It was pointed out to me recently that my fourteenth anniversary of blogging is coming up in June. The person who brought it to my attention also asked, “Has it all been worth it–the blogging and the writing?” I provided a flippant, “Oh, yes; I may not be successful by some standards, but I enjoy it, and for me that’s what counts.”
That led to the inevitable question about what I’ve recently published, and I had to admit there’s been nothing new because I haven’t submitted anything for publication in ages. His expression told me that in his view I was a failure as a writer.
Then today I encountered author Laura Best’s blog post where she deals with the same question — https://lauraabest.wordpress.com/2022/05/07/is-it-really-worth-it/ From the world’s perspective, Laura’s success is significantly greater than mine, and yet her response was essentially the same. Except she said it more eloquently!
…if I were to define “worth it”, it would mean something different for all of us, for we are all as individual as the very things we think about and value the most. Is writing worth it to me–absolutely.
As I move into my fifteenth year (of blogging; I’ve been writing other things for decades longer), it’s tempting to think I need to evaluate, recalculate and perhaps redirect my efforts. However, being both mid-pandemic and post-surgery, the time doesn’t seem quite right. I think I’ll just move ahead on whatever project appeals to me. ‘Worth’ doesn’t need to be a criteria, at least not today.
MUSINGS 
Great post, Carol. When I’m feeling frustrated by the ‘business’ of writing, I remind myself why I picked up a pen in the first place. Back then there were no thoughts of being published — just the satisfaction of writing.
Still blogging fifteen years later is huge. When I look around at the people who were blogging when I first started, very few are still out there. You are one of the few, Carol.
It is hard for people who do not express their own creativity to understand those of us who do. While I do believe we were born to be creative, I don’t think we need to live up to anyone’s standards of what makes something we do worth it to them.
I hope your post-surgery healing goes well. ❤
Thanks, Laura. I’m doing well. I agree, a sense of worth is a very individual and personal thing.
Excellent, keep on keeping on your writing!! You are a blessing to us ~
I’ve been contemplating the same question. I’m more curious as to why we are asking ourselves this question at this time. Maybe because we feel as if we’re running out of time? Or maybe I’m alone in this feeling.
Definitely not alone, Joylene. The older I get the more I recognize that time is passing at an increasing rate. The decade or two that I probably have left are inevitably going to pass faster than they would have in my younger years.– not a comforting thought. It changes priorities and gives a bit of urgency to accomplishing them!
A valuable perspective. When it comes to writing, I don’t worry so much about it being worth it, at least not what I’ve already written. I do tend to think about it when I wonder if I should do another book, but since I don’t want to think about the futility of writing another book that very few people will read, I don’t write. I do blog (I am coming up on 15 years) and sometimes I do think about the triviality of it (my current topics rather than blogging itself), but I need that daily discipline of writing. It just dawned on me, we must have “met” about a dozen years ago. Wow.
I’m not sure how long it’s been, but I guess we’ve been interacting online for quite a few years. In the professional dog show world it’s said that if a newcomer survives past five years, they’re likely going to be in it for life. I wonder if that’s true of writers, too. We’re still at it anyway, Pat. My goals have changed a bit, but even if I’ve redirected my efforts, I still like to write.
I’m sticking with blogging for now while I reformat my goals for my other writing. I have a hunch that once my job ends and I’m home all the time, I will start writing novels again, for the company if nothing else.
Fourteen years! *high five*
For me, the biggest “worth it” factor is joy – there’s got to be some joy in the process. Writing is often challenging, and publishing is often frustrating, LOL, but I find joy in creating, in playing with words, in crafting a story in my wandering way. 🙂
Yes, joy definitely needs to be a part of it. Otherwise, what’s the point? (Although I suppose people choose to write for different reasons, there’s got to be some kind of reward.)