Writing novels is no fun; nor is, generally speaking, reading novels. Reading people writing about novels is not always fun, either, because relatively little of this kind of writing is any good. Then there’s the group of people who don’t enjoy being novelists, to which I probably belong; whose lives are at once shaped and defined by, and to some extent entrapped in, the act of writing fiction. …
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True especially for those who are writing just because of profession and not by passion. Writing and reading must involve the heart so that one may not feel trapped but rather enjoy the experience.
It is a long tradition for writers to complain about the horrors of writing-it makes everyone else think it’s hard work.
I came across your site and it occurs to me that this quote has relevance for all sorts of artistic or creative endeavors. I myself am an artist and I don’t know much in particular about writing fiction. However, I am well acquainted with the pain of creation even while my passion for art and being an artist is abudant.
I believe that if you write from the heart, not trying to adjust to someone else, then this should tickle.
It is a long tradition for writers to complain about the horrors of writing-it makes everyone else think it’s hard work.
@Jay: Believe me, I do understand the pain associated with the creative process. But I don’t think that’s what Chaudhuri is really saying. Your own admission is that your passion for the endeavor — despite the pain associated with it — remains. I feel the same way when it comes to my writing. But Chaudhuri suggests he doesn’t have passion for any part of the process, whether it’s for the creative pursuit or the finished product.
That being said, with limited shelfspace in the traditional marketplace for writers — the book store — I’d rather he get out of the way and make room for people for whom these things actually matter.
@mirc: The act of writing itself is arguably not difficult work. What’s difficult is the process of bringing a story or narrative to the page and sustaining it well for the length of a novel.
I think you’re right that it would help me loosen up and explore some new ideas and scenarios. Thanks for the suggestion! I’m glad you have had good experiences with publishers.
I wouldn’t completely say that writing is no fun, but I have to say that I hate proofreading because of the simple fact that I feel like I can read the same sentence over and over again, but it won’t make any sense to me because I write so much.
Writing is very easy. It’s getting stuff published that’s hard if you hope to make a living!
Fifty two times you have done something you apparently don’t really care to do…and yet you continue?? My suspicion is that you anticipate or actually DO experience great satisfaction at having done this so that you can’t stop OR you don’t know how to do anything else.
@Wink: Oy. I see you can read. What’s less certain is whether you can understand what you’ve read.
There are great similarities between writing a novel and writing for a blog. It both takes great effort to produce something really exquisite.
I agree with Manny, you should write from your heart. Most of the articles I wrote from my heart were published!
Rob,
I stumbled into your site by sheer luck… Being a writer myself – though not in English but rather in the ancient Hebrew language – I find your writing fascinating…
Read the story you’ve published and liked it a lot. Clicked the link to your wife’s page – and she is beautiful indeed… and from the little I’ve read I know exactly why she married you…
Writing fiction is a lot easier for some people, because they can just let their imagination take over. Factual writing however is a more rigid discipline as it has to be based around solid facts, all be it with a varying amount of “Poetic License” and a lot of writers find this rigid writing process harder to come to terms with.
Woah… Deep man! Ok I’m still trying to figure it out but I do know one thing I do like to read. I finally got around to taking a speed reading course last year and its opened up my world. You’ve inspired me to take on the same challange and read ‘a novel a week’, Thanks!
Hi, at first I found this quote offensive, as I am an avid reader and new to your site. But I guess in every field you have people who want to moan and cry about how hard writing is. I find writing enjoyable and it fulfills me. What I do find is hard is finishing your story you are writing. Sticking to one thing is difficult. It’s easy to have lots of ideas.
I try to write fitness articles for my website- nothing creative at all yet it still takes me at least an hour of just sitting and thinking about the topic before I can write anything of value.
What do you mean reading novels is no fun!?! Why else would anyone read a work of fiction if not for the enjoyment thay get from it. Just yesterday I finished studying for the year and am looking forward to reading something because I want to not because I have to!!!
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