Writing Demystified

Writing takes time. Yes, you’re going to have to get used to it. Is it frustrating that you can’t just sit down and whip off a perfect document in five minutes?

Duh . . . to use a phrase from my childhood. Most of our frustration in writing comes from waiting until the last minute to complete an assignment, then not being happy with the outcome. It is this process that has convinced so many they are not good writers. Just because you can’t spit out perfection in a few minutes of half-hearted effort doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer. A bad planner, perhaps, but not a bad writer.

Sure, you can spend your time being envious of the one in class who writes with the seeming ease of a “true artist” . . . but if you spend your life in envy not only will you be green, you’ll be terrifically non-productive. Should I stop playing tennis because I can’t play like Serena Williams? Should I stop driving because my car is 15 years old? Should I stop living because I’m 20 pounds overweight? Do you think Serena played the way she does now the first time, or even the 1121st time? Do you suppose everyone with a nice car was born with one? Do you think everyone who you think looks better than you feels good about themselves? And, what, exactly, is a “true” artist? Most artists I know would say the true artist is the one who practices at his or her art.

The best way to write something is to finish your first draft in one sitting, or as quickly as you can manage. Then, once you have written everything you want to say, you might look it over a couple of times to see if there are areas you need to expand on, or insert better description in. Once you get the first draft complete, put it away for a day or two (a week or two if you have the time) and come back to it with fresh eyes. What will happen if you give yourself a bit of distance is you will either realize how good what you’ve written really is, and be motivated to make the necessary changes to make it great; or you will realize what you’ve written isn’t really communicating what you meant, and you may pick a few paragraphs out of what you’ve written, scrap the rest and try again. Time, that elusive, crazy creature, is a helpful component, giving you perspective that is hard to find if you try to take all five steps in the writing process in the same week.

It just takes time, people, and there’s no way around it. Imagine all the half-finished work in the world, sitting in the corner, collecting dust, forgotten and neglected because of time. Try to give yourself some time to write. I know you have lives, work, children, stuff to do. I know you may not want to be a writer. I know you may not think this is important, or even want to do it. Still, if you’re on this website, you must have some desire or need to write. Since you’re here, spend the effort, and reap the rewards!

What rewards? Well, I admit, it may not be money, women, or fame that will come your way . . . but true expression, creative and unique expression, changes the world. If you don’t believe me, check into American history and find out how we became our own nation, or how we ended slavery, or how the civil rights movement was born. Writing, expressing ideas in artful ways, has far-reaching consequences. I promise you, it really does.