Friday's Top Ten

The top ten reasons why I love being a writer:

10. I know what to do with all those people and stories in my head.

  9. I'm no longer a news junkie . . . it's research.

  8. I have valid reasons for spending time alone.

  7. And staring out the window.

  6. I love sharing my thoughts with readers.

  5. People accept that I may be . . . quirky.

  4. I still get to play pretend . . . except I play it in my head.

  3. With people I make up.

  2. I love creating something from nothing.

And the #1 reason why I love being a writer:

  1. It's who I am.


If You Haven't Noticed 

At the top of my right sidebar is a link to a Goodreads Giveaway for SOLOMON'S COMPASS. Go over, sign up, and maybe you'll be the lucky winner of one of two signed copies.

Open to U.S. residents only. Sorry. I hope to expand eligibility on both books sometime later this year.

Comments

Kittie Howard said…
Great list, but #1 truly says it all!

Hey, I just purchased your book. We're going on holiday the 28th so I'm saving it for a poolside read. Know it's gonna be super!
Making up stuff is fun!
I love the pass for being quirky!
Linda G. said…
I'm with you on all of these, especially #5. "Quirky" sounds better than "crazy," right? ;)
Anonymous said…
A great list Carol.

Yvonne.
Tara Tyler said…
amen, sista! love your list!
Laura Eno said…
Great list for writers!

I figure I'm making up for the lack of imaginary friends during childhood. ;)

Julie Flanders said…
Great list as always. Happy weekend, Carol! :)
Luanne G. Smith said…
All great reasons, especially that daydreaming, staring out the window stuff. :)
Unknown said…
Funny, your reasons to love being a writer are mine too. Imagine that. Happy writing.
Jennifer Joyce said…
Love this list. I'm quite prone to staring out of windows too.
Suzanne Furness said…
What a lovely list of all things great about being a writer!
Summer Ross said…
Terrific list. Love number one oh and playing pretend. LOL
Have a great weekend!
~Summer
Unknown said…
I too love having a reason to be alone for long lengths of time besides, "I'm antisocial" ;) And I also love that I get to play pretend in my head and can call it part of my job and not give it a DSMIII diagnosis.

Have a lovely weekend.
~Sia McKye~ said…
Yep, you still get to play pretend and it's all between your head and your computer.

Sia McKye OVER COFFEE
David Oliver said…
Ditto on everything everyone said here even though I'm strictly an amateur.

One thing I would add - don't you love it when occasionally you write something and think "dang, this good?"

Even though you might be the only one who thinks so...
Carol Kilgore said…
Kitty - WooHoo! Thanks! Enjoy!

Alex - I totally agree about making stuff up!

Elizabeth - So do I! It's great to feel good about being weird :)

Linda G - Or crazy LOL!

Yvonne - Thank you.

Tara - Thanks...pumping fist :)

Laura - LOL, but don't tell Jezebel.

Julie - Same to you.

Luanne - Ahhh, yes :)

Jan - Imagine :)
J.L. Campbell said…
Playing pretend is one of the bigger benefits. Have a great weekend.
Robin said…
Quirky. Love that word.

I do believe that a person who is meant to write, has stories constantly rolling around in their head, and knows how to make the words flow... simply cannot do anything else. It is who you are. And why bother pretending to be someone else?
CATachresis said…
Oh so true!! Love this list!!
Janie Junebug said…
Here's the top reason I love being an editor: I get to correct grammar AND get paid to do it. Boo-yah!

Love,
Janie
Linda Kage said…
Amen! You said that perfectly. Have a great weekend!
BECKY said…
Since I write memoir, I have memories pop into my head, instead of fictional characters....and yes....Being a writer is who I am! :)
Thanks for a great list, Carol!
Carol Kilgore said…
Mama J - I suppose I could and would write in a windowless room, but I love the big window by my desk.

Suzanne - I see it pretty much fits all of us, with little tweaks here and there.

Summer - My little girl BFF and I used to pretend all the time.

Julie - Exactly!

Sia - Yes.

David Oliver - Thanks for commenting. Yes, especially when it's still good after a few months of sitting in the drawer.

M Pax said…
Ah yes to the playing at pretend. :) All the other reasons, too, especially the last one. Have a great weekend, Carol!
Anonymous said…
Embrace that inner quirk!
Great list from a great lady!
Beth said…
My #1 reason is creating something from nothing.
Playing pretend, daydreaming, alone-time, yay!
VR Barkowski said…
Best. List. Ever. Especially #5. I spent years looking for a job where I could revel in my quirkiness.

VR Barkowski

No. 1 says it all. I love that you have found 'who you are' and can revel in it. And all your readers benefit... (And quirky is the only way to live. Quirky equals sanity in my world.)
Carol Kilgore said…
J.L. - I think so, too.

Robin - Once I knew, and started to write, I felt so at home. I knew it was the right decision.

CATachresis - Cool. Thanks.

Janie - I didn't know you were an editor.

Linda K - Thanks! You, too :)

Becky - I'd freak if I had to write about me. Much easier to make up people :)

Liza - Takes one to know one, LOL!
Helena said…
Isn't it so therapeutic to get those people and voices out of your head? But as soon as I get them out others pop up and drive me crazy.

And yes, you're charmingly quirky, Carol.
I agree that it's good to be quirky! Another great list Carol!

Julie
I love your choice of word: quirky... it implies a certain charm... though people who are not very creative might replace it with another word (give you one guess what they'd say?)LOL
Writer In Transit
Melissa said…
This is one of my favorite top 10s. I can soooo relate to #8, and I laughed when I read #4. I once told somebody, "It's like playing Barbies, except I can make them do whatever I want." LOL
Unknown said…
Your top ten are really beautiful and touching. I identify with most of them. I realized, however, that "Who I am" isn't a writer. I'm an artist, specifically a performance artist. I wonder if that's why writing doesn't seem to get easier for me. I LOVE creating something that will affect others, but it's hard to distill my creativity into words on a screen.
Carol Kilgore said…
Mary - Pretend is so much fun!

Kelly - Always :)

Beth - I love seeing a project come together :)

Words Crafter - Yes! A perfect day :)

VR - Had I only had this awareness in school, my life would have been so much easier. Viva, quirky!

EC - Yay! Since I've been writing, I have learned so much about myself and about people in general. And yes ... quirky keeps me sane, too :)
Jemi Fraser said…
Quirky is very good :P

Can't imagine what would happen to my brain if I didn't let the people in there interact with the real world! :)
Crystal Collier said…
Awesome. I agree 100%. There's nothing quite so amazing and bringing a story to life.
Carol Kilgore said…
Helena - Yes! Replacements are queued, but sometimes they get rowdy and don't want to wait their turns.

Julie - I don't think I could ever be non-quirky.

Michelle - Odd, eccentric, crazy, a lunatic, loco, mad woman, nutty as a fruitcake are the first ones that come to mind - LOL.

Melissa - Exactly!

Lexa - Creativity comes in all forms. All of it produces something from nothing. It's rewarding and fun!

Jemi - I can't either.

Crystal - Right!
Anonymous said…
It's who I am, too. :)
A great list, I think news as research makes a lot of sense.....lol
Old Kitty said…
Definitely staring out of the window and daydreaming!! Take care
x
Anonymous said…
It's who we are -- I like it.
Carol Kilgore said…
Medeia and Milo - Sometimes there's just no denying it.

Jo-Anne - Sometimes a little tweak here and there, and it can add a new twist to a plot.

Old Kitty - Cats do it, so why not :)
Nas said…
Great list, Carol! And I missed the 'Open to US only' and went to get in the giveaway. But had to come away!

All the best!
Carol Kilgore said…
Nas - I'm hoping Goodreads will one day allow ebook giveaways. The international postage on print books is so steep.

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