What is your favorite aspect of being a writer?

6:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 74 Comments

That's this month's IWSG* question- What is your favorite aspect of being a writer?

#1 Best thing...READERS! Readers are awesome. And smart. I swear, they know the books they read better than the writers who wrote them. I love talking to readers. I've learned more from readers than any how-to book I ever, um, read.




#2 Best Thing...WRITERS! Hanging out with other writers- either online or in real life, is a pretty amazing way to spend time. I giggle a little when I call it work.

At the WV Book Fest
Tara Tyler, me!, Ahley Chappell

At the WV Book Fest
Mary Russell and me!
WV Book Fest
me and Dreama Denver (widow of Bob Denver, AKA Gilligan) 

Best thing #3... Creating without heavy lifting. Who doesn't love creating an alternative reality without picking up a shovel?



Best thing #4....Odd behavior is  CREATIVE (not insane). Normal is over-rated anyhow.




Best thing #5....dreaming BIG. One day, Steven Speilberg could be stuck in an airport with nothing to do and a copy of your book could be laying on the seat next to him...(feel free to dream-in the blanks.) 
    
                              
                                     





*The IWSG is the brain child of super ninja, Alex J. Cavanaugh. On the first Wednesday of every month, writers can vent their insecurities to the world. 

Co-Hosts:

Joylene Nowell Butler
Jen Chandler
Mary Aalgaar
 Lisa Buie Collard
Tamara Narayan
Tyrean Martinson
Christine Rains



Sign up for the IWSG here

74 comments:

  1. I can dream that last one!
    Wow, you met Bob Denver's widow?

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    1. I did! Super sweet lady. I got her book and his book- now I will know all the inside dirt about Gilligan's Island.

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  2. Wonderful post Elizabeth, enjoyed it immensely.
    Yvonne.

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  3. All great reasons. That last one sure works for me. Being crazy works fine too haha

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    1. There are very few of our odd behaviors that can't be chalked up to the creative process.

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  4. Oh, a walk-in library! I have so many more books than shoes....

    And ha! on the "normal" ship sailing without us. :)

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    1. Me too! While at the book fest, my husband called to remind me- sell more than you buy, got it? He just doesn't get it.

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  5. Your answer to this month's question is brilliant! I especially love the one about earning a paycheck to buy books. I can relate :-)

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    1. Books are portals to new worlds- that's worth the pay out, right?

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  6. I certainly wouldn't mind Mr. Speilberg flipping through my novel and getting a little glimmer in his producer's eyes! Neither would I mind Shyamalan, Burton or Del Toro doing the same thing :D Oh yes, we can dream BIG, can't we? I really enjoyed this post! Happy IWSG day!

    ~ Jen

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    1. Heck, an upstart indie with a twinkle in his/her eye would be all right with me!

      And yes, dreaming is what we do best.

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  7. Great post. I guess I qualify as a reader, right? You know I love your books. Yes, definitely dinosaurs. Great post.

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    1. You most certainly qualify as a reader! One of my very most favorites.

      (You're also a writer. Blogging counts as writing.)

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  8. Hi Elizabeth, I agree with you that we learn more from our readers than from anything else.

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  9. Great post! I love to dream BIG, too. I can't help it. :)

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  10. Yup, I like the concept of dreaming big and it's only when I'm sick of editing that I think writing is heavy lifting. :)

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    1. Sometimes I just have to walk away from edits and wait for the brain to refresh. That is definitely some heavy lifting at times!

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  11. Super post, Elizabeth. My dream is to have a walk in library in my house. I have a corner in the living room with two filled book shelves an armchair and a lamp, which is my favourite place to just...be and read. Glad you had a great time at the WV book fest. Have a super November.

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    1. I would love to have a library/office filled with all my Gone with the Wind trinkets and posters. I have it all imagined in my mind.

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  12. I've long been guilty of #5. As a preteen, I had all these detailed plans for my books being made into various TV shows, as preteen soaps and gritty series. I also would love to see some of my books made into films, so long as I had a high amount of creative control.

    My ultimate dream is to someday win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

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    1. When it happens, be sure to give me a shout out. That's the writer code, right?

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  13. What a riot this post was! Thanks for the laughs on this first Wednesday of November.

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  14. Great post. Love the pictures. Dream big. Oh, yeah!

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  15. Forget 'We got Young Blood' (a song by some female...person). Let's go for Dinosaur blood instead. *Roars* My dream came true. Having others who support me in writing. It might sound small but it means the world to me. Thanks all of you! *Online group hug*

    Yeah. The rest of my family is on that normal ship. Mom's the captain. I'm just going to keep reading and writing on the island. IT'S ALL MINE! Anyway, loved this post Liz. You are a lady of your own nature. Be proud.

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    1. It would make a great theme song!

      You should never give up your writing dream. It's part of who you are. That's hard for non-writers to understand.

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  16. Haha, great quotes! Especially the 'ship has sailed one'. =)

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  17. Sign me up for the walk-in library:) My wife's been asking for one for years:)

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    1. Wouldn't that be nice? I keep buying my husband power tools. I'm just waiting for him to break them out of their boxes and start on the home improvements.

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  18. Me too, walk in library! Who needs clothes! I love your list, and agree completely. Normal? What is that?

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  19. I love the way you presented this. Readers are awesome. They make a writer's journey worth it.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat

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  20. Ha! love those! And the pictures of you are awesome, too!

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  21. This is such a great post, Elizabeth! I ditto all the reasons you mentioned. And I love your graphics, especially the one where the little girl is whispering in the other's ear. Too cute.

    The WV Book Fest looks like a lot of fun! I don't think that one would be too far from me. I might have to check that one out next year. ;)

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    1. Thanks Kristen!!

      I would love to see you at the WV Book fest. That would be so great. We should look and see if there are any between here and North Carolina too.

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  22. LOL, all very excellent reasons! Writing is a true joy!

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  23. Writing is joyous and it's great to dream big. It's calorie free too.

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    1. And can really save you money when you have no time to go to the mall on the weekends.

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  24. Love it! I think you got those in the right order too. Man, can I just second everything you said then sit down and eat cheese? I think it's a plan.

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  25. I totally agree--writers are the best!!! And I have always said that about creative people and eccentricities. I figure as I get older, I can get away with being that old lady with long hair and flowy skirts because I'm artistic!

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    1. Yep, there is no pressure for us to conform to rules.

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  26. Oh my gosh! When I need a good laugh, I'm coming back to this post!

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  27. What a top notch post! Something tells me you reeeeeeally love writing, lady. (See how clever I am to pick up on your subtle hints like that?) Something also tells me you had a lot of fun putting this post together, too. (Remarkable! I did it again...)

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    1. You're just like, a total clairvoyant. LOL. If you ever get bored with writing, you can buy a crystal ball and set up a tent.

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  28. Love all 5 reasons, Elizabeth! You rock, lady!

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  29. Great post, Liz!
    Give me that WALK-IN LIBRARY! *eyes shining*
    I'll take it!!

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  30. BEST post...ever!! I've always dreamed big, even before I started writing. I guess deep down I was always gonna be a writer, right? lol
    Oh... and yes I also dream of a walk-in library next door to my walk-in closet ;)
    Suzy xx
    www.suzyturner.com

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    1. Dreams keep us going.

      (I'll take a walk-in closet too. I'd love for you to be the clothes shopper filling it up for me.)

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  31. That's cool that you met Dreama Denver. I'm sad, though, that Gilligan passed. I didn't know. She looks very kind. And your answer is great - we write for our readers. You fully appreciate this, and you're appreciated for it.

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    1. She was so very nice. Topnotch sweetheart. It is sad that he's gone. I think the only one left is MaryAnne.

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  32. What a great list! Definitely good to embrace the weird.

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  33. That was awesome! Love the memes, especially the little chick with dino DNA. So true.

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    1. Isn't that cute? We all just need to tap into our inner dinosaur.

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  34. Awesome post and love the pictures. Great quotes too.

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  35. I LOVED this post, especially the dinosaurs meme. :) I do try to explain my odd behavior away by being a writer. "I'm just mumbling dialogue to myself, dear."

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  36. Ha! These were amazing best things and I have to agree with all of them. Great post. ^_^

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  37. Yes to all of this! I'm actually pumped to write now after reading this. Also, with that meme, "I just wanted a paycheck so I can buy books," I just made the realization that whatever we make off of selling books we pretty much just put back into buying other books. I think that's a fair trade, though.

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    1. You're so right about that! I go to book events and my husband will always call and remind me that I'm there to sell books, not buy them. Figured out a great solution...book swaps. You can trade other writers book for book. I found the loophole!!!

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