The Lonely Writer’s Companion

Recently, a friend told me she was surprised to find that, when she finally sat down to write, she enjoyed the writing itself. Maybe she felt this way because she’s a competitive, goal-oriented achiever, and has always been focused on the end result. But I had to know: Was this the first time she’d enjoyed the doing?

Yes, she said.

As I was driving home, I tried to get to the root of what startled me so about this entire exchange. For one thing, I know that I write because, from the time I could form letters with a pencil, I loved putting stories onto paper. Of course, there are other reasons I write: to discover the ends of stories I wouldn’t otherwise know; to try to understand people I couldn’t otherwise comprehend; and sometimes, simply to make things come out the way I think they should. But for me, the act of writing is something I do because I love the act of writing itself.

So, the reason I was surprised to learn my friend was more interested in the result is that I’m a process person and she’s a product person. The thing is, as with everything about writing, neither of us is right or wrong—it’s just what jazzes us about the game. What jazzes you? Do you, like me, love spending hours creating worlds and the people in them? Or is it all about the end result—books, films, commix, or -- ?

Are you a process person, a product person, or a little bit of both? Join the conversation by clicking here for Doris Booth’s Facebook page. We’ll post our favorite answers here mid-month. Join us!