I never set out to become a writer. I began my student life like many do. I read books because I had to. Grammar, composition and essays were a great source of confusion for me as I struggled to comprehend why they were important. I became a writer only after I became a reader. I was most interested in Emerson, Thoreau and Poe, but only after I saw myself in their writing. I must have spent many hours with my nose in their books. I appreciated Emerson’s belief in “self- reliance” and after reading his work, I challenge anyone not to have a deeper appreciation for who they are as individuals. Poe courageously turned nightmares into realities and Thoreau’s appreciation for nature is awe inspiring. He lived simply and loved enormously. I will never forget the early American writers or being uncerimonously introduced to them. They each held a piece of a larger puzzle for me. I have read well over a thousand books since then and I continue to do so. A huge part of being a writer is being a reader. Stephen King and John Grisham are also notable personal favorites of mine.
I have never truly liked anything I have written. I believe writing is a process and not just because it is what my college Professors called it. I am a successful writer only when my written work touches my readers in some way. It could be by directing them to my favorite writers or simply writing about something that is important to them in their own lives. Writing isn’t easy and is not for the faint at heart. It is a very competitive occupation. It is nerve-wrecking, exciting and not unlike watching paint dry at times. Inspiration is fleeting when it comes and when an idea finds its way into your brain, you write it down quickly if you are smart. Distractions are just around the corner and you learn how to cope with them in the midst of your most creative moments. It is a juggling act and in that regard, not so different from other occupations. I have always believed that writers choose their occupations out of love. I would write even if I knew I would never make another cent for doing so.
My friends often ask me how much time I spend on writing. On the average, I spend roughly five hours a day writing freely and equally that much time doing rewrites and editing. Writing can be a long, tedious process and I very often find a nice, quiet place in the woods to do so. There are no phones, little noise and when the sunlight turns shadowy, I finally look up to see that it is getting dark. I find that time passes swiftly during this phase. Editing is simply picking what I have written apart and putting it back together in a more comprehensive fashion.
Creativity comes easily to me. I know how to dance, love music and am not a bad painter. Writers are by nature a little obsessive in their creative endeavors. It is essential to our success. You always want to outdo the last thing you did and you are always looking for inspiration. I often play music when I am writing. I normally have my IPod close at hand and can hear poetry in song lyrics. Most importantly, I wake every morning knowing that I am doing what I feel I was born to do. It isn’t like work and I would die if I couldn’t do it.
I have heard it said that writers are born and not created. I can only agree. If you feel a compulsion to put pen to paper or keep a journal, you may have a case of the writing bug. I keep a planner and in it I write something about each day of my life. I also write down appointments and my planner is a recorded reflection of my life, my most valuable tool.
Life would be boring without creativity and if you want to be a writer, you should. It is the best way I know to leave your mark on the world. If you are one of the lucky ones, your writing will inspire someone else and it will become your passion.