Do you, like many of us writers, have those days when you wonder why you write? You think maybe all the effort you’re putting into your freelance career just isn’t paying off. You start to compare yourself to people who have “real” jobs. They have a regular schedule, a regular paycheck, an office to go to, and co-workers. You, on the other hand, work at home, sometimes at odd hours, often with little pay, sometimes with no pay, and mostly in solitude. No one really understands what you do, so you don’t bother talking about it and no one bothers asking.
Writing is often like that. But here’s the good news: You have a gift. It’s a gift that few have. Oh sure, anyone can write an email or a text message or even draft a letter, but I’m talking about serious, substantive writing. Writing that actually entertains, informs, or explains. Writing that makes readers laugh or cry or stirs up emotions they never thought they had. Writing that helps someone, heals another, or offers hope. Writing that comforts, excites, or challenges.
Every time you write something like that and pass it on, whether you post it or publish it or just share it with another human being, you are giving something. The more you write, the more you give.
Have you ever noticed how after a tragedy scores of people step up and help those in need? I am always amazed by it. But as a writer, I don’t always realize how important writing, even my writing, can be to others, every day, tragedy or not.
So despite all the frustrations of being a writer, remember all the good you do when you write. You have a gift that keeps on giving. Sometimes that gift is exceptionally valuable, maybe even life-saving. And knowing that can make the payoff bigger than anything you might get from a “real” job.
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