You're a Writer?

We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master — Ernest Hemingway

Today has been a bit of lazy day. Hey, it’s the weekend, give me a break. And because I was feeling a little lazy I decided to go through all my drafts of unfinished work and paste them into one article.

So, the theme of today is going to be about writing. Wow, how original. Well, the theme might not be original but me writing about it is.

Anyway, I seem to start posts that have to do with writing but I never get around to finishing them. That is why today, on this lazy Sunday I thought it was a good idea to just go through my own tips, advice and whatever else I wrote about and mash it all together. So here it is folks, a chopped down version of my unfished articles. Enjoy.

You’re a writer, don’t let anyone tell you different!

If you write then that makes you a writer. Simple as that. Take pride in it. Writing is such a hard career to follow but if it's your passion it will be worth every struggle. It doesn't even need to be your career, it could be a hobby and that still makes you a writer. Wear that writers badge with honor.

Take your writing seriously, even if no one else does. Eventually, your work will be noticed, in the meantime hone your craft and be the best writer you can be.

I Didn’t Always Want to be a Writer

Usually, writers claim they always knew they wanted to be a writer. I didn’t have that sort of passion for it, which made me feel like I couldn’t relate to other writers.

I worried about whether writing was truly meant for me since I didn’t grow up dreaming about becoming a well-known author. And considering how awful I was at spelling and reading I thought there was no way this could be my passion, but I fell in love with it and somehow managed to make it work.

So, don’t feel discouraged if you didn’t grow up dreaming about being a writer, or if you hated reading and writing when you were a kid. When you’re young you’re just trying to figure yourself out. Sure, some people might be lucky enough to know what they want to do early on in their lives. And the rest of us have to trek down many different paths before finding our passion.

But hey, that’s life. It’s a journey.

Writing Advice

Good writing advice can be helpful, but knowing the bad writing tips can be even better because then you will know what to avoid.

You have the typical advice such as ‘reading is a tool for great writing’ and I agree, reading is helpful if you’re a writer. However, when you read too much sometimes you will actually start comparing yourself to other writers, and when you compare you begin to doubt yourself. So, write just as much as you read.

Only write what you know is also ridiculous advice, I suggest you don’t follow that, especially if you are a fiction writer. If you write non-fiction maybe you can follow that rule, but I believe writers should delve into topics they don’t know much about. Learning new things helps your writing and tests your skills.

Writers, especially new ones, try to follow the rules that other great writers have come up with, but times are changing. People can now self-publish and become a success. As technology advances new skills are needed, so keep up with the times.

Marketing on social media is one of your best bets if you want to get your work out there. There’s bound to be people out there who are looking for the very thing you are writing about. And don’t fall into the trap of doing things the ‘traditional’ way, think outside the box, it’s nearly 2020 after all.

Early Bird Or Night Owl

Not all writers are like this, but some writers find that they write best in the morning or at night. I’m a night owl myself, there’s something about the nighttime that I find I’m able to concentrate. Maybe it’s because everyone is in bed so I need to be quiet which means there are no distractions.

However, for months I’ve pushed myself to write during the day and when night arrived I’m too tired to sit and write anymore.

Sometimes it’s not the time of day or night that helps you write better, but it’s the discipline and writing routine that helps the most.

I Don’t Know What Write About Today

If you write daily then you will know this feeling all too well. You sit at your desk and you really want to write something but you haven't a clue what to write about. You feel like you’ve written everything already and there’s nothing else to post about.

Sometimes it could be that you just need to rest and not write anything for a few days. I know it can be hard but you really do need a break every now and again. Let your brain rest, go out and have fun and then do nothing for the rest of the day. And I mean nothing because when we are bored we tend to daydream.

In boredom, we find inspiration and creativity.

It’s Not Writers Block

We all have those days when we just don’t want to write anything. Motivation is lacking that day, you sit and stare at your laptop or notebook and nothing comes to you. We tend to call that writer’s block.

Sometimes it can be because of burnout, putting too much pressure on ourselves or it can because of fear. The fear that our writing isn’t worthy or isn’t good enough. The fear that we will never make it. We blame writer's block but in reality, there is no such thing, well not in the way we think.

Writer’s block is just a sign that something is wrong. And yes, usually it stems from fear. But it can also come from pressuring ourselves.

As writers, we want to be the best at what we do and that is usually where the pressure and fear stem from.

If you’re anything like me and have those days where you don’t want to write or can’t figure out what to write then take some time off. And if you struggle with that then I suggest you write about anything. Get a notepad and pen and just write something silly. There is something about writing on paper that brings a spark of creativity. Maybe it’s our writer instinct kicking in when we see the ink flow onto the page. By writing on paper you might feel empowered or inspired. Or you may realize that you definitely need to take a break.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading, have a great day and keep on writing.

Originally posted on Medium