Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - What's Needed


To become a writer there are some qualities needed. Writing is a lonely business. Sitting at the computer hour after hour with only the characters in your stories can be the most fulfilling and also the most frustrating of times. There are also the people around you who look at you with strange expressions on their faces. No, you have not entered a time warp or have stepped into madness. Just because you speak and listen to people who aren't real doesn't make you strange or even crazy. So look at these qualities you'll need.

Enthusiasm- Loving what you do and thinking each story you undertake is the most wonderful story ever written is necessary. Don't know about you but there are times when the enthusiasm for a project fizzles out. I've started stories that have suddenly been not interesting and my zeal for them ebbs. What to do is put it aside and come back to the story later. One problem with enthusiasm is the writer can be steamed up about too many projects and have to haul back since each one starts with that spark of this will be the best thing I've ever written a hundred different times during the year.

Another quality a writer needs is Sincerity. Each story you write has to fit your view of the world, The words and characters must fit your emotional take on what's happening. If you don't believe in the premise of your story the story won't seem sincere to the reader and the book is flipped into the garbage or sent off into the internet limbo. So write about what you believe. For me this is a story where the characters succeed in some way.

Quality 3 is Discipline. Every writer has to sit and put words on paper. Writing every day when you'd rather be playing or doing other things is a must. But I have to wait for my muse. If you have a muse and the muse doesn't arrive every day, kick them out. Just apply yourself to the computer or pen and paper and get those words down. Set goals and don't stop until the goal is reached. 

The last quality is Being Yourself. There are a lot of writers out there and there are some each of us has pegged as favorites. The thing to remember is you are the one writing the story and all you are goes into this story. Sure you can learn tricks by reading other writers but becoming a copycat isn't what you should do. Approach each story with the unique that's you.

2 comments:

Melissa Keir said...

I liked the post. I find #3 the hardest. I try to make time in my day for so many things, writing is just one of them... honestly with the day job, I don't even get to go to the bathroom. I'm learning how to balance. And then set priorities to write!

Janice Seagraves said...

Balance is key to a great writing life.

Janice~