Writing is… The hardest thing I’ve ever done.

I was tagged by Carrie Clevenger for this meme “Writing is…”

Writing has become like breathing for me. I have to write. HAVE to, but it’s also the hardest thing I have ever done.

Just under two years ago a few friends, personal and online, encouraged me to write. I was a big reader and I honestly thought they were completely and totally out of their minds.

I started with poetry mostly, which was an accident and finally, last year I graduated into writing short stories. The poems came as a result of a falling out with a friend. I didn’t plan to write in a poetic way, but that’s what bloomed from those first things that I wrote out. I am glad to say that the friend I mentioned, a brilliant writer, is still a friend. A very close one, in fact. I remember her telling me, when I admitted to her I had written those first posts because of our falling out, that she was honored and sad at the same time. I look back on it now and I’m glad it all happened, because it got me started.

So, why is it the hardest thing I’ve ever done? Well, I could probably list off a million reasons why, all of which make no difference in the grand scheme of things. I think what makes it so hard is, I want so badly to be better. I certainly don’t expect to be perfect, that’s not attainable, but I want to be good, great even. I want to grow and learn. I’m not afraid of feedback or criticism from fellow writers. I prefer you to tell me what I am doing wrong and then also offer suggestions on how to do it better. There are times however when I sit back and think to myself: what the hell am I doing? Can I even write? Am I a really a writer?

I’ve told many people that if they write, no matter what it is, they are a writer. I had someone tell me this exact thing almost two years ago. “You are a writer,” they said. I don’t know if I believed them because I couldn’t imagine how it was possible that I could be a writer. Now for the most part, I know and believe I am a writer and then, just last week that old feeling crept up on me again. Am I a writer?

What makes writing so hard? I do.

Here’s the thing, I am the one that decides what I am. I am the one that has to do the footwork and write the story. I am the one that has to reach out and ask for guidance and help. I am the one that has to put the tools and suggestions I am given into practice.

I’m lucky. Twitter has allowed me to meet and become friends with some incredible writers. These writers offer their experience freely and I try to soak it all up and learn. I also try to offer others what I have learned.

I want to be a great writer. Someday, I will be.



Love to you all.
WookiesGirl

I tag:

Nancy McGregor

WookieStyle

Megan Hart

Melissa Ecker

Shawna Thomas

My Best Advice, as a New Writer to…New Writers

The following is a post written for Peevish Penman's: My Best Advice for New Writers blogfest

I had the privilege of attending RomCon this past weekend in Denver Colorado. It’s a Romance book genre conference meant for readers; what I noticed, though, is that among many of those readers, I found writers of all kinds. Some were bloggers, some reviewers and yes, most importantly, some aspiring romance writers. Since I had been asked to participate in this blog, I grabbed the opportunity before me, while at RomCon, to ask some published authors what was the best advice they had been given when they, themselves, were aspiring writers.

All of them answered my question quite graciously. “Keep going! Don’t stop because you never know which book it is that will get you published,” or, “Join a local chapter of writer’s groups,” and, “Don’t keep polishing. Move onto the next story.”

These authors had retained this valuable advice, and it’s what they now pass on to those seeking their wisdom and wanting to learn the craft.

I’m a new writer, and by new, I mean I didn’t start writing until August 2009. I have been told many of the same things I listed above, most frequently, “Don’t give up! Keep writing!” and “Show your stuff to people that will give you honest feedback and help you grow.” That being said, it can be scary to put yourself out there. It can be hard to not take the feedback or criticism personally. There will be people who may, at times, come across as being harsh, so it’s important that you find people who are willing to teach you and share what they have learned. The criticism must be constructive or it will do you no good. I have some wonderful and patient writer friends who are not afraid to tell me the truth and to push me. They are also willing to teach me. A big thank you to them!

My biggest struggle as a new writer has been trying to get the visions of the story in my head translated into actual words on the page. I’m finally beginning to string some words together. In the meantime, I’ve written a lot of poetry. The poetry has allowed me to experiment with different words and different ways of expressing my thoughts. This has helped me immensely. However, because I was writing only poems until recently, I didn’t even dare refer to myself as a writer.

This is not to say that I think other writers of poetry are not “real” writers. I truly believe they are. This is my own crazy thinking and only pertains to me, because what I want to do is write fiction. Never mind the fact that this writing thing happened for me out of nowhere.

Me? Seriously? A writer? *gasp*

I’ve had the hardest time calling myself a writer. I was recently speaking with a friend about the short story I had just written. He said, “Do you believe you are a writer now?” Again, my answer was no. Of course, he lectured me.

Here’s the thing: now that I have finally written and finished my first fictional short story, my thoughts have changed. I don’t want to be just a writer. I want to be a good writer! And, I suppose, in my magic mind, until I consider myself a good writer, I will have trouble calling myself one.

On that note, I really don’t think I have any business giving advice to anyone, considering the fact that I am a beginner.

I will say, as it’s been said to me, “If you write, then you are a writer!”

And please, don’t give up before your miracle happens!

WookiesGirl