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.
The urge to write fiction seems God given for some,... Read More
I recently set up a website to promote a new... Read More
Just about everyone is familiar with this beginning: "In the... Read More
"Do I send samples, a media kit, or just the... Read More
Effective screenwriting relies on the good understanding and use of... Read More
Mindmapping is better than linear outlining because authors can use... Read More
A friend and I were talking the other day about... Read More
Questions and answers on writing life experiences for ourselves and... Read More
No one is born a novel writer. But do you... Read More
You can learn a lot about what it takes to... Read More
We all know people who ramble. They include every boring... Read More
All your publishing options are as follows:--Conventional publishing--Vanity or subsidy... Read More
Whether you are working for a small business, large corporation,... Read More
Joyce Carol Oates. Langston Hughes. Anne Sexton. F. Scott Fitzgerald.... Read More
I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of... Read More
[When I was a nineteen-year-old high school student and budding... Read More
Many writers stare at the blank page or clean computer... Read More
"I don't know if I should put 'writer' on my... Read More
Business etiquette is fundamentally concerned with building relationships founded upon... Read More
If you are a serious writer who wants to publish... Read More
If Ben Franklin were alive today, he would be...uh, very... Read More
----------------------------------------------------------Permission is granted for the below article to forward,reprint, distribute,... Read More
Is your book nearly finished, finished, published, or even in... Read More
I've seen it time and again. One of the most... Read More
If you have been online for any length of time... Read More
There is no doubt that a staff writer enjoys advantages... Read More
Structure in the form of frameworks, work processes and goals... Read More
What Makes a Great Headline?Headlines are far more important than... Read More
ESSAY 2Andre Malraux once said that what interested him in... Read More
1. PLAY A GAME LIKE SOLITAIRE....for half an hour or... Read More
Weather posting a page to your Website, writing a letter... Read More
Before I became a teacher, I was a sports writer.... Read More
Winning writing contests can provide several advantages to writers. For... Read More
Writing is a muscle that needs exercise to stay in... Read More
Tips for your writing journeySo, you'd like to be a... Read More
Interesting characters that readers care about are the most important... Read More
You have a great idea for a poem, a story,... Read More
Why should you consider creating a memoir of your personal... Read More
"This is just brilliant. The whole interview is incredible? I'm?... Read More
Writer's block! Even columnist Dave Berry has it. He admits... Read More
Take out a white piece of paper and place it... Read More
Here's everything I know about improving your writing, publishing it... Read More
Effective screenwriting relies on the good understanding and use of... Read More
It's the funniest thing. When someone asks me what I... Read More
When we write stories, with the purpose of sharing them... Read More
Every writer eventually develops her own unique style of writing.... Read More
1. Before you write anything down define not what you... Read More
When I was young, I used to talk to myself.... Read More
At first, I noticed that I could have written many... Read More
Since the headline is the first contact your readers have... Read More
If you want to be a writer, you must write... Read More
Language Training - A key to Global CommunicationLanguage Training is... Read More
Whether you keep a separate spiritual journal or just want... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?It's no use coming up with a... Read More
Maybe you should write a book! This is not as... Read More
Obtaining the skills for writing good business correpondence is important;... Read More
As in all endeavors, toil is necessary to succeed and... Read More
If you're targeting an educated, more affluent audience with your... Read More
Last week I was having a quick browse on eBay... Read More
For any great novelist, defining your cast of intriguing characters... Read More
How do you choose a name? Do you put down... Read More
1. Turning your idea into a bookWith non-fiction books the... Read More
No user manual? Surely you jest!It may seem comical, but... Read More
When I first started tracking the information preferences of people... Read More
I just finished to read a book. A story for... Read More
If you either want to write a book to help... Read More
Writing |