Writing Out of Joy

The pained writer is certainly a cliché, but it’s also somewhat of a myth. While they certainly exist, they do not represent all the writers out there. Many writers write for the joy of writing.

When we write, we get to create and express. We can affect other people, make them feel things, make them think about things. Writing is a truly wonderful and joyous activity, not something to feel ashamed of or cursed by.

So put that joy and wonder into your writing. There is plenty of destruction and sadness in real life; why not write about something that we wish was real? Write about curious kids who learn about the world around them. Write about a lost animal who finds a new home. Write about how easy it is to look at a bad situation in a more positive light. Write about people who solve their problems instead of whining about them, crying woe is me.

Which stories are the ones that inspire people? Which stories do we remember fondly from our past and return to several times? Is it the stories where people are miserable and everybody dies in the end? I doubt it. It's usually happy, joyous, wondrous, whimsical stories about adventures with wonderful people.

Try writing such a story. Reconnecting with those roots of writing can remind you of the joy that brought you into the field in the first place.