To outsiders, writing might seem like an easy, enjoyable hobby. A common misconception about creativity is about where we get our ideas. They think that genius ideas drop out of the sky, or that writers get possessed by some heavenly muse or bout of divine inspiration.
If only it was that simple.
Writing is far from glorious. It is a long arduous process that can leave the uncommitted writer discouraged. For much of their free time, the writer can be found isolated in a quiet room, hunched over at their desk for hours on end. The craft requires the writer to pour their time and energy into projects that may not pan out. The emerging writer must compete in a field overflowing with beginners just like them. It can be very difficult to stand out from the pack. In return for their labor, the beginner can expect little more than tepid support from friends and a slew of rejection letters.
The world sees the end product, the best-selling novel, the NY Times article, the awards, and fame. No one sees the hard work and labor behind that million dollar “idea”. Writing is not about the spontaneous rush of inspiration or million-dollar ideas that come out of nowhere. Execution is what makes writers successful at their craft. The only way to develop this is through years of practice.
Writing is a process
An unrealistic understanding of the writing process can set beginners up for disappointment. As a writer, stories hit roadblocks, and things don’t pan out exactly as they do in your mind. Putting words on the blank page can feel like a Herculean task some days.
Because of this, many writers end up quitting for periods of time. Even the most dedicated amongst us struggle to keep up with their writing practice. I stopped writing for several years because of this. When life gets busy, the last thing you want to do is sit down at a desk and grind.
Yet, there is nothing like the pleasure of creating new worlds. Pretty soon, I yearned to get back in the game. After stepping away for several years, I learned ways to overcome these challenges and stay motivated to keep writing. Here are some tips for struggling writers to rekindle their passion for storytelling.
Let go of your expectations
Many of us are avid readers who look up to writers much more famous than we are. As novices, we desperately search for the trappings of success. In writing, that looks like fame, book deals, awards, fan pages, and millions in the bank. Creatives are needy, desperate for the world to validate our work.
This is a losing game. It is easy to feel discouraged when we don’t get the acclaim or praise we seek. Criticism can feel like the end of the world. Without the acclaim, writing can feel like a waste of time. We have a warped definition and fear of “failure” that sabotages us in the end.
Our fear of failure puts a lot of pressure on ourselves, which stifles the creative process. Everything has to be perfect from the beginning, or else it is trash. We compare our first drafts with literary classics like Beloved or Animal Farm. If they don’t match up, we either abandon the story altogether, or revise until infinity. Instead of punishing ourselves for not writing the next Harry Potter, we need to take a step back and appreciate the process of writing.
Let go of these toxic expectations. Write for the sake of writing. Write because it fulfills you. View it as an outlet, as a way to share your ideas with the world. Recognize that being able to create is a feat in and of itself. Anything else that comes after that is icing on the cake.
Let go of the notion of good or bad writing when writing your draft. All first drafts are flawed in some way, especially if compared to The Chamber of Secrets. Judgment does nothing but restrict creativity. First drafts are meant to be imperfect. That is what revising is for. Even after revising, recognize that you will never reach a point where a story feels perfect. No story is. At some point, you have to let go and move on to something else. It is through regular and consistent reps that we craft better and better work. Not agonizing over that one story that somehow never feels complete.
Write for yourself
Writing for yourself is crucial for your success as a writer. In order to be passionate about your work, you have to be connected to what you are writing. You want to feel that inspiration or inner duty to finish the work. If your work feels important to you then you will find the strength to finish it. Writing that article or story will energize and fulfill you. Your passion for the topic will help you overcome the drags of the writing process.
Especially for us who have left the game, writing for personal fulfillment keeps the passion fresh and allows us to regain our love for the sport. The last thing you want to do is spend hours writing stuff you despise.
This is also an important part of finding your voice. Not only will you feel motivated to keep writing, but the writing will also stand out more.
Read more
This is a self-explanatory, but often overlooked point. Reading not only inspires new ideas, but it can also make you a more technically sound writer. When you read, you learn from the highlights and mistakes of other writers. You can see what works, what doesn’t, what sounds good, and what is a little awkward. By regularly exposing yourself to good writing, you gain incredible insight into the craft. Your insights will seep into your writing.
Write more frequently
As cheesy as it is to say, the best way to get over writer’s block is to write more.
Often, we act as if motivation is a thing that happens to us, and that inspiration is something we are possessed by. The truth is, we have to take responsibility for our part of the equation. Motivation and inspiration come to those who ask for it. It comes to writers who sit and crank out words on an empty page, even if they have no idea what to write about. It comes to those who are willing to write shitty stories instead of surrounding to writer’s block. Ideas don’t descend from the sky like manna. You have to work for it.
Writing for a little bit every day helps you build momentum, and momentum invites inspiration. It makes the blank page less intimidating. If there is a project you have had trouble finishing, try to write a little bit every so often. Sometimes, you may have to step away from that story for a while and work on something else. Still, writing a little bit every day will help you build the fortitude to tackle that orignal story.
One reason I began this blog is to get accustomed to filling up the blank page. Every day I sit down to write something for my audience, I create momentum that will carry over to my other creative projects.
Re-read your old stories
Like many writers, I often cringe when I look back at my old work.But, it can be enlightening in many ways. It is a little bit like watching film. You can see what works and what can be improved from a distant point of view, after taking time away from the piece.
For unfinished stories, this works as well. Try to remember what excited you about the story. Diagnose what went wrong. Maybe your time away from the story will allow you to come up with some solutions. If your brain starts churning, try to finish the story. Old work can help us remember why we started writing in the first place.
Learn about the craft
As emerging writers, we sometimes struggle with a specific element of storytelling. It can be maddening to spend months on a story that for some reason still doesn’t work. That frustration can sour the whole experience, and is one major reason why many of us put down the pen.
When you re-read your old work, you can more easily identify what your flaws are as a writer. With this information, you can take action to overcome that weakness. That might mean reading up on story structure or watching a video about creating compelling characters. There are countless resources out there to help you improve as a writer.
Keep a notebook of ideas
If you are like me, you are constantly coming up with new ideas for stories, articles, and the like. However, once I sit down to bring the idea to life, things get tough. Often, I procrastinate or avoid writing altogether because I worry that I can’t do the idea justice.
One way around this is to write down and describe the idea in a journal or a document. That way, there is no pressure to start writing that instant. You can always return the idea whenever you feel ready to bring that idea to life.
Conclusion
Writing is not easy, but there is simply nothing like it. Doing these things have helped me reclaim my love for writing, and become a stronger writer in the process.
For more content like this, check out my blog here!
