The process of writing can be daunting, difficult, gut wrenching or it can be joyful and pleasant. Writing is sometimes a release—it helps us to become free of our demons. Other times, it awakens within us, monsters that we would rather let sleep.
We each write for different reasons and we tackle various writing projects with varying motives. While some writers seek solace in their words, others create havoc with theirs.
The writing process isn’t always what we expect it to be. Sometimes an attempt to learn about oneself through the simple practice of writing can turn into a lesson in horror as the ugly truths begin to unfold. For some, the process of writing the story they’ve been tracking or living for years turns out to be, not a labor of love, but a most distasteful experience. The telling of the story, the research, the gathering of information, the dream of eventually writing the book is what keeps this potential writer going. But sitting down and actually doing the writing turns out to be anticlimactic—the enthusiasm and excitement are gone.
Some hopeful authors never finish their books because the story they want to tell becomes too painful to relive. Others discover that they don’t have the skill to write. Far too many write their books, anyway.
Where do you fit into the scheme of things? Are you like me and you can’t not write? Or are you experiencing emotional and/or mental pain at the thought of or when attempting to write?
Certainly, writing isn’t for everyone. Just because we learned to express ourselves through writing doesn’t mean that we can write eloquently enough to delight readers or clearly enough to teach/inform readers or interestingly enough to hold a reader’s attention. And if you don’t enjoy the process of writing—if you just can’t make yourself sit down and do it, even though you think this is what you want to do, probably you should avoid this profession. Tell your story instead of writing it. Hire a ghost writer, if you really want the story in book form. And know that it is okay not to write. Not everyone is meant to write and those who aren’t, shouldn’t.
If you have a writer’s heart and soul and you want to write a book, be sure to read Patricia Fry’s 5-star book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html And order the Author’s Workbook, too.