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Not long ago, I heard someone say that the only people who like to cross country ski are people who love the daily grind. These are people who understand what it takes to get up early, work hard, take on underwhelming projects, and push through when it would be easier to take a break. I loved the idea, partially because I love to cross country ski and partially because it reminded me of why I love to write.
I have run across so many writers, and they’re each such wonderfully unique people. Some write for a short period of time, and some stick with it for life. I have met writers who scribbled a handful of letters to pass on to their grandkids and felt totally satisfied, and I have known others who struggled with never-ending novel series that took years to complete.
What I have observed about writers generally is that they like to work hard. They like to dig into a complicated story, a wild poem, or a new idea and wrestle with the words until something new emerges from the page. They like to get their hands dirty and don’t really mind struggling with a character that starts out cardboard flat and ends up walking and talking with as much complexity as the eccentric guy down the street.
Writers love to get out into the world. Yes, ours is a solitary hobby. We sit by ourselves, tapping away at the keys alone, and oftentimes use devices to block out the noise of life happening around us. But writers must delve into the truths of life to be able to write about them. Writers listen to conversations, they watch the way people move, and they taste the subtle differences in dishes. All these observations are deep dives into life, which writers do so that they can capture life experiences to put into stories. Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.
Writers tend to think about writing all the time. They read more books because they are involved in learning on an ongoing basis. They tend to have a high interest level in a variety of topics. Who else would want to know when to plant roses, how long a body takes to decompose in the desert, and the physicality it takes to ride a bicycle from Seattle to Portland? These are normal questions for writers to ponder and research. In fact, sometimes a writer will research a question for hours just to write a single line in a story.
Writers think about writing all the time. Many carry a writer’s notebook to capture ideas that come to mind in the middle of the day. Writers will say things like, “That would make a great story” when they hear a weird statistic or curious scenario. Writers dwell on which comeback they would have used two hours after being shouted at by a rude jerk. And they analyze movies for choices the writers made, rather than which explosions were biggest. The wonderful thing about writers is that they can see the depth of life. They can identify its smells and tastes and textures, because they seek out its stories. To be able to understand life so well that we can write about abandonment, desperation, ecstasy, and triumph means that we not only don’t mind getting close to life but we relish it.
The writing process can feel overwhelming to some, but most writers have the keen ability to turn coffee into words, which gives us an advantage to take on enormous projects, like 9-volume book series.
Gardeners, can work in the garden once a week for an hour or two and end up with a beautiful garden that the neighbors admire. Writers have to keep coming back to the page over and over again. An hour here or there will result in a completed story, but it will take ages, and no one will see the positive results until the words are arranged in their polished final version. It’s hard work that makes that happen. It’s having the drive to come back to the desk over and over again. It’s having the courage to open up the story and try again and again to edit the scenes to make them flow better.
Writers read, research, write, and revise in an ongoing cycle, because once one story is completed, most writers take up another one. To keep up with that kind of hobby, a person has to love to work and they have to find their flow when they dig into the process.
Writers are like that. We may take time away from the writing to handle life’s complications when they arise, but we are consistently hard workers. We put in the work, knowing the reward will come. Related Blog Posts
![]() Whether you are writing for yourself, for a small audience, or for the publishing market, you probably appreciate when your writing is supported. That support may keep you going when you feel a little low. The little things can add up to keep you motivated and creative. When you spend your time alone, typing away at a keyboard, receiving positive support can be the difference between continuing in the craft or abandoning writing for another hobby. Few writers leave the craft altogether, but many take short breaks to recharge their batteries when they feel low. Writing can be a lonely hobby, especially when people don’t have the support they need. If You Want to Have a Friend, Be a Friend How does a writer find support? Drumming up support for one’s hobby can feel like a chore in itself, but the old adage is true: If you want to have a friend, be a friend. This certainly applies to writers. If you want to be a supported writer, then support other writers. One way to support writers is to spend time with them. I know this might sound a little bit silly, especially considering that writing is a solitary exercise, but finding someone who is willing to listen to story ideas can be a challenge. Offer to listen to another writer’s ideas about characters, storylines, poems, or research projects. By spending time listening to another writer talk about their ideas, you not only support another writer, but you also earn an ear to listen to your story ideas. Many writers process verbally, so talking about your writing can be a huge help to your writing process. Another way to support writers is to be willing to read their work. The editing and revising steps of writing can be brutal for any writer. If you have ever taken a story from initial brainstorm to publishable draft, then you know how much work it can take. Unfortunately, most people willing to read a piece of writing fall into two types: the “I love everything you write” type and the “here are the 500 errors I found” type. Neither of these readers is particularly helpful, because they lack the balanced perspective that a competent writer can offer during a revision.
Leave a Review for Every Book You Read Find local writers, your writer friends, and members of your writing groups and read their books. After you read their books, ask them where you can leave a review. Amazon, Goodreads, and Kobo all allow readers to leave original book reviews. These reviews can make an enormous difference for writers. The more reviews that writers have, the more likely their books are to be included in the criteria for search engines. I belong to a writer’s group in my small town. We show up to every author’s event at the library and local bookstore. We have three literary events a month: a critique group, a writer’s workshop, and a public reading night. By doing this, our group has doubled in size and we have created a community of writers who support each other. The effort is worth the payoff. Finally, if, by chance, you earned a degree in literature or history in college (as I did way back when), you may have an understanding of the classics and may be less aware of contemporary literature. Break out of the canon and spend time reading contemporary writers. Read outside of your comfort zone. Read books by people of color, people from other countries, and people from different socio-economic groups. Read outside of your usual genre. When you read newer writing, you have a better understanding of what is being published now, what is popular, and what topics writers are addressing. Reading modern literature puts you in touch with contemporary writers. When you find writers you like, reach out to them. Send them letters, write them emails, and follow them on social media. Getting connected to writers can help you build a literary network. You Get What You Give Develop a community of people who support writing, and offer support to other writers. When you do, you create a community of others who will support your writing. Though we write alone, we engage with life to find inspiration to write and we share our writing with others so that our words can comfort, instruct, and entertain. Our strength as writers is in our shared community as lovers of the written word, and it is within that community that we can develop support for our own writing as we support others in their creative pursuits. Related Blog Posts
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I am not a fan of New Year’s resolutions. I cannot think of a single time that my life changed significantly because of me following through on a resolution, and in fact, it seems that most of my attempts at resolutions have sent me backward on my goals.
What has worked for me is to decide on a small goal, meet it, then commit to another small goal and meet that. When I have followed the path of tiny goals, I have been much more successful than I ever was with resolutions.
Now, I understand that setting a small goal might feel like the same thing as making a resolution, but I would argue otherwise. When I set a resolution, it’s usually because some part of my personality, habits, or behaviors is driving me crazy and I want to overcome that by changing several patterns at once. Overnight, I’m supposed to eat better, exercise more, wake up earlier, and be more productive. But the reality is that I never do that because it’s too much all at once. I can’t focus on battling my middle-aged body and try to figure out how to get to the gym six days a week (in the snow no less) with kids, the house, the job, and so many life complications.
What works for me is to attempt a teeny-tiny goal, meet it, and then set another one. One example of when this worked well was the Inktober activity. In October of this year, I joined Inktober, where writers and artists create a single piece each day based on a one-word prompt. For the first week, I wrote a haiku poem (a haiku is a poem with three lines with syllables of 5-7-5). This activity only took me three to five minutes a day. The goal was tiny and I felt successful quickly. Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.
After writing a haiku poem for the first week, my confidence was up. So, I wrote a 50-word short story for the next two weeks. Each day, I would sit down and write a short story, which was usually closer to 100 words. I’d cut it down to 50 words, post it on Instagram, and move on with my day.
For the last week in October, I created a series story. Each day, I used the daily prompt and continued the story that I wrote the day before. The process was interesting, because I couldn’t go with a totally new idea because I needed to string several prompts together.
Inktober forced me to write every day for a month. Although I would love to say that I write every day all the time, I don’t. I write a few times a week and usually set aside one morning to write for a couple of hours straight. The problem isn’t that I lack the discipline to write every day; I lack the opportunity. Between work, kids, family, pets, and taking care of myself, I can’t make daily writing work. Yet, incredibly, I wrote every day in October for the Inktober project.
When I set a tiny goal (write a haiku poem, write a 50-word story), I was able to do what usually feels impossible. I was able to write for 31 days in a row. The outcome was exhilarating and I kept writing every day through November. In fact, the momentum generated in October got me through the rough draft of my next book, which I expected would take another two months to accomplish.
So, if you’re like me, skip the resolutions. If they don’t help you, then don’t bother with them. Instead, consider taking on a small goal, meeting it, and then another small goal.
Would you like some help doing this? This January, I plan to write a small piece each day. The prompts I’m following are listed below. If this sounds like fun, you’re certainly welcome to join me.
January Daily Writing Prompts
Each day, write a haiku poem, a free verse poem, a 50-word story, a 100-word story, or one paragraph (description of character, setting, plot, or scene) based on the prompt. Feel free to interpret the prompts in any way you choose.
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