The Writer's Comfy Corner

Try to Write the Hard Stuff

I struggle with writing about uncomfortable topics.  How about you?

Sitting down to write about your worst memories may not be fun, but sometimes I think it's necessary. You may not have any intention of sharing the writing you do on difficult subjects, but I think it is worth the effort.

We all have good and bad experiences.  Happy memories are great, but our struggle is part of the truth of our lives.  If we are always trying to sweep the negative out of our writing voice, we risk coming off as fake and shallow.

My suggestion:  Write the things you love and at the same time, find ways to document your darker experiences.  Who knows, those fears and sad times may just help you write a story that will connect in a poignant way with your audience.  After all, people trust you more easily when you tell the truth.

Magazine Study

Sometimes people say, "I don't have time to read."  They may have it in their head that the only stuff worth reading are five hundred page Russian novels.

Don't count out magazines!

Magazines are filled with contemporary writers, quick reads, and thousands of topics to inspire you.  Plus, by studying your favorite magazines, you may find that they accept submissions.  Did you know that Newsweek has a weekly feature called MY TURN.  As long as your piece is timely and well written, you could get your essay into Newsweek.

Like any reading regimen, I'd advise against only one kind of format.  To avoid overdosing on magazines, you could keep a Russian novel beside your bed.

Remember, just keep having fun and get some stuff written.

The Four Writing Pillars

There are four things that I constantly rediscover in my career.  I'm going to call them the Four Pillars.

They are always available to us, but sometimes it's good to remember and list the things that really make us better at writing.

The Pillars:

Reading - Being wildly in love with books and magazines will help you understand how to make an audience fall wildly in love with your writing.  Plus, reading shows us how to be better writers and to avoid mistakes found in yucky books.

Writing - Writing is the practice and the reward.  Writing is 90% of what you need to do.  Seems obvious, I know.  Still some people only think about writing and expect to be satisfied.  It's the doing that creates all the fun.  We writers have to sit in a chair and pound out those words.  No excuses.

Know Other Writers - You can make writing friends, you can go to classes, you can watch interviews, just don't forget to be around other writers.  They will give you ideas, solace, camaraderie and a host of other valuable experiences that will enrich your writing life.

Get the Work Out in the World - Writing is communication.  You are writing for other people, whether you are comfortable with an audience or not.  So find ways to reach your audience.  Go to poetry readings, enter writing contests, submit your work to publishers or create notes on Facebook.  How will you know how good your writing is unless you let others see it?

Each of these Four Pillars create an equal amount of challenge and benefit for a writer.  You will each experience the Pillars differently.  They will change in their significance for you as the years pass.  But from analyzing my own process, remembering and exploring these Pillars over and over have allowed me continual growth and improvement in a craft I love so well.