I find writing a strange hobby. From what I read about it, it’s supposed to be a serious business. Emphasis on business. The majority of articles, podcasts and books I read about writing start from the assumption that it’s not just for fun. That’s not to say writers don’t love writing. Clearly, judging from the passion and devotion they show, writers adore writing. But there is a tendency that worms its way into guidance about writing. Fiction and non-fiction alike, it feels the same. It’s like a chorus saying that writing must do more than ‘just’ be a nice way to fill my time.
Maybe I’m just reading all the wrong guidance. Still, the idea got into my head and so I’ve been taking writing far too seriously. And the more serious and stern I am about it, the more my writing withers away. Compare this to my knitting. I don’t take knitting seriously at all. My
collection of half-finished finished projects is a testament to that. But, because I enjoy knitting, I do it often, have become better at it, and, most importantly, it makes me feel happier and more fulfilled.
This is not to say that knitting cannot be professional and practised seriously. Or that writing shouldn’t be serious. I studied English Literature for four years, paying money and devoting time to both Bachelors and Masters degrees. I take words seriously. Writing can change the world. Writing, and thinking critically about writing, is important; culturally, philosophically and politically important. Knitting, to be fair, has a harder time expressing ideas and ideologies.
But even so, when people take crafts seriously, they can do amazing things with them that challenge the cultural boundaries we set up
between art and craft.
But, sorry (not sorry), this is about me. My knitting is lighthearted and fun. And my writing drags me down. Or at least, the assumptions I bring to my writing do.
And I don’t think it’s all in my head. I didn’t get these ideas from nowhere. The writing communities and culture I find online and in books has a puritanical streak about writing. Did I, a terrible perfectionist, drift towards the parts of this that reinforce my worst perfectionist tendencies? Of course not. I positively swam upstream towards them. I’m not blaming anyone here for the filters I bring to the world.
But isn’t it interesting to consider how a hobby like knitting tends to be presented so differently from writing? What does that do to how other people like me might find it? How can I find more of the writing-for-fun stuff that I’ve been overlooking? And – for me, the most important question – how can I deconstruct my assumptions about writing? I want to bring the fun back to it. I want it to be a more fulfilling and positive part of my life
Why write a public post about this anyway? I’ve just said that most of this is only about me, me, me. Why not quietly journal it all out? Well, I find that imagining a reader changes how I think about my
writing. It challenges me to think deeper and consider more perspectives. I enjoy a good brain workout like that. And maybe there’s someone else out there who’s wondering where all the fun went from their writing. Or has answers or more questions for me to pursue- wonderful!
