The Realities of Being a Writer

As a writer, there are certain quirks about everyone one of us that the rest of the world just doesn't understand. I will never find anyone who will understand why I can't stand to have my pencil even the slightest bit dull or why I am so possessive of my paper or computer. However; this is only the beginning of the realities of being a writer

Every night I find myself covered from head to toe in either pencil shavings or in ink from a pen. As much as I would LOVE to just sit down at a computer and type but that is not always possible. There can be any number of reasons ranging from busy schedules to just preferring pencil and paper to the hum of a computer. It is not the most romantic part of my life, but it is definitely a reality.

Every writer starts off dreaming about writing the next great article, poem or novel, but the reality I that most writers will end up working three jobs just to get by and will be lucky to ever get anything published. For some, this reality can be too much to handle and they will eventually get lost to life until something forces them to pick that pencil up again. For most, when they pick up that pencil, they will not be motivated by money, but by something deeper. If you were truly meant to be a writer, any time something bad happens, the only comfort you will find is in writing. The best therapy is being able to sit down and write for hours on end. Unfortunately, this will not lead to a life of riches.

On the upside, you will find as much comfort in a good book as you will in writing. This can benefit you in many
ways. It can simply be that it takes your mind off all the stresses you have from being a writer to giving you ideas to write about. If you have a library card, then this reality can be completely free, which is good considering you won't be making millions of dollars anytime soon.

If you decide to give it all up and become a freelance writer, you can expect tight deadlines and little pay. You can also look forward to not having insurance and having to change articles on the publisher's whim. Along with every other writer, you will more than likely have insomnia, made worse by the stress of the publishers you write for.
So, if you like working twenty-four hours a day with little to no recognition, don't mind earning little to no pay, can live without the finer things in life but can't live without the comforts and enjoyment that writing brings, then becoming a writer might be for you