5 Things I Hate About Writing Revisted

#writingcommunity #booksky #amwriting #writing Unfettered Treacle

Written ten years ago. Still weirdly true.

I came across this list I wrote a decade ago, and it surprised me how much of it still feels relevant. The industry has changed. I’ve changed. But the core frustrations—the parts of writing that make you want to scream into a coffee cup—haven’t budged all that much.

Some things evolve. Others stay maddeningly the same.

Here’s what I wrote then—and honestly? I still stand by most of it.

1. Our schools don’t exactly set us up for success.

Let’s be honest, the way English is taught in most school systems doesn’t inspire a love for language. Grammar? Ugh. Studying writing felt more like punishment than discovery. I often wonder how many more people would enjoy writing if they hadn’t been made to hate it in high school.

When I decided to take writing seriously, I realized just how much I didn’t know. I had to fill in some major potholes in my skill set, and that realization eventually led me to pursue a Master’s degree in Writing Popular Fiction. I even took an undergraduate grammar class along the way—and, believe it or not, I actually enjoyed it. No, really.

2. Even when you know what you’re doing, writing well is hard.

Getting the words in the right order is one thing. Making them sing? That’s something else entirely.

I’ve participated in NaNoWriMo for the past decade and have seen people write hundreds of thousands of words in a single month. One person logged over 400,000. How? I honestly can’t imagine the prose is remotely good—but maybe that doesn’t matter. First drafts are supposed to be messy. The real magic comes in revision.

Still, writing is hard. I’m not complaining—just stating a fact.

3. Selling your work is harder than ever.

Yes, self-publishing is an option. But doing it well is a massive undertaking all on its own (and probably deserves its own blog post). The traditional publishing industry isn’t much easier.

If my time in the Air Force taught me anything, it’s this: change is constant. The same holds true in publishing. We’ve watched the industry consolidate under massive conglomerates. Many publishing houses are now owned by corporations that care more about quarterly profits than good storytelling.

Instead of championing original voices, they push books that resemble last season’s hits—playing it safe. They misread the digital market entirely, leaving Amazon to capitalize on the eBook wave. And here we are.

4. Writers don’t get treated well.

You’d think that the people who create the content—the authors—would be the most valued part of the equation. But more often than not, that’s not the case.

What the industry does value is your Intellectual Property. Your creativity. Your stories. But not necessarily you. As if your work just appears out of thin air.

In the military, I spent the last decade of my career in leadership roles. I believed in taking care of the people who worked for me. I encouraged them. I supported them. I genuinely think there’s room in the industry for a company to rise up and do the same for writers—one that treats authors like partners, not just content producers. Whether that will ever happen? I don’t know. But I hope so.

5. Routine is the real Boss Fight..

Let’s face it—writing regularly is a pain in the ass. And it’s that same ass that has to be in the chair, doing the work.

Every professional writer has a different rhythm. Some write every day. Some write for hours on end, seven days a week. Most of us can’t (or don’t want to) do that. Some people squeeze in writing on weekends. Others grab 15-minute bursts whenever they can.

But creating a consistent habit is a struggle for many—and I’m no exception.

My biggest challenge? Setting aside regular, protected time to write. Life doesn’t stop. The internet doesn’t shut off. Family responsibilities don’t pause.

And when I do finally get the time, the temptation to check email or scroll Instagram or binge a show is very real. Writing takes discipline. It takes intention. You have to make it a priority—and then fight to protect that time and actually use it.

___________________________________________________________

So, how’s your writing journey going?
Are there things you hate about writing? Or maybe things you didn’t expect to love?

Here’s the funny part, a lot of the things I hated about writing ten years ago? I still hate them. But I’ve also made peace with many of them. Some have even become oddly endearing—like the constant learning curve.

That’s the thing about writing, it changes. We change. The tools shift. The industry evolves. Trends come and go. But the core struggles? The doubt, the discipline, the desire to tell a good story? Those stay the same.

And in a strange way, there’s comfort in that.
It means we’re not alone. We’re just part of a long, chaotic, beautiful tradition of writers—grumbling about grammar, wrestling with structure, and fighting for every precious minute at the keyboard.

Still writing. Still figuring it out.
Still showing up.