The Writer’s Life

The ways writers approach writing varies as much as the types of writing that exist. One person may enforce a strict schedule with timers and word count goals and spreadsheets while another waits for their muse to speak and then writes until the muse shuts up again.

One method does not make you more of a writer than any other. Writing is absolutely an art, but it's also a craft, which means inspiration and production go hand-in-hand.

Some hobbyist writers never set goals. They do not care if they finish anything and just write for the enjoyment of writing or their own personal reasons. That is perfectly okay. It's also not really the point of this page, so if you are one of those people, go write however you see fit.

Writers with more structured goals need, well... structure.

One of my absolutely favorite writerly quotes is from Jack London. "You cannot wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a big stick." I'm going to attempt to explain how you can do this on a regular basis.

I believe that creativity is something both innate and a skill you can learn and develop with effort. Most people have an imagination. Even if you have and to antaphasia, you have some ability to create, otherwise you could not be a writer at all.

For most of us, creativity comes and goes. Inspiration  defines moments in which creativity is easier or more readily available. Some people give credence to the idea of a muse while others focus on more scientific explanations. For example, some people are most creative in the early morning while others find inspiration at night. It is a personal thing, and there is really no other way to figure it all out other than to try different options and see what works for you.

More time does not necessarily equal more productivity when it comes to fiction writing. We've all experienced lost minutes or hours staring at a blank page or doing everything BUT adding words to our current project.

However, if you want to produce more, you need to find the time to make it happen. Learning how to make time more productive also matters. There are ways to do this, but it takes practice just like anything else in life. Hobbyists may not care, although the frustration of lack of progress never feels good. People interested in publishing need to figure out how to make the most of the time they have.

Some people insist that writer's block does not really exist. To be perfectly honest, I am one of those people. Before you decide to hate me, let me explain what I mean. Yes, I do think it's possible to have some sort of true psychological or emotional block that makes it very difficult to write. However, what people call writer's block is usually something else.

I think it is important to figure out what the actual problem is so that you can overcome it and get back to writing. When you can break down a so-called block, define what it truly is, and find a way to deal with it, you will become more productive and less stressed about the whole thing. There are many tips to overcome writer's block that can help you.