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The writer’s life is a misunderstood one. If you write for a living, you’ve no doubt witnessed people’s blank expressions when you reply to the question: What do you do for a living? The starving artist, the blocked creative person or the best-selling author are all images that come to people’s minds, depending on which movies they’ve seen or how familiar they are with the writing profession.
The Angst of Writing
Perpetual angst is the topic most commonly addressed in movies made about writers. Unhappy editors and pressing deadlines cause writers to sulk, worry and sometimes hide from the world. The irritable writer with a cigarette in hand and crumpled paper in or near the trash can is a prevalent image. The unhappy writer who hasn’t showered in days and can’t think of how to start or end his book makes up the dramatic image of the typical writer’s existence. With such constant despair, what makes writers do what they do?
The Joy of Pursuing a Passion
In reality, writers write because they must. The flow of ideas and the urge to craft writing into the perfect sentence, paragraph, chapter and book causes the writer to endure the difficult and uninspired moments. Being paid to do what you love is pretty much everyone’s dream. The writer who can sit and work anywhere at any time enjoys a rare privilege.
The creative outlet coupled with continual autonomy makes a writer’s life one worth Living. Angst-filled moments do exist, but they are quickly forgotten the moment a brilliant idea appears or the work touches other people’s minds and hearts.
