From Ginny Wiehardt, former About.com Guide
One of my writing teachers said that early on he took the attitude that if he wrote enough, eventually some of it would be good. Rather than worrying about whether he was talented enough or smart enough, he focused on writing. This way, he didn't waste time feeling insecure. And in this consistent focus on the act of writing, he eventually did accumulate all the novels and awards and teaching gigs we associate with "real" writers.
From him, I keep this picture in my head of the habits of writing that make a person a writer. Below, you'll find a few of these key practices that build a writing life.
Make Time to Write
While it might not be feasible to write every day, make writing a priority by setting aside regular time to write. Another writer told me this story about the importance of making time to write. He had published one novel, and had stopped making time to write after that. But of course he was still known as a writer and considered himself to be one. Then one day, his four-year-old daughter asked him, "How can you be a writer if you never write?" And she was correct. Whether you're a new writer or a published one, you're not a writer unless you're writing. And conversely, of course, writing regularly is an excellent step toward being a "real" writer.
How to Find Time to Write
For most of us, making time to write will always be something of a struggle. With friends and family, financial obligations, and emotional issues all vying for our attention, it takes determination to make a writing schedule and stick to it. I've come to the conclusion that there is no easy answer, but there are concrete things we can do to make time to write.
1. Pinpoint Underlying Issues.
If you've always wanted to write and aren't doing it, invest some thought in figuring out the source of your writer's block. Is it a fear of failure, a longstanding tendency to procrastinate, or something as simple as a lack of writing space? If it's not immediately obvious what the block is, spend some time in the self-help aisle, or talk it over with a friend, a therapist, or life coach. As you begin to understand the things that prevent you from writing -- whether internal or external -- you can make a plan to overcome them.
2. Just Say "No."
Time is limited, and for most people, the demands on their time are unlimited. "Once you've determined what you want to say yes to, the ability to say no becomes an important muscle to build," writes Cheryl Richardson in Take Time for Your Life. "If you don't say yes, the schedule doesn't fill. And if you say yes only to those things that you really want to do, you can avoid feeling frustrated or angry later . . . " While your writing time should not be the most important thing in your life, it should give way only for the most important things in your life. You might disappoint some people, but if you use tact, they'll get over it. In fact, it might give them permission to carve out space for something they really love, too.
3. Schedule Time to Write.
It's not glamorous or exciting to adhere to a schedule, but it really does help. If you work full-time, it may actually be easier to establish a regular time each day in which to write. Get up early and write before you leave the house, take a notepad with you to lunch, or stop off at a coffee shop on your way home. Students may have a full day of the week to devote to creative writing. Stay-at-home moms and dads often rely on nap time. The schedule may evolve as your life changes, but most people get more done if they have a regular writing time. Make that time golden, as you would any important appointment. You'll feel better about yourself and your life if you know you're making time to write.
4. Resist the Impulse to Overdo It.
If you're the kind of person who tends to throw yourself into a new project only to burn out after a week or two, consider giving yourself stop times for writing. Don't let yourself become obsessed in the beginning. Write for your hour or two and then continue with your daily routine. And all of us benefit from scheduling time for fun, even if it's only sneaking out to a movie or calling up an old friend. Remember that you're in it for the long haul, and that your mind needs time to replenish itself.
5. Know That It Won't Always Be Easy.
You may be more tired at the end of the day. Some social obligations might get pushed aside. Your family might have to pitch in. Decide what you're willing to sacrifice for a few hours a week dedicated to writing. Most of us have obligations we can't avoid, but if you're determined, you can manage both. At the same time, be content with whatever you can realistically give to your writing. Even an hour a day adds up over time.
6. Find Resources to Help.
What you're trying to do isn't easy. Support yourself in as many ways as possible. Books on writing can help, as does having a dedicated writing space. And almost all writers benefit from some kind of writing community. If other people you know are sacrificing aspects of their careers or social lives for creative endeavors, it will be easier to do it yourself. As with any lifestyle choice, associating with a few people who share your priorities and your struggles will help sustain you over time.
Read.
"If you want to be a writer," Stephen King says in his book On Writing, "you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot." Reading is the best, most effective way to learn to write: "Good writing," he continues, "teaches the learning writer about style, graceful narration, plot development, the creation of believable characters, and truth-telling." As he points out, it also sets the bar higher, encouraging us to work harder as we bring our stories to life on the page.
Learn to Write from the Masters
While books on writing have a lot to say about the writing process, many valuable skills and strategies can be learned by studying the work -- as well as the lives -- of writers you admire. Writing fiction is a complex process: it requires a suitably nuanced course of study. In the same way, the answers to many questions about how to lead a writer's life can be found in the models provided by successful writers.
Learning from Literature
Literature, especially the books that have stood the test of time, offers an endless supply of examples of how to approach various writing roadblocks, as Francine Prose points out in her worthwhile book, Reading Like a Writer. Want to see how to handle an emotional topic without lapsing into sentimentality? Try Eudora Welty's The Optimist's Daughter, for instance. Or how metaphors can establish character and allude to a novel's themes? Raymond Chandler's your man. Contemporary fiction has a lot to teach as well, but don't discount the masters. They continue to be read for a reason. In finding out why, we learn valuable strategies for better telling the today's stories.
Make an Author Study
Writers are often urged to immerse themselves in the work of one author, to really absorb that person's style and learn as much as possible from it. It's a good approach, but I advise taking it a step further. Once you've studied their oeuvre, see how they came to write these books.
For instance, this spring, an old Paris Review interview led me to make a study of Katherine Anne Porter. I started with some of her most acclaimed works and then read the biography by Joan Givner.
Through the biography, I got to see how these stories and short novels came into being: what life experiences went into them, what her process was like, and what her stumbling blocks were. I had an epiphany when I saw that she often put stories aside for years. I'm always afraid that if I don't muddle through a story or novel right then, I'll never go back to it. But clearly for Katherine Anne Porter, this was integral to her success. She kept the drafts, returning to them when she had the insight or skill to finish them properly. I imagine that this kept her from ruining or overworking her stories, and let her go on to new work (or, very likely in her case, more drinking!).
I've done this other times, with Raymond Chandler, Eudora Welty, and Jane Austen. Each time I took something away that helped my writing.
How-to's are fine, but writing fiction is a complicated process: simple advice isn't going to work for everyone or for every story. By studying literature and biographies, you collect the examples you need for your writing life.
Consider Your Audience.
"I think you become a writer when you stop writing for yourself or your teachers and start thinking about readers," says Avi, the award-winning children's book and young adult writer. There are many reasons for writing, but a "real" writer keeps in mind the impact his or her work will have on the reader. To become a good writer, put your ego aside as much as possible, especially during revision. A journal or diary is all about you, but if you plan to share your work with others, think about your audience (keeping in mind that your audience will be specific to your work).
Talk to Other Writers.
If you're serious about being a writer, a writing community is invaluable, offering feedback, publishing tips, and post-rejection sympathy. Other writers will also hold you to account simply by asking what you're working on and what you're reading. And a writing community will help you weather the fears and insecurities that inevitably arise in the course of a writing career.
How to Find a Writing Community
Though writing itself is a solitary pursuit, the writing life presents many opportunities for community. In fact, a writing community can be an essential element in a writing career. Other writers offer invaluable feedback, publishing tips, and post-rejection sympathy. But how do you go about finding a writing community? It takes some effort, but it's worthwhile to find other writers to support your work.
Find or Create a Writing Group.
Writing groups fill a number of functions in a writer's life, providing regular deadlines, invaluable feedback, and, with a good group, inspiration and motivation. But for the writing group to be helpful, the chemistry has to be just right. For many people, finding other writers in their community can be challenging, much less writers who gel as a group. How do you get started?
Take a Writing Class.
A writing class is one of the best ways to find a writing community, especially if you're also ready to receive feedback. Most cities offer a number of options for classes, from continuing ed courses at colleges to free classes held at libraries or bookstores. But how do you find a class and a teacher you know will be worthwhile? Use these suggestions to start your search.
Join an Association.
Even if you don't live in a big city, there may be a writers' guild, league, or other organization that will help you connect with other writers. Northern Colorado Writers, for instance, hosts monthly critiques, as well as workshops and conferences. Writer Sandra Balzo re-wrote her first novel with a writing group she met through her local chapter of Mystery Writers of America. "Gary and Ted encouraged me to trust my instincts, so when I went back and rewrote, I didn't do it for the agents or the editors or EVEN the hoped-for reader. I wrote for me," she says. "And darned if Ted and Gary weren't right. The book finally sold."
Volunteer for a Literary Organization.
Depending on where you live, there may be organizations devoted to writing or literature, or even for a literary magazine. Volunteering is a great way of getting to know other people who share your interests and concerns. Your efforts will be appreciated by the organization, and as a volunteer, rather than an employee, you get the connection without the workplace politics. (And if you are out of work, volunteering is a great way to get your foot in the door at a place you might want to work.)
Start a Reading Series.
In their search to find community in NYC, Rebecca Lindenberg and Jessica Piazza started the Speakeasy reading series at a Lower East Side bar. The series gave them the excuse to reach out to their favorite writers, both established and up-and-coming, and it attracted a following, which developed into a community. By taking a risk and putting themselves out there, they made new friends and created an audience for their own work.