Why is Writing So Hard? (Part 2)
What was that universal question we talked about during our first segment?
Yes, the one that every writer had to have asked themselves sometime in their writing career.
Do you remember? I believe it goes something like this: “Why is writing so hard?”
Overview
6. Stop Blaming it on Writer’s Block!
4. The Stats Don’t Lie
Even besides the motivation factor and the commitment to read and better your own skills, there are still many more reasons to consider.
To be honest with you, some people just cannot write. Others don’t have the gift but think writing is easy. And the silent majority simply don’t want to spend the time and effort it takes to write, edit and revise their work.
Writing is not rocket science, people.
But it does take time, effort and a hell of a lot of dedication.
How many people talk about writing a book but never get it done? Let’s see.
According to Publishing Perspectives:
“81 percent of Americans feel that they have a book in them — and should write it.”
That’s over 264 million Americans. 264 MILLION Americans?
You would think that number is crazy.
According to a subsequent study, 97% of these Americans will never start their books. The only thing more egregious than this statistic are the pathetic excuses these aspiring authors use.
Sure enough, writing is no walk in the park.
Anyone telling you otherwise is trying to sugarcoat it or straight up lying to your face.
A blank page is a void that you the creator needs to fill. And you may have to spend years sharpening your art. So don't be like that eager first time author expecting his work to be published without having it tumbled down and cleaned up.
A writer depends on his brain. If you don't use it sufficiently, anything that requires mental observation will obviously be a challenge for you.
You wouldn't eat a meal unless it was cooked the right way. And just like cooking, there's a lot of ingredients that go into it before you can call it a finished meal.
And just like cooking, you have to know how to use the words, pacing of time and passage all so eloquently.
5. Try Freestyle Writing
Think of writing as a conversation between two friends.
It's like talking, but on paper.
On your first draft, you should work the story out without altering a single word, or second guesses. And you know where I'm going with this. That's right.
I'm talking about freestyle writing, sometimes called free writing.
No, it has nothing to do with the music industry. But it does have its similarities with free styling.
Now obviously your page will be filled with errors, and that’s the whole point. The goal is to create momentum - and keep that momentum.
The next time you’re writing your first draft, don’t stop here and there. No more fixing this mess on this paragraph or patching that leak. Just go with the flow.
Write as much as you can whenever you can as soon as a thought pops into your brain. Literally!
“Gosh, that sounds like a lousy idea,” someone who doesn't know what they're talking about would say.
The reality, however, is far from lousy.
Not only does this type of writing (called freestyle writing) allow you to create a momentum, it also increases all the traits you use as a writer.
The first sign of increased efficiency will come from your ability to write an article to meet a deadline in your own home without a boss standing over you.
After all, that is what freestyle writing is all about. In its purest form, it means being able to produce as many words as you can without regard to spelling, grammar or topic.
If you’re not used to freestyle writing, chances are you will not like it in the beginning.
Freestyle writing produces raw, often unusable material.
But it does have its benefits.
Opting for this strategy will not only make you a better writer - you become a free-thinking individual. That’s a huge difference from being just a writer. After all, anybody can write - but not everybody usually thinks for themselves.
The main reason why people find writing difficult is not because writing is hard.
It’s not.
Mainly it’s about self-criticism and apathy.
These emotions can make any writer insecure - and is often the reason why new writers or aspiring authors find it difficult to write.
Oxford Dictionary defines self-criticism as: criticism of oneself or one’s actions.
And what about apathy?
According to Google, it is:
ap·a·thy
/ˈapəTHē/
noun
lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern. "widespread apathy among students"
Writing requires exposing your most vulnerable and insecure self --- and that's the courage to step outside of your comfort zone and reveal something essential about yourself.
How do you do that?
By blocking your apathy and overcoming your self-criticism.
And freestyle writing can help improve your courage towards that goal.
The clear and empty page isn't to be dreaded. It was made for those bold enough to take it by the horns and dictate their destiny. This ability to express yourself, arguably, is one of the very few things in life nobody can take away from you.
Think about it. The whole point of free writing is you maximize your time and efficiency by jotting down as many ideas as you can. It's all about unleashing that one rare idea before it gets lost inside those brain cells.
Unlike writing for a specific subject that motivates you, or reading through others work, freestyle writing will give you the best of both worlds and then some. And it doesn't matter what kind of writer you are or what kind of genre you write.
Itching to meet that impossible goal of 90,000 words in under 30 days?
If you have been freestyle writing for a while now, and I'm talking about at least for 6 months on a daily basis, then heck yeah you can write 90,000 within a single month.
In doing so your talent will be on par with our best writers and editors at Alpha Book Publisher.
6. Stop Blaming it on Writer’s Block!
Unfortunately, most writers getting stuck on their work would rather put the blame on writer's block -- a pathetic excuse made popular by a few group of lazy writers who managed to convince the rest of us that we are just as lazy as they are.
Even worse, there's an entire movement dedicated entirely to teaching you about the myths and misfortunes of writer’s block.
Whenever there's a Google search about the difficulty of writing, headlines like, "How to Overcome Writer's Block and Share Your Message to the World" show up.
It's a myth. Pure nonsense. Completely fabricated by people who - you guessed it - can only find comfort when there's someone, or in this case, when there's something to blame.
That’s why at Alpha Book Publisher, we have entire articles dedicated to debunking generally-accepted myths about writer’s block once and for all.
To sum up, the best way you can get better at writing is not being afraid to write.
Go big on your first draft. Freestyle it.
It doesn't matter what reading level you're on.
Everyone has to start somewhere.
And the path to honing your skills is through practice, and more practice.
Did any of these tips help you out?
Does it remind you of a personal experience that affected your ability to write?
Share it with our community.
If you haven't read our first segment, click this link now: https://www.alphapublisher.com/post/why-is-writing-so-hard
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