Writing Can Be Painful

All week, I've been in brutal pain from have a wisdom tooth removed.  And I'm talking only one tooth!  I can't imagine the pain of having all four removed, as many people do.  This extreme pain (I'd rather be in labour - LOL) led me to the thought, "Writing can be painful."

Don't get me wrong, I love writing.  I treasure the whole creative process; I feel at home working with words.  I adore creating new worlds, characters, and stories.  However, there are certain aspects of writing a novel that are painful.  Like childbirth, you are giving life to brand new characters, settings, and plots, which is exciting, but it can be a struggle.  Getting it just right is a process in itself, and we all want to get it just right.

We all want to see our writing published, and surviving the whole query process - from crafting the perfect query letter, to the nail-biting agony of waiting for replies - can be stressful, and yes, even painful.  The "blood, sweat and tears" put into crafting our letter - devising the perfect pitch, cutting words, keeping it humble, formatting professionally - can be frustrating, aggravating, and downright headache-generating!

Having said all that, like childbirth, all the pain is worth it.  There is joy in writing a graceful sentence, pride in "delivering" an exciting chapter, and an unbelievable sense of accomplishment when you type, "The End."  Then, there is the hope that you will give birth to a brilliant, new career, with the great expectation of sharing your all your hard work, and talent with many readers. 

Through all this, try to keep in mind that if you’re suffering over your manuscript, it likely means that you care deeply about your readers, and your reputation.  Embrace the pain as a rite of passage, from unformed thought to clear expression, and hopefully, the fruits of your labor will become a published book.

"Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world."

— C.S. Lewis

Has there been a time when you found writing painful?