Light (fun! ) questions to get us back into the habit of regular QOTWs, plus a good reminder of why we love writing!

What is the funnest thing about writing? What elements of the craft do you enjoy most? What about showing up at the page makes you smile, gives you a feeling of satisfaction, and affirms that when you're writing you're doing the very best thing you personally could ever be doing? (Okay, perhaps that last one was a bit over the top--feel free to be less psycho than me! )

The most fun thing about writing is when I produce something good. It's such an amazing feeling to read it over and think, "Man, I like reading that. I think someone else might like reading that. It makes me laugh/think/feel... and *I* wrote it!" That's amazing. It's definite satisfaction. And it is fun. I love it most when I write it, read it, and actually cackle out loud because I'm having so much fun. Hee! I guess it's nice to know that even if I'm my own worst critic, sometimes I can satisfy even myself.

The element of the craft I enjoy most is dialogue. I don't feel like it's my strongest skill but I love it when it works and I can really hear the characters talking. That's the closest I get into tapping into that real other world.

I do a lot of dialogue writing during NaNoWriMo. Some of it is terrible but I think it's good practice.

The best thing about writing to me is very similar to Jen's - whenever I've written something that makes me laugh out loud or cry real tears, I feel ridiculously pleased.

Though it's not really an element of craft, the thing that I enjoy the most while writing, is writing humour. I love the playful state of mind that has to come in order to write it properly.


I'm not sure, but I do feel that way, as if this is the best thing I can be doing. I love the creation process and the idea that I'm creating a whole new world, new people, new situations, none of which would exist if it wasn't for me sitting down at my computer every day and bringing them to life. It's hard to explain... I bet you all know what I mean though.

I know what you mean Ang

I know what you both mean--and am impressed that you found words to express it so well. It really is just SO FUN and I do find myself chuckling, raging, crying . . . amazing.

>>>I guess it's nice to know that even if I'm my own worst critic, sometimes I can satisfy even myself.<<<

Yes, LOL, I know that feeling too!

I think my all-time favourite part of writing (though it's a bit freaky too) is how my subconscious takes over and knows things far in advance that I don't even recognize as having put in a story until I get to a certain part and see everything click together. I love dialogue too, because like Jen, it's wonderful to see/hear characters come to life. I also love finding the exact right word or turn of phrase to express something that you've felt but hadn't (until just that moment!) had the words for.

There's another part of writing that I really appreciate/value, however, and it has nothing to do with me per se--it's when someone who's read something I wrote relates to it and is moved or affected by it. I think I write to try to make sense of the world/to comfort myself in some way and when someone says, "It's like you were in my head," or "I put that on my fridge," or (my favorite), "I was talking about my friend so and so the other day, about something she said, and then I realized it wasn't my friend, it was your character." I feel flattered, yes, but it's deeper than that . . . I feel connected or something.

Those are such cool things about writing too. How can we chose just one or two? Thanks for mentioning these, Ev. Yay for the magic! And of course, the readers!

"There's another part of writing that I really appreciate/value, however, and it has nothing to do with me per se--it's when someone who's read something I wrote relates to it and is moved or affected by it..."

Ooh, that's such a good one. It's very true.