How do your family feel about your writing?

justontime · Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 82

How do your family and friends react to your writing work? Mostly it is not a big issue but a couple of my family members behave as if it is not a proper job.

nangel78 · Joined: 28 Oct 2008 Posts: 33

I do mainly freelance writing on the side, but my family has been supportive of my endeavors. They have always given me feedback as well.

atula · Joined: 28 Jun 2008 Posts: 40

myfamily is a bunch of writers thewmselves so it more like running in the blood...but yes my husband has been so supportive, he even sends me some new projects if he finds something...so shows the way he feels about my writing...maybe writing his presentation and speeches for him helps.... Wink

justontime · Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 82

Most of my family are very supportive but because I work from home there are times that they find it hard to accept that I am working.

econwriter5 · Joined: 16 Jul 2008 Posts: 29

They are supportive. I got laid off in April, so writing has become a coping mechanism for me while I continue to look for gainful employment. It's a way to help stay focused on something, and my family understands that. Job hunting is a difficult, demoralizing task, whereas writing is fun.

jag · Joined: 14 Dec 2008 Posts: 15

My family are incredibly supportive of my work. As they share many of the same perspectives as I do, it's always good to have people willing to read what you say, point out mistakes and generally make the whole thing perfect before submission.

Taggart · Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 35

My family doesn't follow the day to day writing that I do as a freelancer, but at times when I've made a notable sale or had a copy of something published, they seemed impressed.

In my case, they've never been discouraging.

tcnjpirate · Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 25

My family does the same thing - acts like its not real work.
Although, that may be because I do most of my writing in bed Very Happy

Overall, though, they're trying to be supportive now, recognizing that yes, I really am working.

Kitten · Joined: 07 Oct 2008 Posts: 30

My mom knows that it's real work, but no one else really knows what I do. And they certainly don't read my writing.

jag · Joined: 14 Dec 2008 Posts: 15

What did writing do to not be considered as real work? It's an intellectual job, not a physical one. I think it's the way the media are portrayed as hungry people snapping up any and all gossip, like those reporters in the mid 20th century shows.

justontime · Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 82

[quote="jag"]What did writing do to not be considered as real work? It's an intellectual job, not a physical one. I think it's the way the media are portrayed as hungry people snapping up any and all gossip, like those reporters in the mid 20th century shows.[/quote]

I think some people see it as a hobby or as something that doesn't pay well, or maybe it is because I work from home. My husband is happy enough when the payments come in.