The best book I have ever read about writing, tips for writing and how to be a writer is Stephen King “On Writing A memoir of the Craft”
It inspires me everytime I read it. The first part about his journey to becoming a writer is enjoyable and humorous as well as telling as us that its not easy and if he can make it so can we.
The best advice I got from the book was to shut the door. Find a room to write where you can physically or metaphorically shut the door and cut off the rest of the world and write. And Do it EVERYDAY!
I followed this advice a few years ago and in 6 weeks I knocked out 130,000 words. Granted that work is still sitting waiting to be finished. But that is also cause I haven’t been shutting the door since.
In those days I had a computer without a connection shut away in a garage full of stuff. Nowadays I have a room full of life and the world. And a computer with an internet connection.
I need to get refocused again and read the book. Then I need to write everyday and read everyday. Even if it is just writing for here (and although I say “just” it is hardly a “just”).
Now that I have cut back on SPP I can give the time while K is sleeping over to reading and writing. I will start with the reading. I need to get back into devouring books again. Not just 10 pages before bed at night.
I truly believe that to write you must read. There is no substitute for learning the craft than to see how everyone else does it. Sure it leads to you stealing a bit here and there from style and content. But that’s how we learn isn’t it. Thats what happens in the classroom. Eventually we grow enough to form our own style and create our own stories. But we have to start somewhere.
So this morning I have knocked out three blog posts and posted onto the forum (which I hope one day will be discovered and take off)
Soon I am going to start reading Stephen King On Writing again. I am going to think about what I want to write about. Choose an idea and run with it. Even if it is just a short story. I need to realise that not every idea I have is brilliant enough to be a novel! (There is that ego again that keeps popping up)
Before i sign off I just want to say Thank You Stephen King for writing On Writing. And maybe one day I’ll get to thank you myself!
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Good post Jai. We can all learn from this. Who doesn’t allow outside things to affect their mood? One must always endeavour to be happy and positive and make the most out of situations. Challenges are opportunities to learn and grow. They can be fun and rewarding with the right attitude. I have always tried to behave based on my personal axiom, ‘be young, be free, don’t think; just be.” I don’t always get it right and when I don’t I have Jai there to remind me. She has become so good at being the bigger person, I am humbled at times by her knowing ways. She encourages me to be more and I love her for that.