Plenty of people write for a living but it is still a job.
You can only ever sit around in your pants doing what you want on your days off...
...or if you are so rich you don't have to bother anymore...
Why do you write? Page 3
True, but it's a job you can often choose do at home, rather than in an office. Hence the pants.
Quote: Rustle T Davis @ July 22, 2007, 11:28 AMIs anyone else on the same rollercoaster me?
I think I can write comedy ...I don't think I can write comedy ... I'm feeling really confident ... I'm feeling totally unconfident ... I'm sure I'm improving ... I'm sure I'm shite ... something good's going to happen ... nothing good's EVER going to happen ...I'm going to be a success ... I'm going to be a failure.
I feel sick, but I still don't want to get off this ride.
Usually I'm mainly positive and think that if I just keep at it something will come of it someday, but then one day every 2 months or so I get that feeling of "Will I ever make it, am I wasting my time?" and it also pisses me off when I feel I've written something really good and I think "Will I ever get the chance to showcase this to the world". But then the next day I'm alright again. 
All you need is that one break and everything will fall into place... I know it's hard but hey look at the ending... just keep plodding away
Quote: Reiss Ellesse @ July 22, 2007, 8:15 PMAll you need is that one break and everything will fall into place... I know it's hard but hey look at the ending... just keep plodding away
Yeah, I'm of the belief that you'll get a break if you're good enough.
Just one person needs to think 'I like this, I'd like to meet him for a chat'.
Another question is - are sitcom writers on the way out? Most of the big hits recently have been written and performed rather than just having a writer, who sits behind the scenes.
I write because it frees up some of the stuff that is in my head. If I don't do something every day I get tetchy.
To this end I have eight laptops, numerous notebooks, dictaphones, twelve computers (all over the house) and other devices.
This could be an excuse to be a gadget freak, thinking about it.
Quote: Ed Parnell @ July 23, 2007, 12:17 AMTo this end I have eight laptops, numerous notebooks, dictaphones, twelve computers (all over the house) and other devices.
Mental Note rob Ed's house.
I partly do it because I'm not content with life as it is. I have a decent 9-6 job, but feel I should be making more out my time. I actually envy those that do a 9-5 and are happy with that as they are content.
I've always been creative and enjoy being so and writing is a great outlet for that. I used to write poems, short stories and paint as a kid but got distracted by technology and only got back into writing a few years ago as a spoof news writer.
I actually started writing seriously again because I was fed up of wasting money on crap films and thought 'I'll do slightly better and get paid to write cliched tosh', but I soon learnt to appreciate the artform again and just want to write quality screenplays.
Why comedy? I love to make people laugh - its a fantastic feeling. It would be great to write sitcom, then something moving. The ideas are there, I just hope to hone the story-telling skills.
I don't think you can do it 'to get rich' as those people don't have enough passion for writing to put the huge number of hours that are NEEDED to succeed. These people tend to want get-rich-quick tips/help which don't exist, you may have seen a few here - say no more.
I write, therefore I am.
I notice a lot of you have creative talents outside of just writing, quite interesting, I do a lot of doddling as well when I can't think (some of which I've made comical recently, but aren't good enough to bother with really).
And I understand where containsnuts is coming from too, I know I'm young and have life ahead of me but I want to break out of my little town and make something of life as well, not being stuck with a boring life.
Quote: ContainsNuts @ July 23, 2007, 9:47 AM... broke?
Un-mendable!
I too have a 9-5ish job which i do enjoy immensely, but like many others think i could do something better than some of the stuff that gets commissioned. However, the real difference is that they have managed to do it.
Talent is one thing and possibly essential for longevity, but the 'stick-ability' factor is the main reason why some of us make it and others fall at the wayside. Like an old rusty fence post. That and being in the right place at the right time with the right idea. I think they call it luck?
I have a shite 9-5 job that I'm not that good at. In fact, I think conedy writing is the only thing that I am good at, in terms of things that might make me money one day. You often see sports stars asked what would you be doing if you weren't a footballer/ tennis player etc. most of them say "thank God I am a sports person, because if I wasn't, i don't know what I'd be doing. I wasn't any good at anything else." That's basicallt how i feel about comedy writing. I can picture myself saying that in some kind of interview in a few years time. 
Quote: ajp29 @ July 23, 2007, 3:31 AMMental Note rob Ed's house.
I'll help if you want.
Quote: earman2009 @ July 23, 2007, 8:18 PMI have a shite 9-5 job that I'm not that good at.
Snap!
I count myself extremely lucky in that I enjoy my job hugely, and its not one you take home with you so it's ideal for what I want to do.
Plus I get to meet minor celebrities.