Journal 13 - Writing as a Lifestyle

Journal 13 - Writing as a Lifestyle Matt Steel


A writers lifestyle is completely unfamiliar to me or anyone in this class, unless there’s a hidden novelist I’m unaware about (Amy perhaps?). From what I can imagine I believe a writer would spend a lot of time in their house simply writing, or trying to write. Book tours would be a pain, catering to happy go lucky fans, signature times ten thousand. Many people put more than simple sentences in to their writing, subtle meanings, hidden or disguised thoughts amongst a story. This is true for all types of artists, but the idea of being a writer who puts something of value in his or her writing only to be overlooked by a good story would be frustrating.

Of course the notion of making room fulls of money would be appealing, the physically laid back work and (for the most part) making my own schedule would be dope, travelling, drinking, having a good time on tour. Being a famous writer, as being a famous anything, would have it’s problems. Anyone with significant amounts of money or fame has instantly put their entire life in the hands of chance. If I’ve written five number one books in two years, all over the radio, TV, a sensation, I’ve got millions. I now also need to worry about my wife actually loving me for me, all my friends credibility, all the relationships I make with people from that point on will always have that lingering alienation of normality. Not that every person is inherently conniving, but the thought of “what if” would probably drive me to be insane or depressed. Trying to churn out books that my fans and new readers will both get on with, sensitive stories that wont offend sensitive readers, etc. I honestly don’t think I could see myself being a full time writer, or even a successful part time writer, not only from the lack of skill or creativity but the content of my writing probably wouldn’t appeal to a mass market. The only way I can picture myself integrating writing in to my long-term lifestyle is writing for personal use, journals, logs, etc. This is a little unfortunate as if I get myself in the mood, writing is a great pastime. But hey, maybe I’ll have some crazy realization and turn in to some god-tier writer.

But hey, probably not.