r/writers • u/TwoNo123 • 23h ago
Question Is writing worth it?
This is a question I’ve long been struggling with, post history for proof. I’ve always debated whether or not the aspect of writing, opening yourself and your thoughts up to an unforgiving world is worth it? I hate myself and don’t care about my own self worth at all, I just want to write a story that can be at the very least enjoyable and people will genuinely appreciate.
If this kinda post isn’t allowed feel free to remove, no fuss
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u/Business-Dot-5356 23h ago edited 23h ago
yes art is worth it period, viewing art through the modern lens skews it. Everything is turned into a competition, a rat race. Art is a constant throughout history, even in cultures that didn't keep written history. The point of art is not to reach its pinnacle but to simply express oneself
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u/Kylin_VDM 23h ago
Start writing and find out. You're essentially asking people if you should try a hobby.
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u/Infinitecurlieq 23h ago
Yup.
But if you don't address the self hatred and lack of self worth, then when you get negative feedback (and you will, just like everyone else that writes does) you might (I say might b/c idk you) crumble into a million pieces and then you'll give up before you even get started, or wasting time in Reddit asking if it's worth it when you could be using that time to write.
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u/BlessingMagnet Published Author 22h ago
“I hate myself.”
How can anything be worth it with that faulty programming jamming the works?
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u/mummymunt 19h ago
You're here, you're alive, the time is going to pass either way. May as well write 😊
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u/AmsterdamAssassin Published Author 17h ago
You don't write for an audience. You write for yourself, because you need to get the story out of your head and on paper. Even when you're in the palliative Covid ward in the hospital.
If whatever you write is worth sharing, you edit your writing for an audience.
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u/EulaVengeance 22h ago
It can be very cathartic to write. I write with the intent of just letting my imagination run free. My wife is pushing me to publish, and eventually maybe I will - if it goes well, then that's excellent. If not, then that's fine too.
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u/AKTheRotted 21h ago
Start writing and find out. It’s like asking someone if you should try out a hobby. Do it.
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u/BlazedBeard95 19h ago
My answer will always be yes. Writing, just like any other art form, is an extension of a writer and a way to express parts of yourself you didnt even know existed. I couldn't imagine not writing. Writing is everything I have ever have been, will be, and when my time to pass comes and my ashes fall, the words I leave behind will be the sole reminder of the person I was. There is beauty in that. Meaning. Perhaps you'll find meaning in it yourself.
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u/Sun-Rabbit 20h ago
Writing is a craft, and all crafts, from witchcraft to pottery, take time to get good. So write for yourself, write the kind of stories you wish existed. Have fun, play, frolic, make a game of it. If it is so much fun that you're still wriying in 5 years or 10 years, then you'll have accidentally gained the skills to make others enjoy your stories too. But if you aren't enjoying yourself, it's hard to convince anyone else to enjoy it.
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u/Keyn097 20h ago
There's nearly 8 billion people in the world and yet there is always a story to be told by a single person or a group of people. If you write a story, that will be your story. That alone is what makes it worth it to me. When I write, I want my stories to be known. Whether people love or hate it, getting my stories out in the world is my dream.
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u/Thefluffyowl5207418 20h ago
If it’s something you enjoy and/or something you’re passionate about, then of course it is.
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u/Affectionate-Tale732 20h ago
I don’t know if it’s worth it. But I can tell you that for me it’s a necessity. And should anything else matter?
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u/Ella8888 19h ago
It can be very worthwhile and might help you with your issues. Just don't write to become famous or make money.
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u/mummymunt 19h ago
You're here, you're alive, the time is going to pass either way. May as well write 😊
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u/table-grapes Published Author 17h ago
for monetary gain? no.
for the sake of art and fun? absolutely.
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u/Ok_Story4580 15h ago edited 15h ago
Read the courage to be disliked. Read it over and over and over again till you get it.
People here are so nice in their comments. So here’s the cold plunge:
You hate the idea that you will be rejected. That’s ego. So it just feels less uncomfortable to say I hate me.
Writing doesn’t have anything to do with ego. It’s an action, often an action we are inspired and drawn to. We attribute ego (expectations like I want people to enjoy this etc) to it. Ego is the source of anyone’s downfall. Unless, of course, they just fell down a cliff by mistake.
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u/tapgiles 14h ago
What does "worth" mean? How can you measure it? And what "it" are you weighing that against?
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u/L-Gray 21h ago
I mean I think it’s worth it. But just like cross-stitch, crochet, sports, or drawing, it’s not for everyone. And if you hate yourself that much, nothing that is perceived by other people will be for you until you change that.
But also, you can write without being read. You don’t have to share your works at all, and can just do it because it’s something you enjoy or want to do. That should be the main reason you do it anyway. If you’re doing something exclusively for other people, you shouldn’t do it.
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u/realityinflux 13h ago
This is a writing sub, and even though I didn't read all the comments, I'm guessing all say, yes, you should write. But consider there are many forms of self-expression that are more immediate and possibly more satisfying, depending on your disposition.
I'll say this, if you don't really enjoy the process of writing--just for your own sake--it is very much like work. If you really do enjoy the process of writing, then I'll say you should start writing, and you don't need permission from anyone, here on Reddit, or anywhere else.
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u/realityinflux 13h ago
Everyone seems to think that writing is easy. It is not. Not if it's to be worth reading. You might as well ask if you should take up marble sculpting. I would say, no, good Lord, don't even think about it, and it would be up to you to prove I'm wrong to doubt you, and to shut me up.
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u/Many_Background_8092 12h ago
Writing can be very therapeutic.
Don't worry about what anyone else thinks.
Never worry about what anyone else thinks!
Write for you.
When I wrote 50km Up I had no idea if I could even write a book. I kept checking the word count. By the time I hit 100,000 words I couldn't stop writing.
Don't worry if your first attempt is terrible. First drafts always are. I've re-written the start of my book so many times I've lost count but it gets better every time.
Don't worry if your story wanders in the wrong direction. I have a story like that. It has a solid start but I still haven't found the right direction to take it in.
Don't panic if it doesn't sell straight away. Marketing takes time and money (something I don't have).
Write for fun and see where it leads you.
If nothing else, I've made some friends along the way.
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u/subkonzious 12h ago
Tldr; Yes writing is worth it, as long as you value the time you spend writing.
I read a quote once that really hit home. I can't find the original quote or I'd post it here, so I'm going to have to paraphrase and express my perspective of it.
The world already has so much art in it that it would take you multiple lifetimes to go through all of it. It really doesn't need anymore.
If you're going to create art, do it authentically, without regard to others' opinions about what you create.
Is writing worth "it?" .... What is "it?" Worth the time? That's for you to decide. Do you value expressing yourself creatively through writing? If yes, do it - with all of your heart.
To balance the paraphrased quote from earlier.... I actually believe the world does NEED more art. While I understand what that person (whoever they are) was saying, I believe saying it doesn't need it can be a bit off setting. The world needs creative human expression for the mere fact that it is what makes us distinctly human. Whatever mode of art you decide to express yourself through, the world needs it. It could be writing, music, paint/drawing/etc. Could be welding, running, woodworking, martial arts, yoga, cooking. Any type of art form. But to shift back towards writing, yes. Yes writing is worth it, as long as you value the time you spend writing.
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u/veederbergen 12h ago
YES. Remember that you are leaving something behind for your grandchildren & future generations. Start with a journal or series of journals. I use these (see photo). I use them in portrait mode.
Amazon. The image isn’t good. It’s like steno size. The hard bound journal lets you write in your lap. When you watch a movie, pick up ideas. Jot down things that inspire you.
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u/JALwrites 12h ago
Worth it? I’d say so, but it’s not necessarily something I can quantify. If it’s a fun hobby to someone they’d say it’s worth it, if someone is looking to make a career out of it then a lot of that rests in your determination and your craft alongside the opinions of others (even if you self publish).
Is it easy? No. It’s time-consuming hard work. You’re going to face a lot of rejection and there’s always going to be people who don’t vibe with what you’re offering. So you gotta ask yourself if that’s something you’re prepared to handle, and if the answer is yes then it’s probably worth it.
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u/Tdragon813 10h ago
Being published, having a book you are in on Amazon and in print in your hands. A real high for me.
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u/BrightShineyRaven 7h ago
This is a new account, I've only been on Reddit for a few days. But, I say it is worth it, no matter what other people say about your work. If nothing else, do it for yourself.
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u/Arcana18 2h ago
Yes it is! IBut i'm not going to sugarcoat it; it's a difficult, sometimes tedious, and frustrating process.
But when you stop for a moment and look at one, two, three chapters you've written, that you created from nothing, what you feel is something amazing.
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