Writing is a State of Mind

Writing is an extremely isolated experience. Often one that requires a degree of closure to the rest of the world. Sometimes, when I’m lost to those lonely moments, I’ve found myself questioning my writing ability, convinced that nobody is ever going to read the words I’ve slaved over. All writers will go through periods of self-doubt and critical self-analysis. This is a natural part of the creative process. These probing questions are good as long as you remember to balance the darkness of self-doubt with a little beacon of self-belief. 

Writing is about the journey, not just the end destination. 

It is possible that we can lose sight of what is going on around us as we write. Hastening through scenes to hit that magical ending. Remember, it is important to keep looking where we have been and where we are right now, just as much as where we are going. Keep the end in sight but make sure you enjoy the whole journey towards it.

Writing is a marathon, not a race.

Unless you are on a time critical deadline, don’t rush your work. Rushing is a compromise of output over creativity. Mistakes will creep into your narrative if you hammer through it like Usain Bolt on roller-blades. Be objective! Are characters reacting in a consistent way? Is your plot water-tight? Is it making sense to your target audience? Take your time, if Rome wasn’t built in a day, then it certainly isn’t going to need a detailed guide of the city written within 24 hours either.

Don’t seek praise.

We all love to receive praise but we can sometimes be too focuses on seeking peer approval. To have our work recognised by others is a massive high and can give you a confidence boost. However, it’s better to have this level of adulation given freely than to hunt for it. Be wary not to fall into the trap of putting your own work down in passing conversation, to me, that’s just another way of seeking out plaudits from others. I’m a firm believer that good work will always be recognised.

Accept failure.

Failure isn’t final. Accepting failure is all part of the creative process of making you a better writer. Sometimes you will write yourself into corner, or discover your Magnum Opus already exists in one form or another. Don’t dwell on it, digest what you have learned, develop what you have written, take a deep breath and plunge immediately back in. There is nothing worse than staring at a blank page on a screen and letting it beat you before you’ve even begun (again).

Be dedicated to your craft.

Writing is a passion that has to be nurtured; ensure you set part of the day aside for it. The more regimented you are with your writing, the more it will become part of your daily routine. Give yourself a page rate target (mine is around 4 per day), if you don’t hit that target, don’t stress -just make sure the pages you do turn in are the best of the best.

Be Healthy.

It’s important to ensure you are eating and drinking correctly while working on your copy. Make sure you remember to hydrate while writing, take a break from the screen and adjust your posture. It’s all too easy to be lost in a writing ‘moment’ and forego the small things that could have have a huge impact later on in our lives. I often suffer from migraine attacks from staring at the screen or backache from sitting in the wrong position too long. Look after your body as well as your mind.

Human Interaction.

As I mentioned at the beginning, writing is the lonely path we tread. I do encourage you to reconnect with the people around you. This doesn’t then mean you seize the first opportunity to talk about what you are writing, that’s a cheap shot courtesy of your creativity as it tries to woo you back to your keyboard. Switch off and start living again in the real world. It’s only through the enjoyment of living experiences that we can, in turn, enrich the content of what we write.

Trust yourself.

Probably the biggest ally you can have is yourself. If you are writing then you are achieving something only others can dream of. That alone should be applauded. Have faith in your abilities and always enjoy what you write.

As ever, if you want to talk about this or anything else, I can be found bemoaning Southern Rail on Twitter: @AndiEwington