This is topic Why don't you write? in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
 
I was thinking about the number of folks here at Hatrack who write and how there's a lot of them.

Then I thought about it the other way and how there's a lot of us who don't write.

So, if you don't write (or draw, or paint, or sculpt), why not? And where does your creative energy go instead?

My own case: I did a lot of writing and drawing back when I was in school and when I was doing dull clerical work. I think the urge to be creative was part of the process of growing up, and also a reaction to really, really tedious work.

I like the work I do now (farming, working for a seed business), so that's where my creative energy goes. I'm lucky enough to have work I like and that I consider to be right livelihood work that helps to serve others. (But, lately I've been having to do some duller work, and I've also been frustrated by some health stuff, and as a reaction to both of these I'm getting the urge to do some drawing again...)
 

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Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
 
I compose, both on the guitar and piano. Between those two instruments I'm pretty well set as far as creativity outlets are concerned. I do wish I hadn't sold my clarinet back in High School.

One day I probably will convince myself to sit down and finish the novel I frequently think about.

In High School I wrote alot of poetry but that phase has passed. If it's a special occasion I do write poems if impressed to do so.
 

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Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
 
I sing Classical music in concert halls.

And karaoke at the bar.
 

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Posted by Evie3217 (Member # 5426) on :
 
I sing a lot. I also do cross stitch a lot, which isn't as much creative as it is theraputic. It's something to do with my hands. Also I crochet and knit sometimes.

I also love telling stories
 

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Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
 
Hah. I write, I just keep it all to myself and release snippets anonymously in order to garner critique.
 

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Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
 
I mostly don't write because I feel guilty about other things I'm procrastinating. My most productive time writing was when I did 2 hours of housework first and then wrote.
 

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Posted by martha (Member # 141) on :
 
I want to write a novel someday. Problem is, I have done almost no [fiction] writing as an adult. I think I would need to spend a lot of time writing short stories for practice before I'm ready to write my novel... and that's the problem right there: TIME. I have a full-time job, plus there's household work, and socializing, and of course my hobby (quilting), and there's just no time to sit and write... even if I could think up a plot to write about.

Someday I will write my novel. Maybe when I retire. Or if I ever have surgery with a long recovery, allowing me to spend long hours in bed with my laptop. Kind of scary, the idea of looking forward to recovering from some surgery or other.
 

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Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
 
I don't write because I, sadly, don't make the time to. Between work and wedding planning, my "down time" is spent more on entertainment release (movies, video games, etc).

I *want* to write, but I'm letting that desire suffer for a while. I've had lots of false starts, I just can't consistently devote the hours toward doing it - at least not recently.
 

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Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
 

quote:

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Problem is, I have done almost no [fiction] writing as an adult. I think I would need to spend a lot of time writing short stories for practice before I'm ready to write my novel...

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I don't necessarily see why this would be the case, any more than that rather daunting factoid that one has to write 1,000,000 words before... what? It's certainly not before getting published, or being any good. It is true that few people have a novel spring from their head fully formed like Athena was born from Zeus' skill. But the various "rules" like 1,000,000 words or that you have to work you way up from poems to short stories to novels, these are just guidelines, really. If they help you be productive, they are great. If they are keeping you from trying, they're useless. My rule on doing housework first, that's something I've found works for me to be productive. But I can see how it could be read as "double the guilt for half the price."

I was looking at a timeline of C.S. Lewis' life today, and he didn't write any of the books he's most known for until he was in his 50's. Though he wrote a lot before that and was even published.
 

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Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
 
I'm a crafter as well. Cross stitch and crochet, mostly.
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
I used to write poetry. (Don't all teens/young people?)

Now I just have babies instead. (No, really, that's a major reason I don't have the energy to write any more. I sing a lot, and I cook. Sometimes. Those are the semi-creative things I do.)
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
(Oh, I used to sew, too... But I have not unpacked my sewing machine in 2 moves, baby gifts are the only things I have made and for that I borrowed my dad's machine...)
 

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Posted by Jeorge (Member # 11524) on :
 
My creativity comes out in a variety of ways. Preaching, ventriloquism, playing guitar and violin, writing music...I used to paint, but haven't touched my paints since college days. These days most of my writing happens here: My Writing
 

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Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
 
I don't write because I don't think I'm eloquent enough.
I knit, crochet and make gourmet chocolates.
 

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Posted by scholarette (Member # 11540) on :
 
I would like to write but when I write, I think, I should be writing my thesis and then I feel guilty. I am learning to sew and I cross stitch so that is my creative energy for now. I used to paint Warhammer miniatures, but with the baby, I never get to play anymore (and if I pull them out, she tries to eat them).
 

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Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
 
I daydream and write code.

--j_k
 

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Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :
 
I write... differently. Right now I'm putting a story together for my ARG that will launch in a few weeks. Of course, that story includes creating six or seven websites, loads of creative work, a ton of blog posts, pictures, etc... etc... etc...

Each to his own, I guess.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
|
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v
 

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Posted by JonnyNotSoBravo (Member # 5715) on :
 
Subtle, rivka! I like it.
 

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Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
 
I make up crazy stories all the time.
And not so crazy stories.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
JNSB,
 

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Posted by Evie3217 (Member # 5426) on :
 

quote:

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I don't write because I don't think I'm eloquent enough.

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quote:

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I don't write because I don't think I'm eloquent enough.

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Originally posted by Evie3217:

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I don't write because I don't think I'm eloquent enough.

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Ditto. Even the writing that I do for school I feel isn't good enough.

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quote:

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Originally posted by James Tiberius Kirk:
I daydream and write code.

--j_k

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quote:

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Originally posted by romanylass:
I don't write because I don't think I'm eloquent enough.
I knit, crochet and make gourmet chocolates.

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This is an excellent use of creative energy that I fully support. I will happily critique any chocolate you send to me.
 

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Posted by EmpSquared (Member # 10890) on :
 
I have a degree in Creative Writing. I got it a year ago, and I haven't written anything substantial since.

I think I burnt myself out, and now whenever I get an idea I'm out of practice and I'm too harsh a critic on myself to even begin again.
 

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Posted by 0Megabyte (Member # 8624) on :
 
Hmm.

I AM writing! I've been planning for too long, and now I need to just start.

I'm trying to decide on the first scene.

Well. When in doubt, write! So I'm writing, to see how it goes.
 

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Posted by anti_maven (Member # 9789) on :
 
All my creative energy is spent on crafting long and eloquent replies to the thread on this ****** forum, which I then delete before posting.

Ah well, you can't have it all.
 

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Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
 
My excuse is that I work as a copywriter and write all day anyway. It's hard to find energy to write some more in the evening.

Luckily, our group of copywriters at work has been doing various writing challenges. We've had to write poetry and comic strips so far. This time it's a short story. So I have a deadline again and can get out that story that's been rattling around for a few years.

I've been tinkering at my novel for a while, too, but I haven't made much headway on it since NaNoWriMo.
 

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Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
 
I write, though school interferes and I don't get as much done as I would like. I also sew, and play around with various textile crafts like garment dyeing.
 

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Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
 
Creative. Energy. Umm..yeah...four kids. Youngest not quite 3 months old, lucky to create a sentence. Mostly can't manage that.
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
Boon, stop lying, I know you sew.
 

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Posted by lobo (Member # 1761) on :
 
I think you have to be a little bit unstable to write. That is why so many teenagers compose poetry...

I am glad for unstable people though because I like to read.
 

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Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by plaid:

quote:

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Originally posted by romanylass:
I don't write because I don't think I'm eloquent enough.
I knit, crochet and make gourmet chocolates.

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This is an excellent use of creative energy that I fully support. I will happily critique any chocolate you send to me.

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quote:

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Originally posted by BannaOj:

I wouldn't consider any of it "creative" writing. I might document an amusing incident from my own life, but that is it.

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There are people who sell books that are just that.

Not that that negates your non-desire to write, but just sayin'.
 

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Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :
 
I've never considered myself a writer, and I've even less often (yes! less often than never!) considered myself creative, so I don't think I've really ever sought an outlet for either. I've done a very little bit of songwriting, though nothing recently, and I enjoy playing music and singing. My landmark threads are as close as I've come to creative writing in the past twenty years, probably.

I spend more time reading than writing, but it's not like that takes the place of it. I've never liked writing. I can only type -- my hand cramps after a couple sentences when I write by hand. And I don't have a laptop.

Most of what could best be called creativity for me is completely internalized, and it's usually math problems, either that I've been given by my younger brother (the math teacher), or that I think up myself, and I try to solve them in my head. Yeah, that's about it.
 

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Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
 
I write for pleasure. I don't want to go through the hassle of looking for publishers and facing rejection after rejection.

So while I'd like to write a novel (and I've had ideas bouncing around in my head for years...) right now, and probably forever more, I'm just writing my comic. My writing style works better for that anyway. And this way, at least a few people read it.
 

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Posted by Jeorge (Member # 11524) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Papa Moose:
Most of what could best be called creativity for me is completely internalized, and it's usually math problems, either that I've been given by my younger brother (the math teacher), or that I think up myself, and I try to solve them in my head. Yeah, that's about it.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Jeorge:
Which reminds me of another of my creative outlets - I write math problems for some high school math competitions around the US.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Papa Moose:
Dude... that's awesome! How does one get a gig like that, and if I may ask, what competitions do you write problems for? Are we talking Math Field Day, AHSME, or more like Putnam Exam?

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Partly word of mouth, partly by advertising online. I write for state level competitions, and a couple county level competitions.

Haven't done any work for ARML, AMC (what used to be called ASHME), AIME, Putnam, or any other really big ones.

Maybe someday.
 

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Posted by Sachiko (Member # 6139) on :
 
I have a writer's hivemind problem. I keep coming up with plots *I* would enjoy working on, and indeed I do work on them, to the tune of hours every day, and hundreds of pages.

And then I usually find out that another writer has beat me to it.

I'm not whining; I know there is nothing new under the sun; but it's usually other *LDS* writers.

Since I'm an LDS writer, comparison is inevitable and I dread the idea of being known as The Copy Queen.

It's really not just in my head. I have been working on an LDS werewolf story since 2004. I clapped politely for Stephanie Meyer's success and decided to focus on what made my story special.

I decided to set the werewolf story in the Tri-Cities, with a female werewolf main character. As an LDS mom, surely this would be an original piece of work. *sigh* *eyeroll*

Yeah.....I've been told Patricia Briggs is very nice. I hope she doesn't mind that I'm apparently Being John Malkovich-ing her writing.

I'm still writing. I'd rather be a bad writer than no writer at all; happily, it looks like my success will be assured in that.

Besides that, I homeschool my five kids 8 years old and under.
 

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Posted by BlueWizard (Member # 9389) on :
 
Why don't you write?


Why don't you call?

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Sorry, I just couldn't resist.

Steve/bluewizard
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 

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Besides that, I homeschool my five kids 8 years old and under.

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Originally posted by ketchupqueen:

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Besides that, I homeschool my five kids 8 years old and under.

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Wow! That's impressive! You still find time to write?

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Well, I figure, if I can find time to post...

It's a struggle. Oh-boy-howdy.

Finding the time to do it isn't as bad as having found the time to do it for the past 4 years, and then finding out some other writer has already written what I've been stealing precious time to work on. That's harder.

We do TJED for homeschooling, where the parent sets the example of studying so that children are inspired to study and develop their own interests and gifts.

We do activities as a group (lately it's reading The Chronicles of Narnia and discussing) and when we do bookwork at the table, I bring my journal and clipboard and work on my stuff while my kids work on theirs.

That works, on the days the 2-year-old Cherry Blossom and 1 yo Moose are feeling happy and generous. Other days...I just focus on teaching the kids with one hand, while snuggling the angry babies with the other.

*edited for excessive overtones of bitterness and martyrdom*
 

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Posted by Sachiko (Member # 6139) on :
 
Sorry. That sounded bitter.

The better way of saying it is, I would rather deal with the stress of giving up things to write (I don't watch TV and sometimes I miss it) than deal with the stress of giving up writing.

Sometimes all I get written is 500 words, though. Excluding blog, journal and posting boards.

...Maybe I should give up posting, too....
 

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Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
I don't try to write novels anymore because getting from Point A to Point B involves too much mental flyover country.
 

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Posted by Flaming Toad on a Stick (Member # 9302) on :
 
I do a little writing, and some poetry, too. Not much, because I don't have much time to invest in it.
 

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