Writing as a life choice isn’t easy. It’s actually a bit mad. But those who have the urge just can’t stop.
However, everybody will give you advice and I suppose I’m doing the same here. 🙂
Not advice about punctuation, dialogue or how to set the scene or bring characters to life – that’s craft for you to learn yourself.
These are suggestions for the writing life gleaned from things I’ve learnt over the past fifteen years – things I remind myself of every day.
1. Know what you really, really want
Not what other people, e.g. family, spouses and friends think you want, nor what you think you should want. Is writing a want, a need or an obsession, possibly an addiction?
Resist any guilt – internal or external – that writing isn’t a good use of time or a valid job. It’s not selfish, it’s what you want to do.
2. Write now and enjoy it
Write and enjoy it, whatever your goals, whatever kind of writing you do. Of course, it’s foolish to disregard the market if you would like to publish your work, but try not to over anticipate the future, e. g. ‘when I get discovered’, ‘when my book becomes a bestseller’. And don’t let what you’ve done in the past set your writing agenda or stifle your current work. Have a plan, but don’t get obsessed by it. As in life, one thing is sure – everything will change.
3. Be proud of what you have achieved
It can be by participating in a group, finishing a scene, being placed in a competition, publishing your work, getting a five star review or just making somebody laugh at your comedy writing or be moved by your poem. Most people don’t even start a story, let alone complete it (whatever they say). Resist the urge to compare your own achievements with other people’s. It’s hard, I know, and I’ve experienced twinges of envy, but every writer is different and every story is different.
4. Create and seize opportunities
A hard fact – you are not entitled to recognition however brilliant your writing. It’s very rare to get a ‘break’ or ‘be discovered’ – usually only in novels or films (Sorry!) However, the old adage is true, ‘The harder I work, the luckier I get.’ Use every life event /change and every meeting with other people, especially fellow writers, as an opportunity. And when opportunity is in front of you, grab it.
5. Share with others
You won’t then feel isolated, shut in your bat-cave, desperate to talk about your writing with somebody who understands. Giving back knowledge and experience is more pleasurable than you think. I’ve almost lost count of the talks, panels and workshops I’ve given over the years. The delight when somebody comes up to you afterwards and says you’ve triggered their writing career is immeasurable. You never know, you might spark the next Booker prize winner on their way by giving them one little helpful hint.
Others will be open about sharing with you, to your great benefit. You never stop learning during your whole writing career. Actually, throughout your whole life.
6. Take risks
Dare to read your piece aloud, enter that competition, send your manuscript out to agent and publishers, or for assessment and review. Put your opinion forward, volunteer to lead a session. Try something you think you can’t do – you may surprise yourself.
If you have a deadline or feel overwhelmed or absorbed with a writing project, take the risk of saying no and displeasing others. Explain your reasons in a professional manner.
Creation is always risky. You never know what you may discover in yourself, both good and bad, but it may be something glorious. Humans are naturally risk-averse – thank the Stone Age for that – but do it anyway.
7. Work hard and be persistent
Swanning around being creative is 5% of the job. Sit down every day and write a minimum number of words even if you revise them all another day. Blog posts, articles, short stories, a talk – these all count. Organise your work, research methodically and turn off the Internet while you are inputting your words on the keyboard, unless you really do need to check something vital.
A tip for your mental health – don’t leave the hard slog of writing until a month before the deadline; start now.
Anything else to add to that list?
Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers – INCEPTIO, CARINA (novella), PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO, AURELIA, NEXUS (novella), INSURRECTIO and RETALIO, and ROMA NOVA EXTRA, a collection of short stories. Audiobooks are available for four of the series. Double Identity, a contemporary conspiracy, starts a new series of thrillers. JULIA PRIMA, Roma Nova story set in the late 4th century, starts the Foundation stories. The sequel, EXSILIUM, is now out.
Find out more about Roma Nova, its origins, stories and heroines and taste world the latest contemporary thriller Double Identity… Download ‘Welcome to Alison Morton’s Thriller Worlds’, a FREE eBook, as a thank you gift when you sign up to Alison’s monthly email update. As a result, you’ll be among the first to know about news and book progress before everybody else, and take part in giveaways.
Thanks, Alison.
One sentence that resonated with me: “As in life, one thing is sure – everything will change.”
AI has probably been the most significant change over the last several months. As far as I’m concerned, Autonomous Imagination wins, hands down, every time.
Another gem: “A tip for your mental health – don’t leave the hard slog of writing until a month before the deadline; start now.” I agree, but some of us tend to perform best when we’re on a deadline. *smile*
Oops. My comment about AI dropped the bold first letters. Autonomous Imagination wins, hands down, every time.
Hi Kathy,
I’ve taken the liberty of updated your original comment, as per your second one. 😉
The deadline… I start very willingly, then let things slide, then give myself a kick to get on with it!
Thanks, Alison. Much appreciated. I found your post in the Women Writers, Women’s Books group on Facebook.
Delighted you found it interesting.
Thank you for this wonderful list of reminders and tips! You invited additions, so the only thing I would add is to not feel guilty about *not* writing for a time. Not writing for a day, a week, or even months doesn’t mean you’re not a writer; it means not everyone can be inventive or creative incessantly, nor should they feel like they have to. The pressure is self-imposed (unless you’re on a deadline imposed by someone else), so relax a little. In the end, it’s just writing.
I’ve just sent off the manuscript for the third book in my second series, so I’ve been taking a few days to catch up with everything else. This includes posts, articles, letters, even social media. 😉
For days afterwards, I worried that I had no idea what to write next and resolved to have a few days off. However, the itch to write something longer than 800 words became more intense. I didn’t have a 90,000 word book in mind, but I felt like writing *something*. My extremely random and rather irritating muse was flitting around in a tantalising fashion and pointing me towards a short story. I shall begin that today.
Each writer much follow their own course, but writing muscles are like the body’s physical muscles – if you don’t use them for a while, they weaken and firing them up again becomes harder the longer you leave it. Well, that’s what happens to a lazy person like me. ;-).