Great tips! But umm... I worry about your statement that writing a book is easy. There’s a reason there is only one series as wildly popular as The Harry Potter series. I believe it’s because getting the right mixture of all those important elements you mentioned is an enormous challenge. It takes study and mastery of the techniques as well as fierce determination, because it’s easy to get derailed by all the hurdles along the way. And early drafts can be painfully difficult—misguided, full of technical errors and dishearteningly flat. Most emerging writers deal with all of these struggles in spades before they begin to see real progress.
I am writing this comment not to challenge you in a negative way, but because I love the art of fiction writing, I love conversing about it, and, most importantly, I just hope that as a mentor and a person who is advising emerging writers, that you remember to acknowledge the challenges of this craft and support your protégées through the pain. It is not easy. It is not any easier than becoming a successful surgeon or lawyer. That, of course, is just my humble opinion. I would prefer to talk about the real challenges that writers face than risk new writers feeling like failures when they discover that it is very challenging to write well. ❤️
Those for whom writing is a challenge not a source of inspiration and joy are not writers but the mere typists with larger than average vocabulary.
Ow, but a challenge is the greatest source of inspiration and joy...
Well, if you draw inspiration from stress, pressure, frustration, and dependence on someone else's opinion, then indeed, a challenge can be inspiring.
I'm sorry to hear that a challenge creates stress, frustration and dependency for you. It doesn't for me, maybe that's what our difference of views comes from.
Challenge can be inspiring only when you are able to meet it. Please don't tell me that you feel euphoric when things are not going your way. People who say that challenges drive them usually have a lot of sleepless nights lying on a pillow drenched in their tears.
The euphoria comes after having faced the challenge. And I actually am a pretty sound sleeper...
I also wouldn't say a challenge is when things are not going my way. It's also not that I search for challenges. Yet, I do try to push my own boundaries, learning and being amazed along the way. And yes, that is awesome.
That made me laugh out loud, @alexpavlenko. But yes! It really must inspire and fuel you, or what is the point? The challenges involved are well worth it if it brings you joy. Your statement needs to be a meme. It is fabulous.
I am glad that you appreciate my sense of humor @jayna but I do think that people who perceive the process of writing as a challenge can't be considered as real writers. Same as those who kick the ball around can't be called footballers.
There are no challenges in writing because it is a natural high. Challenges come when one starts to perceive writing not as a process of creation but as profession or business. When it becomes challenging because the author has to satisfy too many requirements and adhere to certain standards. I guess that is what @michelle.gent meant when she wrote that writing a good (from the commercial point of view) book is tricky.
Ah, interesting! Well now I am flummoxed because I really thought I understood your intent to be about experiencing challenges but no joy, and I found your expression amusing. But if you are saying (and in fact you did say) that people who perceive the process of writing as a challenge are not real writers, then I simply, but adamantly, disagree. We are all entitled to our opinions. Yours is valid. And you are welcome to tell me I am not a real writer because I find writing challenging. I just don’t choose to agree.
I love the challenge of writing. I love everything I am learning and mastering along the way. I love sharing that knowledge with others who are struggling to learn all they need to know to get where they want to go. If you are another Shelley or something, and you just popped out of the womb with a pen in hand wowing the known world, then bully for you. I caution you against a belief that all other aspiring writers could or should be the same make and model as yourself, however. It is simply not the case.
The act of writing is what makes me a writer. Whether I struggle with it, enjoy it or am inspired by it is neither here nor there. The fact that I produce works that I am comfortable publishing is what makes me a writer and it is nothing more esoteric than that.
Your attempt to demean anyone who does not take joy from their labours and relegate them to mere typists is more, I think, a reflection of your own internal struggle than it is an accurate depiction of any writer who treats this art as a means of feeding hungry mouths.
Begone. And take your pseudointellectual bullshit with you.
I'm of the opinion that anyone who doesn't perceive the craft of writing as a challenge can't be considered a "real writer." I'm sure it's very easy to open one's mind and let a stream of word vomit pour onto the page. Probably as easy as throwing up when you have a stomach bug. The real test comes when you choose to write something people actually want to read.
Well said, Jayna. I completely agree. It can be downright frustrating, trying to write a novel. It helps to acknowledge that or some people are bound to get discouraged and unjustly feel like a failure.
Thanks, @tinypaleokitchen!
To be fair, it may very well be easy for you, @michelle.gent. I do think writing comes naturally to some, and that writing a book may not feel like the the Sisyphus feat that it is for most. I have always loved the message of Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, that to master the craft you need to break it down into manageable bits. This is of course a great lesson in approaching all large projects in life.
New writers have much to learn, and I fundamentally believe in acknowledging that beautiful and sometimes painful experience with eyes wide open. What do they need to learn? How can they master the mechanics so writing does come more naturally? How can we support them in finding their way?
Note that I am a new/old writer myself, having recently returned to the craft after a very long respite, and in the process of fine tuning my skills so I can finally get my work published. For that reason the plight of the struggling, learning writer is near and dear to my heart.
Aw shoot. I just noticed that you stopped following me, @michelle.gent. I apologize if I offended you. I was really just trying to provide an additional point of view and launch an interesting discussion.
If I'm being fair, I should thank you for bringing two of your friends along to join in the discussion you started, but as none of them deigned to upvote the post, I guess I'll leave that where it is.
You haven't offended me, you puzzled me.
I wondered why you'd commented on this post and none of my other works, why you didn't bother upvoting, yet you upvoted the others that agreed with you and why two other people that you resteem on your blog came here when they don't usually come to read my work.
I wondered all of this and then also wondered if they were here just to back-up your points - out of context though the first one was.
Writing a book is easy. Writing a good book that others want to read is the trick.
My posts - all of them - are about getting it right.
I am spread thin. 😊 But I did intend to update this post. I just hadn’t yet. Sorry about that. And I will do so. You clearly spent a lot of time on it and have much to tell new writers from your personal experience. I want to support you in mentoring people who are hungry for knowledge.
Ah, I've found a handy site to help with managing my voting power.
Steemnow
Cool tool!
I absolute agree with jayna. Writing is a big challenge - this is what makes it valuable.