Writing takes everything. Every waking minute, every hour,
every experience the writer has goes into what he writes. He has
to watch friends, family, and strangers to learn their ways for
better fiction. To be able to write anything well, fiction or
nonfiction, a writer must be aware of his world. No one is
constantly aware.
It's never possible to realize each thing happening around
us; every sense is tested and twisted in each direction at all
times, even at rest, or at what we believe is rest. So much is
going on under the surface that its a surprise if any writer can
ever get anything out of themselves. With all of this already
going through the conscious mind, and so much more in the
subconscious, how can a writer ever find the time to write
coherently, if the mind is never still, and even lesser still, life?
A famous writer once said, "You're not a writer unless you
write every day." That's pretty strict, considering most people
have a family, a job, keep a clean home and body, not to mention
time for enjoying life on occasion, not
always pecking keys and worrying about their phrasing and tone.
Don't be fooled; this is by no means a thorough list of all
the problems that spring up in a day, and absolutely does not
mention possible story problems that arise, as well as emotional
problems having to be dealt with each day, to be able to write
without being in a lot of pain.
Unless you're lucky, odds are you're not paid, and perhaps
will never be paid for any of your writing. Certainly not all of
it. There is a lot of competition, and you have to want it. It
takes awhile to make money. It can't be decided: You know,
that "Sixth Sense" movie from Shyamalan- that came from writing.
This writing stuff seems to be the 'in' thing. I guess I know
where my fortune will be found: The Seventh Sense.
You have to be a writer. How do you know, though? How can you
find the time, and how do you know it's worth it for you? There
are a lot of great writers that never reach the top of the hill,
and in your situation, it may even be harder to justify trying.
I define a true writer as someone who has a lot to say, and
has fallen into writing for their release. It doesn't all have
to be profound or political, clever or philosophical. You may be
reading this without any ideas at all. I have none. I'm making
it up as I go.
Writing: it's what you do, it's the only thing you know. No
need to search for nifty proverbs or quotations to throw into
the story or the article. You just like to talk and think
through your fingers or pen. That's it.
Can you see yourself stopping? Could you go for years without
it? Would it be just as well to finish college, get that other
job, and move to Beverly Hills, without a single word? You might
not be a writer then, because if you're a writer you'll never
stop. You just don't know what else to do. It's the way you make
yourself, and understand your world. Stephen King and Dean
Koontz have given all of their lives into their writing, and
write four or five hours every day. Or more. Sometimes,
surprisingly, even less. A lot less.
Isaac Asimov started his morning at six o'clock, writing
until ten o'clock in the evening. That's amazing. But you
don't need that, and aren't necessarily meant for it. Asimov
worked hard and was lucky to live like this. He didn't live this
way for his entire life, cultivating great fields of wisdom and
enlightenment, always professional and competent. I'm sure every
writer has been discouraged over the time they've spent writing
and their progress, or lack thereof.
Odds are Asimov had 9-to-5 jobs, and writing was his hobby
for awhile. He probably didn't have a special parking space, and
sometimes had problems getting respect, even though his work now
seems to command it. You think he got every raise he asked for?
I bet he couldn't respect himself sometimes. Writers aren't
invincible.
Lord knows Asimov couldn't drop all of his work when he
realized I, Robot, or any other story. The real world
calls, and there's not always time to reflect or take notes.
Real writing happens over time, despite everything working
against it. It happens in everything you do.
There are writers who write like Asimov and never make any
impact, even if they've written more, or better. Likewise,
some writers who only find a few minutes for their stories
every night will somehow manage the Great American Novel and
make millions, never having to work again. It's not often that
the situation works like either scenario, though. That's not the
real world.
You write for yourself. There may not be many people to read
it, and even fewer who approve of your style, thoughts, and your ideas.
Your humor and the things that move you the most may ultimately
mean nothing to a lot of people. You write because that's all
that you have.
Where does the time go? It comes and it goes. You cling to
it, and you try to write when you can, or even better, when it's
a good time. Don't break your back. You're more important than
your work, because your work doesn't deal with the real world
like you do. If you want it, you will somehow always find the
time you need. If you can't find it right now, life goes on.
Never worry about the time.
Discuss this article
here.
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Shawn Bogart is a freelance fiction and nonfiction writer
specializing in horror and humor. Though just twenty, he
has lived a long life, and what this young author may lack
in life experience he makes up for with his unique
perspective, allowing him to see beyond the superficial and
understand the problems a writer can encounter. Writing with
heart and soul from his home office in the small town of
Berwick, Pennsylvania, Shawn churns out innumerable short
stories and attempts at The Great American Novel in the
hopes of one day meeting fame and fortune. Will he find
it? Will he ever leave his small town? Only time will
tell. The man is diligent, if nothing else.
