Do you ever have times in your life when a truth just seem to scream at you? When people, books, documentaries, or Ted Talks (lol), keep saying the same thing? Well, for me that “thing” has been that I am a writer, and I need to stop denying it.
Calling oneself a writer is a bold step. I think I told my students once that they were all writers, but I probably only half-believed it. Writers are always in a state of “becoming.” Whether you are as prolific as Stephen King or like me, a blogger and sometimes fiction writer, if you are writing and writing regularly, then you are a writer. Granted, as Stephen King says, if you are a competent writer, you can become a good writer, and if you are a good writer, you have a chance (albeit it small) of becoming a great writer. If you’re a bad writer by the time you’re out of high school, he thinks it’s too late. I’m not sure what I think of that, but there probably is some truth in it. To some extent, writing is a gift, or a talent. Even in middle school, if given the option to take a multiple choice or an essay exam, I would opt for essay any day of the week. It’s really not that hard for me to express my thoughts clearly in writing, and I can’t remember a time when it ever has been.
That being said, I have SO MUCH to learn. Especially if I ever want to hack it in the world of fiction. I’ve been discussing this with my good friend, Vicki, and she recommended I read, On Writing by Stephen King. Oh what excellent advice you give, Vicki. What did I get out reading King’s book?
1. The Basics: I’ve already mastered the basics of writing–grammar, sentence fluency, mechanics. Done. (Thank God)
2. Being an honest writer, means keeping it simple. Don’t add a lot of extra words. Avoid adverbs like the plague and be sparing with adjectives. Although I already knew this, I’ve struggled with it as I have a tendency to be verbose.
3. Start small. It suddenly dawned on me that I’ve been going about this writing thing all wrong. I can’t write a novel before publishing a short story. Time for a redirect. I’m going to start by writing short stories. I need to exercise my fiction muscle before running the marathon.
4. Write every day. (Ahem, why do you think I’m writing this post?!)
5. Write the first draft as fast as you can. Get it out of you quickly so you don’t lose focus. Then go back and perfect for as long as it takes.
6. Writers don’t write for fame or money. They write because they are writers. This I already knew, but it gave me a lot more hope that even if I never publish, I will write because it gives me a sense of purpose.
7. Writing is telepathy. Writers and readers share this “head space” during the time when a reader is reading the writer’s work. How cool is it that my thoughts can become your thoughts. That when I describe a scene that you are picturing it. How intimate. How beautiful.
Yesterday, while exercising at the gym, a prayer came to my lips and it went something like this: Dear God, I have so much to say, so much to learn, so much to write. Please let me live a long life because I know it’s going to take me my whole life to get it all sorted out.
So yeah, God. I’m ready for this ride. I’ll show up. You send me my muse.
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