A Formula for Writers

 

Every writer knows the path on the writing journey can be pretty rough. There are potholes and roadblocks at every twist and curve. It's up to you to hurdle them or swerve around each one. 

When we start writing, we have an image in our mind of what the journey from beginner to successful, published writer will be. We tell ourselves that there will not always be smooth sailing, but we can overcome whatever problems arise. We'll be patient and persistent. At least, that is what we tell ourselves.

It's a good plan, but we meet problems along the way that rub at our patience and prickle our persistence. We get angry or hurt or depressed or... Blame it on our muse fleeing. Blame it on editors who don't know good work when they see it. Blame it on lack of places to submit. Blame it on critique groups who tear our work to shreds. Whew!

The easy way is to blame all those things, when we really need to look in the mirror to see who is the one that needs to accept a good share of the blame. Hey, none of us is perfect. We make human errors. We fall down and get up and move on if at all possible. 

We deal with all kinds of things as writers. That crummy opening sentence that you've rewritten ten times. Another rejection to add to the pile. A plot that starts out great but goes nowhere. Stilted dialogue. Saccharin prose that gets worse as you continue. Can't put the emotion felt into the words. The list could go on and on. 

The person who wants to continue writing will meet each one of those roadblocks as objectively as possible. What would you tell another writer experiencing the same? What kind of pep talk would you give them? Nothing wrong with giving it to yourself. 

Attitude plays a big role here, too. The way in which you see these potholes in your writing journey makes a big difference. I don't need to tell you that a positive attitude will help you overcome the problems. Maybe not immediately but in time. Our need for haste is in itself a problem. We must learn to have some patience and let things resolve a little at a time. 

Be patient, be persistent, and be positive. You can avoid many of those potholes with this formula.

Writers Are Individuals

School-age children like to copy their peers in what they wear, the slang they use, actions and more. It makes them one of the crowd. Or so their young minds tell them. Even as adults, we often try to copy a celebrity or someone we admire. It might not be as often or as strong an urge to do this as when we were kids, but we still do it. Little boys and grown men are copying the hairstyle of winning Super Bowl Quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.

When it comes to writing, we shouldn't attempt to copy the same style of writing as an author we admire. Nothing wrong in liking the way someone else writes. We just shouldn't want to be a carbon copy. We need to be ourselves.

All the books on the craft of writing mention something called a writer's voice. It's your style of writing, the way you write, and it should be different from every other writer. It's the tone, the word choice, even the subject matter. Hemingway developed his voice just as Charles Dickens and Louisa Mae Alcott did. The important thing is that you, as a writer, develop your own voice. Not a copy of theirs or some other writer you revere. 

The choice of subject matter when you write should also be yours (unless you're a freelancer who writes on assignment). Maybe you are an expert in some particular thing so you can write with authority. The genre you choose to write in should be your choice, not because it is wildly popular at the moment but because you feel comfortable with it. I could never write sci-fi or horror stories. That's just not me. It wouldn't be right for me, and I'd probably do a terrible job. I write in niches where I am comfortable and bring satisfaction to me. It's what is right for me.

When it comes to writing, don't be only one of a crowd. Be yourself. Write from your point of view, from your experiences, not from that of some other author. Be an individual.