Write Your Way

 

Thousands and thousands of stories have been written. The same with essays, memoirs, and poems. Multi-thousands. How does a new writer compete with all that has come before? Our poster today tells us that new writers are too worried that it has all been done before, but not by that one new writer. Or even the writer who has been writing for a while. 

How many times have you heard that there are only seven plots in the world of fiction? Seven! And yet, there are those thousands of books and short stories, all using the basic plots. The ones you'll find listed are the following:

Overcoming the Monster, Rags to Riches, the Quest, Voyage and Return, Rebirth, Comedy, and Tragedy

Your story will be classified in one of the seven plots. Your story will still be different because you are an individual. You think on your own, you're not going to copy another writer word for word. That's plagiarism, and you don't want to go there. 

If you write a personal essay on grief and sorrow, your experience will be different than that of another writer. Your outlook on what happened will be yours and yours alone. 

You've probably read the advice of editors to write on a popular subject, but find a different angle. Use your personal perspective to create something new and fresh. 

If you have settled in with your own voice, whatever you write will distinguish you from another writer. Your voice, or your style of writing, should be unique. All yours. Yours alone. 

Consider a situation where a high school English teacher assigns an essay on College Ambitions. There are 28 students in her class. She is going to receive 28 essays all on the same topic, yet all quite different. Each student will put their own personal spin on the topic.

When you're told to find a different angle on a topic, it may take some effort on your part to come up with something new, but worth it if you come up with a fresh look on an old subject. No one has ever said writing is easy. It is not. But, there are great rewards in being published, in being satisfied with what you have written, and in growing as a writer. So, go for it!

Wannabe Writers Who Can't Begin

 

I have heard people say countless times--"I would love to write, but I can't seem to get started.' Or 'I plan to write my family stories, but I haven't got time to do it.' Or 'I am going to write my family stories someday." Or 'I've always wanted to be a writer, but I don't know how to begin.'

All of them aspire to write and have good intentions, but they never get to step one. Our poster today gives some good insight as to how you become a writer. Neil Gaiman says:  This is how you do it:  you sit down at the keyboard and you put one word after another until it's done. It's that easy, and that hard." 

I'm glad he added the bit at the end about it being easy and hard. That is so true. 

One of the hard parts is taking that first giant step. Ask yourself some questions.

A.  How serious am I about wanting to write?

B.  Why do I keep making excuses?

C.  Could I set aside 30-60 minutes a day, or every other day, to write?

D.  Am I willing to read about writing to help me learn about the craft?

E.  Can I ask for help from another write?

F.  Do I have the discipline to start writing? 

G.  Is my desire to write strong enough?

H.  Am I willing to do writing exercises to help me learn?

One reason many talk about wanting to write but never take the first step is fear. Fear of the unknown is real. We aren't sure we can do something even if the desire is there. What if we're a big flop? What if others laugh at our efforts? What if....? So many concerns for the new writer. Maybe one fear is that once you start, you'll feel compelled to continue. 

The strength of your desire to write is key. If it's only a passing thought, it probably won't happen. 

Those who want to write family stories have the same time constraints and concerns as the people who want to write for publication. 

Get a small notebook. Jot down ideas for stories. If phrases come to you that you like, write them in the notebook for future use. Otherwise, those lovely words will float right out of your head into the blue skies above.

The only way to begin is to begin. Redundant? No. Important? Yes.