Writing is hard work, and like all hard work, one tries to avoid it if possible. Yet writers feel the urge to write, the need to write, and the inspiration to write, but these are not what produces. The writer must have a technique for writing.
Many writers use the approach of fantasizing. They imagine that their article, essay, short story, or novel will make them the great find of the literary world. They see themselves as being lionized by society with recognition and financial success, but that is not reality, and soon the incentive to write disappears so they produce little or nothing.
Others wait for inspiration, a vague, nebulous event which seldom happens. So they bide their time waiting for the muse to send them to the typewriter or keyboard. Sometimes Clio (the muse of history), Erato (the muse of lyric and amatory poetry), Euterpe (the muse of music), Terpsichore (the muse of choral song), or Thalia (the muse of comedy and bucolic poetry) do appear, but most often they do not, and again nothing is accomplished. Since the muse does not arrive, the would be writer does something else.
That something else takes the form of many other distraction. It can be meaningless chores about the office, the kitchen, the yard, any place but at the keyboard. It can be a telephone call, a visit to socialize with a friend, reading to pass the time , or studying the mail. Often the writer excuses this procrastination as necessary to mentally organize what is envisioned, but actually it is to avoid the disciplined task of authorship.
Only one technique is sure to bear fruit, that is to sit down at the typewriter or computer and to write. If at first nothing worthwhile issues, keeping at it will soon result in something acceptable. Usually when writing is difficult, upon review it is impossible to tell what was burdensome and what was effortless. The act of writing is a complex activity that is honed by practice, practice, and more practice, so sitting and writing is of utmost importance to any author.
Of all the techniques used, the most important is to sit down and write.
Charles O. Goulet has a BA in history and a BEd in English literature. He has written several historical novels that are available at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca. Barnes and Noble, and many other bookstores.
Indian Head Park taxi to Midway .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareFreelance writer STANLEY BURKHARDT has a passion for animals. He... Read More
Our Image-Driven SocietyWe live in a new image-driven society. It... Read More
Imagine a three hundred page book was in the author's... Read More
1) Convince yourself you want to do something else. If... Read More
User documentation is all too often written by programmers for... Read More
Often, time is an enemy of writers. Sales seem slow... Read More
Why is it that so many people don't take writing-as-a-job... Read More
FERRETING OUT WORK You keep hearing that there's work out... Read More
So many clients come to me as a book or... Read More
Agents and publishing houses have their best interests at heart,... Read More
If you either want to write a book to help... Read More
Writing is a muscle that needs exercise to stay in... Read More
We've all heard a politician on their soapbox, pushing for... Read More
It would be very selfless or noble of me to... Read More
Your query letter can be a deal maker or a... Read More
One of the most common weaknesses I see in day-to-day... Read More
A few magazines refer to their written idea sources in... Read More
Writing can be more difficult that just compiling your thoughts... Read More
The Benefits of Co-Publishing There are a number of publishers,... Read More
I do on occasion run out of ideas for my... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?It's no use coming up with a... Read More
Every part of your book can be a sales tool.... Read More
Suspense novels, unlike any other genre, need fast starts. Fans... Read More
Some writers complain that writing is arduous work requiring long... Read More
All writers should use a plan whether written or reflected.... Read More
Bonnie Chicago charter limousine ..If you are looking for copywriter books, you'll want to... Read More
For several years before I left teaching to write full... Read More
Readers often send me interesting and exciting e-mails about the... Read More
SO YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER?Many people have entertained... Read More
Writing better is critical for students. But it's even more... Read More
(This excerpt is taken from my new writing workshop Writing... Read More
Someone once commented that there were no new ideas to... Read More
If your writing muscle isn't in shape, writing a novel... Read More
In my ten years as an advertiser, I've encountered plenty... Read More
What do people expect when they join a writing group?The... Read More
If you are reading this article then you probably have... Read More
Writer's Block can strike like a King Cobra, paralyzing every... Read More
If a writer considers writing to be a task, he/she... Read More
A few months ago, I wrote a guide entitled: 101... Read More
How to Start Your Story with a BangThe purpose of... Read More
In one of the exercises in my "Getting Started as... Read More
More Tips For New Writers (Part I)Explain in your own... Read More
On the first day of a bright and shiny new... Read More
Today it begins.I have always known I was a freelancer.... Read More
Short Story Writing Tips ?We all have different tastes in... Read More
Lately I've been noticing an odd trend amongst the freelance... Read More
|| Graphology & Graphotherapy ||Everybody wants to know more about... Read More
WRITING THE PERSONAL STATEMENT TO GET INTO UK UNIVERSITYHOW DO... Read More
Long ago, movie directors mastered the technique of creating a... Read More
Writing can be more difficult that just compiling your thoughts... Read More
Writing |