it's smouldering or freezing; it's never all that easy to decide

[frith_in_thorns]

Last night I phoned my mother and then got stealth-handed over to talk to my father. He asked me what I was up to, and I mentioned that I was considering entering some of the industry-funded science writing competitions that keep turning up in my mailbox at work.

Him: Oh, that's a good idea. It's about time you actually started using your writing talents.
Me: Uh, you know I'm actually spending a lot of my time using my 'talents' already.
Him: You know what I mean. Your online stuff's just time-wasting.
Me: ...

You know what? I know I angst a lot about writing silly things, and especially about constantly annoying people who are not actually following me because of fandom, but I am not wasting my time. Value isn't only attached to direct monetary gain.

I love writing. More than that; I love writing for people, both specifically and generally. I write cliches and I write id-fic and I know that I'm not writing pro-fiction, or anything particularly important, but when I get comments on my stories saying that I've managed to make other people happy with them, that is quite honestly one of the best things in the world to me. I write because I love the people I write for.

I don't think that could ever be a waste of time.

Comments

[kaberett]

Why. Are people. Awful.

By which I mean: no, of course it isn't a waste of time, and I'm sorry that your father felt the need to temper congratulations on your bravery & skills with being, er, vile.

<3

[frith_in_thorns]

<3 I hate being made to feel guilty about wanting to do things that I find fun.

[twinchaosblade]

Don't let something like that dampen your mood or drag you down! You are a very skilled and wonderful writer; I just love your fanfiction! And I'd be forever grateful and happy if you choose to continue with this endeavour of yours because it makes you happy, too.

Though I kind of understand where your father is coming from. Not that I think he is right in his assessment, mind you, it's just that the generation of our parents simply don't get how deeply satisfactory your social life and writing fanfiction in the online community can be. You do receive recognition and appreciation, even though it is completely outside of monetary gain. I guess our parents grew up with the attitude ingrained into them that the most important values were accumulating riches and starting a family. I think this attitude has changed greatly over the last decade or so.

Therefore, I don't necessarily think what your father said was in any way mean-spirited to begin with but came form a significant lack of understanding of how important those things are to you and how much your voluntary online work is giving you in return, even if it can't be measured in funds.

Take care and keep doing what makes YOU happy!