Bricklayers lay brick. Nurses nurse. Accountants do acco
unting. Actors act. Writers write … except for when writers don’t write, then things get a little confusing. Commercial writers don’t have the option of giving in to writer’s block or being distracted, they have contracts to fulfill. Freelancers can and do wander away from “the grindstone” occasionally. These are the top excuses:
1. I don’t have time.
This is an easy excuse to arrange, just find other things with which to fill your time. The truth is that we all have exactly the same number of hours in a day, how we choose to use them tells what is important to us. People will always make the time for the things that are most important to them.
It is entirely possible that if you are the stay-at-home parent of 8 kids and a half-dozen dogs your life is hectic. Your family takes precedence over sitting at a keyboard creating a novel (as it should). But if creating that novel is important to you, you can find the time to write. It may mean getting up a half-hour before everyone else so you can get in a few quiet minutes each day to create. Or you may need to skip a couple of TV shows.
If writing is important to you, you will find the time to write, even if it’s just a little at a time.
2. I’m afraid of rejection.
If you are afraid your work will be rejected, good news: we all are! I don’t know anyone who likes being rejected. Only narcissists go into everything confident that they cannot fail. However, any type of creative work will involve a lot of being rejected by people who do not appreciate your work. That comes with the territory. Even newspaper journalists have editors to answer to. Unfortunately we cannot please all the people all the time.
This is especially evident when we are getting started. Most newbies have a lot to learn as they perfect their craft and develop their style. Constructive criticism may sting, but if you turn it around and use it (assuming the criticism is coming from someone you respect) it can speed your development. For that reason we should always be open to constructive review. If we show our WIP only to friends and family who will tell you “it’s wonderful” because they love you, you won’t learn.
Bear in mind also that there are a lot of trolls out there that love to crush other people. Ignore the trolls!
3. Writing is harder than I thought.
Yes, writing is hard. At least, writing well is hard. Like any worthwhile pursuit, it takes dedicating your time, it requires being open to learning, and it takes persistence. If your first attempt is not a best seller (and it rarely is), write another. Keep writing. Nothing worthwhile comes easy. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. Come to think of it, with the advent of self-publishing almost everyone IS doing it, but few are actually becoming successful. Success takes dedication (and a modicum of skill).
4. I don’t know how to write well.
Most writers become writers because they were raised as avid readers. Most of us try to emulate out favorite authors. For some, this comes naturally, for others it takes work. Go back through one of your favorite novels but don’t read it as a novel: dissect it as a specimen. Watch closely how the author sets up the story, constructs scenes, introduces characters, uses back-story, and develops a plot and sub plots. A great novel is every bit as complex as as great ballet, with characters and elements twirling around all over the stage as a great musical score ties them all together.
You can learn characterization by watching a good movie with the sound turned off: watch the actors interact and note their facial expressions, body language, and movement through the scene. Without the words, how do you know if someone is angry, or in love, or frustrated, or about to die?
If novels aren’t your thing, do the same with journalistic pieces or instructive non-fiction. Take it apart, examine the components and how they fit together.
These days, self publishing has lowered the bar on the need for correct punctuation and grammar. I mourn that fact and encourage writers to hold to a higher standard. Well-bred readers will thank you for it. If you need help learning to use these literary skills, as well as effective use of language, take a class at a local community college, or send for a course, or join a writers club and learn from them. Even if you are housebound and strapped for time, education is just a few keystrokes away.
5. I can’t think of anything to write about.
I know a couple of writers who are so effervescently creative they are forever frothing over with ideas to write about. They are never at a lack. It is hard not to hate them!
However, there are always ways to find something to write about. Bear in mind that not all of your writing has to be for publication. Writing exercises are a great way to get the ideas flowing again.
Most writer’s group web sites have idea generators or daily writing prompts. For a home-spun version, look out the window: what is the first thing you see? Write that down. Now grab a book at random and turn to the page with the same number as today’s date. If today is March 11th, turn to page 311. If the book doesn’t have enough pages, drop off a number: you’re just generating a random number to use. Look at the exact center of the page, what word pops out at you? Write that down. Now open a newspaper or your favorite news web site. Pick a headline at random. What is the longest word in that headline? Write that down. Now use those three words as a topic and construct 2 or 3 paragraphs (more if you get on a roll). You may do it as exposition or as dialog between characters.
Creativity is like a muscle: the more you work it, the stronger and more flexible it becomes.
Summary
If you feel called or compelled to be a writer: write. Write something, write anything. Don’t worry if your first scribblings aren’t worth publishing. Use those as a springboard to do better.
Devote some time on a regular schedule, not just “when I can work it in”. Be brave, not everyone will like your work; but some will love it. Write for them. Be persistent: keep writing. If you need education, seek it. Think of yourself as a literary athlete: when you are not in a competition, train. Keep working at getting better.
Writer’s write: always. If you can’t do that, consider becoming a bricklayer.
