Break the “I Can’t Do it” Cycle

While trying to find a great topic for this article, I was brainstorming what all writers have in common. Well, for starters, we all aspire to different things, but I believe the most common thing is we have a goal to becoming successful at writing.

For most of us, we all learned our love for writing at an early age, but in the end we all have different reasons for writing. Some of use use writing as a career, while others may use writing to help them cope with day-to-day stresses.

You probably are sitting there scratching your head confused, right? You are trying to figure out what our common goal has to do with failing as a writer. Well, let me ask you one question, “Do you always make time for your writing?” If you answered the question with a yes, you, my friend, are on the right track. If you answered the question with a no, you my friend, may fail as a writer. However, luckily for you, you can turn that no to a yes in no time!

What Not to do

• “…but the entire idea of the book was suppose to be a slow-paced story. I wanted the reader to think”
• “…my character is supposed to be all over the place.”
• “…you did not catch the true meaning. You misunderstood what I meant.”
• “…but I wanted to leave the readers hanging off their seats.”

Now, there is nothing wrong with your novel, if they contain the elements above. What you need to know is the reader must be able to understand and interpret it, why you wrote it the way you did.

So, if you are making excuses for your writing, then 9 out of 10 times you are missing the point. The idea of writing a piece of fiction is to allow your writing to convey exactly what you want the reader to see. That doesn’t mean you need to describe every single detail either, but you do want your words to paint a picture. As my mom always said, if you have to explain it, then it wasn’t good enough!

Keep Learning

No matter how long you have been in the writing business, there is always going to be so  much more to learn. You will never know everything because writing changes fairly often. What may be correct now may not be correct in another couple of years. That is why you need to always want to learn more. You want to keep up with the trends, publishing industry, and advice from successful colleagues. A true writer never stops learning.

More Excuses

• “I’m too busy to write today.”
• “I’ll write later.”
• “I’ll get around to finishing my novel eventually.”

You have said this at least once in your life. Probably said it today, to be brutally honest. You, the writer, need to get out of that. Stop making excuses. Yes, there will be times you cannot think of anything worthy of writing, then edit! Reread what you already have. Don’t just give another excuse.

Editing

I don’t get why some writers think editing is not their job. Well, hate to break it to you, but it sort of is your job too. Yes, if you are made out of money or written great paying novels, you may have an editor by your side. If you are like myself and any other writer, money is not a luxury. You have to learn to edit as you go or edit at the end. Overall, you have to learn to edit and like doing it! It is all part of the job description.

I dare you this week to write every day. I don’t care if it is only 5 minutes daily, but I want you to make yourself write this week. Just to see where your writing can take you. You may be surprised at what you can really do.

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