To Be A Writer, You Must Write
Monday, March 15, 2010 Question of the day: What if you have been told you have a creative way of writing but you are not sure what you want to write? The main storyline? Does it just hit you all of a sudden if you type a while?
So listen, because you can't infer tone on a blog, please know that I mean this very kindly and as I type this, I'm typing it very sweetly, and I don't mean for this to sound harsh (okay, caveat enough), but I think a lot of people believe that they have it in them to be writers but don't recognize that what often distinguishes a published writer from an unpublished writer is the work that goes into the writing. Which is to say that being told you're a good writer and suspecting that you're creative is simply NOT enough. (Again, remember, I'm saying this nicely!)
I can't tell you how many times I've heard (as have my writer friends) from friends, peers, friends of friends, that they think they have what it takes to do what I do. Maybe they do. I don't know. But they don't know either since...drumroll...they don't write anything! I've mentioned this stat here before, but I swear that I've read a statistic that notes that something like 95% of the population think they have a book in them. And guess how many have actually done something about it? Basically squat.
Is what I'm saying helpful? Probably not. Okay, so let's try this. To be a writer, you have to write. For me, that starts with an idea. I don't begin writing until I have that idea. I DO NOT suggest just typing a while, which is actually what I think a lot of first-time writers do. This leads to A LOT, TOO, TOO much exposition and the pesky problem that words on a page do not equal plot or action or momentum, all things that you need to write a good book. Find your idea. Let it gestate. Consider your characters, the problems they'll have, the problems you'll create for them, the story behind your story and why you need to tell it AND - perhaps most importantly - why readers would want to read it.
Now, that said. If you're just interested in getting your feet wet, testing out your sea legs (to mix metaphors), then by all means, just start writing. Something is better than nothing. But don't expect that manuscript to go anywhere. Use it for practice, which is a wonderful and NECESSARY thing for a writer. Use it to figure out how you CAN write a book.
Above all else, write. Until you do, you're just a statistic like everyone else.
Anyone else out there hear a similar theme from friends - that they think they can write a book or for a magazine too? What do you think separates the published from the unpublished? Curious to hear.
Craft, Life as a writer
Reader Comments (9)
Oh, yeah. Everyone. My mother, who says it in a self-deprecating way because she believes she can't do anything. My mother-in-law, who can't string one grammatical, properly spelled sentence together and is one of the worst writers I've ever seen. "I'm going to write a book this year and have it published and get rich." (No matter how many times I tell her how stacked against anyone the odds are and how little money 99.5% of authors receive, she is sure that when/if I am published, I'll be immediately rich.) Even my husband, who is a good, if painfully slow, writer.....though he's the one I'd bet on getting it done.
To be a writer you must write, and you also must teach yourself about writing and the business. I always use this analogy: If you wanted to be a carpenter, would you just buy a bunch of wood and start hammering away in your garage with no guidance or experience and expect that first thing you build to be professional caliber?
Of course, the readers of Allison's fine blog already know this, because they're learning about the business right now. So, I don't know who I'm talking to, really...
p.s. I have a quote on my desk in a typewriter-themed picture frame. I printed it out years before I was published, and it's always been right next to my keyboard:
"A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit." Richard Bach
"Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead."
-- Gene Fowler --
I read somewhere that it is estimated the average writer has to put in 20,000 hours of writing before getting published. I think that's probably about right. Every time I think I 'm getting the hang of this writing thing, I learn something new that changes everything. I am still not published, but I am plugging away writing new stories, polishing old ones -- and occasionally kicking one to the curb after deciding it's taught me all I can learn from it, but it still isn't good enough.
I needed to hear this today. I came up with my next idea over the holidyas but aside from the first couple pages, I haven't written anything. I just don't feel ready. I like to outline (as today's post clearly demonstrates) and the story won't work unless I know where it's headed. Now I don't feel quite so guilty spending this time letting it percolate.
When friends ask what they can do because they are sure they can write, I always suggest taking a writing course - in person or online. This at least will give them some exercises / ideas and give them something specific to do instead of dreaming about their future fame and fortune.
Ann
I have a pile of books offering writing excercises. Then, when I am 'stuck' or 'blocked' (my nice words for my own 'laziness' and 'procrastination' ), I get stuck into those. This way, there is NO excuse. The excercises are waiting, telling me exactly what I have to do - and what I have to do is write. And the more you write, the more ideas you have.
I would say studying books and / attending at least a course or two on the craft is vital for direction.
Meredith is spot on re the 20000 hours of effort...only sometimes it feels like a million!
Yes! Write, edit, immerse yourself in your creations. But you must create above all else. You must do more than talk.
I'd agree with some of the great suggestions above - a writing course, a writing buddy (kind of like a diet buddy, to urge you on and keep you from slipping into bad habits), and reading good books about what it takes to write one can all help. But most of all, it's the writing. You've just got to do it, day after day!