The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

I have a question for my fellow writers. It really bothers me when I tell people that I'm writing a mystery series and they say, "That's a nice hobby." I feel it's so condescending and dismissive. For me, writing is like breathing. I have to get the story down on paper. I was wondering if any of you feel the same way.

We ALL feel the same way, Daniella, when people knowingly or unknowingly belittle our work. What I hate is when people say, "I'd like to write a book someday." It's as if they're saying that writing a novel can't be that hard and they could do it, too, if they felt like it and had the time. I'll sometimes jokingly respond, "Oh, just like you want to do brain surgery some day?" Then I'll explain a little about the years I spent learning the craft of novel writing.

Beth, I just grit my teeth and smile. I'm glad to know that there other writers who feel the same way I do. Yes, I agree with you about the implication is that writing a novel is not difficult. I would like to know how many of those who say "nice hobby" have ever thought about the time it takes to actually write a book. The first three novels in my mystery series are completed. I have a signed contract with Black Opal Books for them. The first one will come out later this year. I'm currently working on the fourth book in the series. I've written 114 pages thus far.

Writing is easy. Good writing is hard work. As a reviewer I see a lot of wanna be writers who have written a book but fail at the craft of writing. When someone says, "Nice hobby", just say, "Actually it is my passion, my reason for getting out of bed everyday, does that sound like a hobby to you?". Funny that you asked the question, just came across this article by Stephen King http://www.businessinsider.com/stephe...

Don, Thank you so much for sharing this article. Everything Stephen King mentioned, I went through but I just kept on writing despite the rejections and frustration. I wholeheartedly agree with him that a writer must READ. I cannot understand those people who do not read. I cannot imagine a day when I wasn't reading a book. I am grateful and fortunate that my parents instilled in my sister and me I love of reading when we were very little. To be a writer, you have to have a love and appreciation of the written word.