Writing is Work

There's no mistake about it—writing is work—for some more than others. I generally consider myself fortunate because I'm inspired almost all the time from the most random things, but for others, that just isn't the case. Lately even my "writing mood" seems to have deserted me. The words don't flow, and I have to fight to keep going.

This is what some call writer's block. Really, these are the times that separate the men from the boys, or more appropriately, the writers from the wanna-bes. It's been said before, but I'll say it again: writers write, so when the words feel like pulling teeth, we keep on pulling, no matter how much the characters shout.

"Well that's great and all," you say, annoyed, "But it's easier said than done." True. But if you have a general idea where you're going with the plot (and you're not stuck simply because you don't know what happens next—that's a different problem altogether) then you keep going. It is hard. But work isn't always easy, is it?

All right, so you've tried. You've tried to face that work-in-progress that just refuses to be written, and halfway through a chapter you had to quit. First of all, congratulations, you're a writer just because you put in an honest effort! Second, do it again tomorrow. There are a very few cases where your manuscript should just be dumped in the trash, but they are a very few. Just because it's hard doesn't mean it was a dumb idea. I'm a big believer in disciplining yourself to finish any book you start, and soon it'll become a habit that's hard to break.

Since I started writing six years ago, I've probably written over thirty stories, most of which aren't publishable. Out of that number, I've quit on only one. That practice has kept me going through the tough times, and I know it will for you, too, if you give it a try.

Remember, writers write, even when it feels more like work than play. Soon enough it will be enjoyable again. In the words of Jodi Picoult: "You might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can't edit a blank page."

So keep pulling those teeth.