All writers are vain, selfish and lazy, and at the very bottom of their motives there lies a mystery. Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.

— George Orwell, Why I Write (1946)

Cheery fellow, this Orwell. But his sentiment resonates with me. Writing is hard, mentally taxing, emotionally raw at times. And yet those of us who write just keep reaching for more.

Since that interview on Seelie Kay’s blog, I’ve wondered if confessing my love–hate relationship with writing will come back to bite me one day. It’s just not the thing you hear from writers talking about their creative process (unless the writer is Anne Lamott).

Anyway, I wanted to share this quote from the author of 1984, because I found it both validating and commiserating. Hope all you writerly folks out there are having a positively wordish start to the year!