Originally posted on Ellie Hartleb:
Acclaimed sportswriter Red Smith said, “Writing is easy; you just open a vein and bleed.” As it turns out, Red was right — writing is a lonely, sometimes soul-sucking battle. Throughout my writing history, the main players have been myself, a pen, a legal pad and a laptop. After years of trying to master the craft, I have learned only a few things: Mastery is impossible, My best writing is first produced by hand in the middle of the night, and I love this, even when I hate it. On the eve of my fourth semester of college, I have realized that growing up to do what I love is more difficult (and more expensive) than I ever imagined. College has taken a lot of mental, physical and financial strain lately. It has both affirmed that my lifelong love of writing will one day be my full time job, and has made me question, more than ever, whether I really belong in this atmosphere. As it turns out, loving what I…