom).

    I’m still a writer. Because writers write. And I write.

    I have no intention of writing things that don’t fire me up. There’s something forced and dutiful about that which dries up my passion. What I write passionately is always far superior!

    For decades, I wrote Star Trek fan fiction – hundreds of thousands of words’ worth. All in spiral bound notebooks I stuck in a cupboard, because I was ashamed of the way I couldn’t resist these characters who spoke so clearly in my head (and it’s all but impossible to ignore or resist Vulcans – or is that just me?). I felt like I was “wasting time”.

    Then I took a leap of faith, and started posting on a fan fiction site. And now others read and enjoy (or don’t) my words – and I’ve realized that fan fiction is my playground and learning lab. It’s where I hone new skills and develop the ones I have.

    I say, write what you want. It could be worth looking at the rules – I don’t believe there are many that are hard and fast, but some make decent guidelines, and others remind me of why I’m not much of a “rules” person.

    Write what and when you want, for your own reason or no reason at all.

    You are a writer.

    By the way, I loved this post. It pulled me in, and I feel I know you better on the other side of it. That makes this good writing. =D

    Slices of an Unschooling Life
    @shanjeniah
    Indie Writer, Mom-in-Chief, and Joyful Learning Facilitator
    Shan Jeniah’s Lovely Chaos

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • what sandra thinks says:
      28 April 2017 at 1:07 am

      Thanks so much for sharing this! I totally understand what you’re saying… where you’re coming from. I’ve often thought that since I love to write, I should try to get a job doing that. But I think that might bring me negative feelings about writing… and I don’t want that!

      I’ve come across all sorts of writing ‘rules’… but most of them seem ridiculous. If everyone followed all of these rules, everyone’s writing would be too similar… in style anyway, even if not in content. I remember this one list I found of words you should never use. For many of them, there’s no logical substitute that wasn’t also listed! Sure some words are overused… so mix it up. But forbidden words? I have trouble accepting that.

      Like you, I hid away all of my writing for years. Boxes of notebooks under the bed… never to be shared. It was hard for me to begin sharing here because I assumed the only person who would enjoy my writing was me. Turns out I was wrong… (It happens occasionally…)

      I’m glad you enjoyed the post… Thanks so much for reading!

      Like

      Reply
  11. Julie Holmes, author says:
    28 April 2017 at 8:52 am

    You’re a writer. Ditto what Marquessa and shanjeniah said. You write, you’re a writer. It doesn’t matter if you do it for a job or are published or whatever. If you can’t get through a day without at least thinking about writing, yer a writer. ‘Nuf said. 😀

    Disclaimer: I’m a fiction writer (had a couple short stories published many years ago), but my day job is technical writing. Different mindset, and tech writing can be dull, but I keep reminding myself I’m getting paid to write. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • what sandra thinks says:
      28 April 2017 at 9:08 am

      My day job is non-existent… I can’t figure out if I’d be able to handle a writing job even though it seems like such an obvious path to follow. I don’t need to worry about that, though, because I have no background or experience so I would never be hired as a writer anyway. Hell, I may never be hired at all… as anything…!

      Like

      Reply
      • Julie Holmes, author says:
        28 April 2017 at 1:31 pm

        Start small. One of the kids in Brownies or Cub Scouts? Write up a promo for them for a fundraiser. Got a library in your town? Ask if they need someone to write up an announcement for the summer reading program. Are you a church-goer? Ask if you can write up a quick note about next week’s mission trip. Hell, write up a little piece about how much your kids like the new playground equipment and see if the local paper will run it. Little things, then you can use those as part of your portfolio.

        And I’m not even going to say anything about pessimism. Nope. Not gonna. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        • what sandra thinks says:
          28 April 2017 at 1:51 pm

          Haha… The library and the newspaper are really the only (remote) possibilities. No scouts or church for us… PTO at school is kind of clique-y (yes… adults). Plus school gets out in about 7 weeks. I don’t mean to be so negative… I really don’t. I’ve been feeling less negative lately! I just can’t seem to do these sorts of things… even the ones that are (remotely) possible. Maybe I really do only want to write what I want to write. I don’t know… I don’t understand me!! 🙂

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
  12. Outside Perception says:
    29 April 2017 at 2:40 pm

    If you have ever been paid… your a writer. At least to me. Published a book… Author.. just my opinion I suppose but Writer is how I describe my profession and when they ask if I write book’s I say I’m not an Author… for whatever the reason it makes sense in my head so I go with it. Of course I also tell people I have a pet Velociraptor named Chompy… so you know, take that as you will. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. Lennon Carlyle says:
    6 May 2017 at 2:04 pm

    Agree 100% it’s a love/hate thing…..I’m so thankful you write though 😌

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. pluviolover says:
    6 May 2017 at 11:07 pm

    My bitch: You are a writer! This imposter syndrome BS makes it all harder. I think you are even a good writer. You are also a poet. Deal with it! Quitcher bitchen and write somthin’.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a reply to what sandra thinks Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.