The Dream World of Writers' Forums | Wilfried F. Voss' Blog

The Dream World of Writers’ Forums

On April 13, 2009, in The Bleeding Hills, Writing & Publishing, by Wilfried F. Voss

Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else.
- James M. Barrie

The Bleeding Hills - A Novel by Wilfried F. Voss

Last week, just out of curiosity, I signed up at a writers’ Online forum and like everybody who is new to the forum I posted an entry in the “Welcome” section. I briefly explained my current writing project, The Bleeding Hills, and received numerous responses wishing me well. All responses included links to the respondents’ individual web sites, since they all are working to extend their “awareness platform” (I still fail to understand where writing about writing improves your chances for a book deal). One entry, while written in the best of intentions, rubbed me the wrong way.

The person, who apparently won several first prizes in short story contests, wrote “Writing a novel is hard work.” I couldn’t help to – respectfully – object to this view, but was promptly corrected by another forum member. The same happened when I posted another entry in the “Tips & Advice” section, which seems to be the domain of two elderly accomplished authors – Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong about age; what I can’t stand are old ideas and those two “mentors” were full of them. Well, I received my bashing for intruding on their turf and decided I didn’t belong here. I just feel sorry for the thousands of lost souls who dream of having their novel published, but will never make it, because they get advice from people who went through the same process too many years ago. A great deal has changed in the publishing world, but today’s added resources for being published are not welcome on this particular forum.

Anyways, let me come back to “Writing a novel is hard work.” First of all, the socialist portion of my soul tells me there is much to say about hard work, and writing a novel doesn’t come to mind. I think of the many people in this world who work hard for a living, not out of choice, but the mere instinct for survival. Writing a novel is nothing else but a privilege. Writing a novel can be time consuming, but that should not be taken as hard work. James M. Barrie’s quote really gets it down the point. If you consider writing a novel as hard work, maybe you shouldn’t be writing. It is never hard work when you love what you’re doing.

I am still working chapter 4 of my novel and this chapter has been particularly difficult, since it involves the events of Bloody Sunday on January 30, 1972. Even though this is the most difficult chapter of all, I never considered writing it as hard work. The emotions during writing can be intense and I believe, I received some concerned looks the last time I sat at my table at Panera Bread – The consumption of three large cappuccinos somehow did not help to calm me down. Every time I stop writing and drive home – merely because a wife and kid are waiting for me – I feel … elevated (Sorry, there is no better word for that feeling). Writing a novel transports you into another dimension, another time, another place, while the world around you doesn’t matter anymore. That is why writing is exciting and far away from hard work.