ou know those days when writing feels like flying through a glitter-filled sky on the back of a caffeinated unicorn? That’s one kind of fun. And then there are the days when writing feels like crawling through a tunnel of emotional tar with only self-doubt and a deadline to light the way. Shockingly… that’s fun too. What?
Enter: Type 1 and Type 2 Fun
These terms come from the world of adventurers, mountain climbers, and outdoor masochists—people who willingly dangle from cliffs and call it a good time. But they also apply perfectly to the wild world of writing stories.
Type 1 Fun: Fun While It’s Happening
This is the pure stuff. The dopamine delight. Type 1 fun is your classic good time. It’s enjoyable in the moment, and it stays fun in retrospect. Think: eating cake, watching a great movie, going on a spontaneous road trip with friends.
In the writing world, Type 1 fun might look like:
- Writing 1,000 words before lunch and loving every single one of them.
- Discovering a plot twist you didn’t see coming (and it actually makes sense!)
- Getting praise in a workshop that makes you blush.
- Seeing your book cover for the first time and squealing with joy.
This is the kind of fun that makes you want to shout, “I was born to do this!” while dramatically flinging open your laptop.
But let’s be honest. Writing isn’t always like that. Which brings us to…
Type 2 Fun: Fun After It’s Over
Type 2 fun doesn’t feel fun at the time. It feels hard. Messy. Frustrating. You may question your life choices, your talent, and the meaning of existence. But later—sometimes hours, sometimes years—you look back and think, “That was kind of amazing.” It’s earned fun. And writing is full of it.
In writing, Type 2 fun shows up as:
- Rewriting a scene for the 17th time.
- Crying over your keyboard because you don’t know what happens next… but refusing to quit
- Getting harsh feedback, sulking for a week, then using it to revise your way into greatness.
- Finishing a draft you thought might actually destroy you.
Type 2 fun is all about achievement. The high of finishing. It builds character (yours, not just your protagonist’s). It’s also the kind that turns writers into authors. Because pushing through the hard stuff? That’s where the real growth lives.
Why Writers Need Both
If you’re only chasing Type 1 fun, you’ll quit the second things get hard (and they will get hard). You’ll abandon your book at the first plot snarl. You’ll tell yourself, “Maybe I’m not cut out for this.” But writing isn’t just about flowy days and fairy dust. It’s about grit. And strangely enough, it’s that Type 2 fun—the hard-won victories—that often bring the deepest satisfaction.
You survive the swamp of Act Two. You conquer the tech nightmare of formatting. You get through the 43rd revision. And later, when someone says, “Wow, you wrote a book?” you smile and say, “Yeah. I did.”
How to Make the Most of Both Types
1. Recognize the Type If you’re miserable mid-draft, tell yourself: “Ah, Type 2 fun. Carry on.” If you're having a magical writing session, bask in the glow of Type 1. Just don’t expect every day to feel that way.
2. Reframe the Hard Stuff Remember: just because something isn’t fun now doesn’t mean it isn’t meaningful. Or won’t be worth it later. Or even, weirdly, fun to talk about when it's over.
3. Celebrate Both Finished a tough revision? Toast yourself. Finally figured out that character arc? Dance break. Survived feedback without crying? Okay, maybe with crying, but you did it!
4. Don’t Wait for Motivation Motivation is Type 1. But momentum comes from pushing through the Type 2. The more you show up, the more fun you’ll unlock—both in real time and in memory.
Remember…
1. Don’t Panic When the Fun Disappears If you're not giggling with joy every time you open your draft, you're not broken. You’re probably just in a Type 2 fun phase. Keep going. You’ll look back on this moment with pride.
2. Celebrate Both Types When you have a Type 1 fun writing day, bask in it. Screenshot your word count. Text your writer friends. Do a happy dance. But when it’s Type 2 fun, remind yourself: this still counts as fun. It’s the fun that forges your creative stamina and storytelling muscles.
Both kinds of fun? They’re both part of the creative ride. Enjoy it!
Use Both Types of Fun in Your Stories
Characters love Type 1 fun (banter! romance! a good heist!)—but they grow through Type 2 fun. That’s where your protagonist earns their transformation. So when you’re plotting, ask:
- Where’s the joy?
- Where’s the trial-by-fire?
- How can I make sure they survive the struggle and look back in awe?
Hit reply and tell me: What kind of fun are you having today—Type 1 or Type 2?
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