An Ironically Lonely Job

Stephen King once said that writers, although socialize regularly, will end up doing their ‘job’ alone when it comes to the process of writing. This is intriguing and relatable to some writers, but does not always make sense to a few writers, perhaps including King himself.

When he said that writer is a lonely job, what he meant was the nature of most writers who prefer to lock themselves when it comes to working on their ideas, turning those imaginations, plans, and plots into a wholesome piece of literature in various forms such as novels, screen-plays, omnibuses of short-stories, etc. However, King must have been aware that writers, especially those who work on fictions like him, sometimes create multiple personas within their mind, and continuously communicate with them. This is an irony of the piece of quote saying writer is a lonely job. They, those authors, might appear as if they are alone in their chamber, behind the desk, working and contemplating, yet their minds are buzzing with imaginary figures that only visible to their concern. Thus, Pennywise was probably talking to King when he worked on IT, and so that my fictional characters when I worked on mine.

So, are writers actually alone when they write? They probably are. Especially for those with lots of targets and those who works with scientific stuffs instead of fictional literature. They might not have time talking with their multiple personas. Even though they create a story that involves several outstanding characters, they might not have time going through ‘imaginary talk’ to those fictional people if their minds are occupied with targets and deadlines. This lack of mind-management puts some obstacles to their creative way, but at the same time, boosts their focus.

On the other hand, some groups of writers who are able to manage their focus and imagination might still have some chance doing imaginary conversations within their head, regardless what they are working on. Some researchers who work on scientific paper to be published at a Scopus-indexed journal might still have themselves ‘discussing’ with the authors they referred to when they cite some concepts or results on their literature review.

Then, what’s best? Being highly imaginative by letting your inner thoughts talk to you, or focusing to be focus and imprisoning the imaginary ‘characters’ or wild thoughts within you? There is no best way as both will happen simultaneously. As I have mentioned earlier, even Pennywise might whisper King what to put in his remarkable horror novel. Hence, he was not completely alone, though. After all, writing is probably a lonely job at some points, yet it is also a job that might burst someone’s mind with its explosive crowds of ideas, and imaginary figures.

Finally, read more, write even more.