Hey, SE Readers. Joan here today. It’s time for another writing question.
I love quotes, particularly those that pertain to writing. At times when I need to feel inspired, I’ll look up quotes from well-known authors. Who better to lift your spirits than those who have made this same journey.
But on occasion, I’ll come across a quote that isn’t necessarily inspiring, but intriguing. One that makes me pause and reflect.
Such as this one:
“I hate writing. I love having written.” ~ Dorothy Parker
Writing is a process. We draft, we proofread, we edit, we write some more, we rewrite. We engage in social media, connect with our readers through blog posts and newsletters. With publication comes promotion.
There’s more to writing than writing.
Which brings me to my question. Okay, two questions:
What is your least favorite thing about writing? What is your favorite?
I look forward to your answers.
Story Empire 
Least Favorite. Fiction genre blogging
Most Favorite – use of vocabulary
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Thanks for sharing!
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The answers depend on where I am with writing. Sometimes I like all the aspects of writing, even marketing. At other times, I wish I were at a different point with any given project. Overall, I like everything about writing but I hate shifting gears once I’m in a groove. Also dislike feeling pulled in too many directions when all the extra activities detract from writing. I hate feeling like I’m wasting time on something seems unnecessary. My favorite part of writing is discovering what the book will be and who the characters are.
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I relate to the distractions. Working full time and trying to write in my spare time is challenging. Sometimes I bring the distractions on myself and that angers me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, P.H.
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You bet!
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Reblogged this on Archer's Aim and commented:
If you write, here’s a good Friday author question from Joan Hall on Story Empire.
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Thanks for the reblog!
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You’re welcome.
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Good questions. My least favourite has to be editing. Why can’t I just write perfect at the beginning? It’d stop so much pain later. My favourite thing is when I go back and read something good I’ve written and get a chuckle or a smile or a tear. Then I think, yeah, it’s worth it.
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Most everyone has said marketing and editing are their least favorite. You’re right, in a perfect world, we’d write perfectly the first time. And yes, reading those good things we’ve written should bring us joy.
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Most favorite – Developing the story. Least favorite – editing the story
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I used to hate editing (dread is more like it). But now I realize it’s a way to make my story better. In fact, it’s hard for me not to keep editing.
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Bless you. 😀
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I hate marketing. Definitely my least favorite.
I’m not sure I have a favorite. I like completing a really good scene, and I like learning from my research. I also like connecting with my readers.
I guess there’s more to like than to hate.
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I agree. There’s a lot more to like about writing than to hate. I’m with you on the marketing thing!
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I’ve started to like marketing more. It’s a way to connect with readers. My least favorite: the final galley proofs. I’m sick of the book by then. My favorite? The actual writing.
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Good for you, Judi. The way things are constantly changing (Amazon, Facebook, etc.) it’s hard to know which marketing venue to focus on. I do agree the writing part is the best thing.
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Hands down, my least favorite thing about the entire writing process is editing. It is so much more stimulating when I am in the creative mode and when I’m editing, I long for it. Secondly, as so many mentioned, is marketing. To me it is grueling. Thanks for prompting this discussion, Joan.
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Editing seems to be coming in second to marketing in this discussion. I’m learning to like it, however.
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Great post, Joan. My answers probably won’t surprise you.
• Least favorite: marketing/ads/promo
• Most favorite: a tie between the planning/research stage and writing a line or paragraph that blows me away
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Of course, we’d think alike on the marketing thing. And of course we all long for the times when we create parts that make us stop and say, “Did I really write something that good?”
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Does editing count as a least favorite thing about writing? If so, editing.
My favorite thing is telling the story and hearing what parts made someone laugh or cry.
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Editing certainly counts. And I agree its nice to know when our stories touch someone.
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No surprises from me. I hate marketing with a passion. I love drafting new material above all the rest. Polishing can come later, but the drafting phase is my zone.
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I have thought about the marketing thing, Craig. My main marketing is actually my blog and Facebook and I enjoy both of those things. I can’t truthfully say there is anything about the writing process I hate.
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Robbie, good to know you’ve found a marketing niche you enjoy.
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That’s wonderful. I feel almost smarmy promoting my products. I try to fake my way through.
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Why do you feel smarmy? You work really hard on your books and they are of an excellent quality. You should be proud to promote them. I am not fearful of punting mine, although I don’t ever overdo it, and I am not yet in your league. I hope to be, Craig. I am working hard on it.
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We’re so bombarded with advertising today. I hate to add to it. I know we must, so I do some. I should do more, but a lot of the productive places are no longer productive. I’m toying with the idea of taking Lanternfish on a second tour. I’ll find some folks who didn’t participate in the first one and ask them. Maybe you’d be interested? In another month or so?
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Hi Craig I would be happy to participate in a tour for Lanternfish. I am nearly finished reading it so will have my review available then too.
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I’ll keep you posted. I may start working it out in mid-March. Thank you.
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I’m right there with you, Craig.
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My least favorite is self-promotion and marketing. I think a LOT of writers feel that way.
My favorite is when I’m getting ready to start a new project and dreaming up bits and pieces like a jigsaw puzzle to make it work! 🙂
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I think some of that stems from the fact that a lot of writers are introverted. We’d rather be behind the scenes writing than out in public (whether in person or online) promoting our work. Although connecting with our readers is fun.
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Least fave: When I’m writing something that doesn’t work, and I know I’ll have to rewrite it, or, worse yet, I get down on myself for writing drivel.
Most fave: When I’m editing something I wrote and come across an engaging, tense, wonderful passage.
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Priscilla, my first novel had so much drivel that I put it aside for over a year before I had the nerve to begin editing. And don’t we all love those wonderfully written passages?
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Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Check out this post from Joan Hall via The Story Empire Blog that asks us: What is your least favorite thing about writing? What is your favorite?
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Thanks for the reblog!
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You’re welcome.
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Least favorite – marketing and promotion. Most favorite – reading over what I’ve read and marveling that those words came from me. Not because of their quality, but because it’s like I’ve invented another world from my imagination that, at some level, came from my subconscious mind.
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I agree with you, Don. I hate the marketing aspect of writing. And yes, it is nice to read over our words and think, “I really did that?” Thanks for stopping by today.
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Great post. Thanks for opening the dialog.
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I hate marketing. I suck at it. Lol! I love when I have a pencil in my hand and can let the ideas flow effortlessly on the page.
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I’m like you. I hate marketing. I do my writing on a computer, but it’s so much fun when my fingers fly over the keyboard.
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Great questions, Joan!
1. I hate marketing in any form, lol … it’s just not me.
2. I love when I come up with a one-liner that makes me pause and think, ‘Wow, did I really just write that?’
Have a great weekend 🙂
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There seems to be a consensus here. We writers hate marketing. And those one-liners? Something all of us long to do more of!
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Good question–marketing!
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Yes, I (and many others) agree. Thanks, Denise!
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Least favourite thing: 2nd drafts. Favourite thing: Knocking out 2,000 words and not even realising the time has passed, and then realising what I’ve written doesn’t need a re-write.
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I used to hate editing, but when I realized it was a way to make my words even better, I began to enjoy it more. However, we all long to have more of those 2K word sessions where little or no editing is needed.
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