Being a Writer: Write Right Away, Part 3
As I've tried to explain, being a writer is easy. You get that first word on the page, and you've made it.
After you've "made it," thoughts of inadequacy may arise. Your thoughts and thoughts from others sing, rap, yodel, even choreograph a complementary dance in the backdrop of your writer brain. Depending on how people's word resonate, it could lead you to...
Writer's Block.
There are unimaginable events that may unfold and attempt to block your ability to write. But know this:
None of it matters.
Keep writing. Keep placing words on surfaces.
I love writing for the sake of writing. I wrote my first book in 30 days, just because I love writing. I don't write to be grammatically correct, and I especially don't do that at all for a first draft. I love writing nonsensical pieces; it keeps me sane for when Cyber Grammar Police Officers (CGPO [cig-po]) try to block my misuse of practically any- and everything. I tell them, the piece was nonsensical, so all the mistakes were intentional. No one ever responds to that bit. And as long as I continue to be an independent writer without an editor, I don't expect that I am writing any grammatically correct pieces.
Throw grammar aside. Throw people aside. Throw yourself aside when needed. Just put that friggin' writing tool on a surface and fill that friggin' space with some letters. Don't judge your process. The best pieces were written by genius minds that are TERRIBLE at grammar. If editing is absolutely needed, do your best and then find an editor for that task.
Be you. Be you alone on that surface. Be you saying whatever needs to be said. I've never had Writer's Block, because writing is simply the act of placing words on a surface. Nothing more is needed. You, your writing tool, and a writing surface.
"Be good.
Be patient.
Be a writer.
Be in the moment."
~MissNikkiAnn (@missnikkiann)
Just write, anything. Start. Discipline yourself to write something, everyday. It's true. One learns to be always crafting in one's mind after a while, safe in the knowledge that there is structured time to record it. The mind prepares endlessly. Nice post.
@artemislives, you wrote: "One learns to be always crafting in one's mind...". That resonated with me. Some days I wish my mind would stop telling me so many stories. Like you said, my writing is disciplined, add to that the infinite number of stories and ideas to be told; it's probably the reason why I don't get writers' block--way too many things to write about.
"One learns to be always crafting in one's mind..."
I absolutely love it.
My head basically works like this too.... :) Glad you liked. :)
I agree, just keep putting blood on the page. It's therapy and someone, somewhere will appreciate some day. I'm a writer since I know a few words and have the guts to put them down on a surface. I like your use of "surface" rather than "paper." Frankly, I do most of my writing with a keyboard attached to some digital device. A surface is the best way to put it.
Keep writing and write what you want. An editor changes your writing to become his or hers. It may be necessary at some stage, but mostly, the voice of the original gets changed too much and it all just becomes a little too homogenized for my tastes.
Thanks for writing this post. It made my day.
@keniza You are right about editors, and I think keeping that in mind as you write is another way to prevent writer's block. Thank you!
I agree.