Commit to Writing

As we begin our writing journey, oftentimes we lose sight of our obligations and fall prey to the things that are important in our life. We find ourselves distracted and get carried away with everything else BUT writing. That is not a writer.

Writer’s need to learn commitment to the craft. So many times do I see writers, old and new, (admit it) lose interest in writing over and over again. Even I myself have lost interest a few times but when I commit to a course I see it through to the end, just to satisfy myself and no one else.

I recently signed up for a five-week course that I had wanted to take but fear of so many no-shows kept me away. This one showed promise as about six people all signed up for the course. Sure the first week people conversed, by the second week it had slowed and by the third week I was alone, losing interest myself from the inactivity.

Week four I went in and asked if everyone had bailed. I got a response a few days later. There you have it, I bailed on the course too. I see this all too often at the free seven-week writing course. People saying they have always wanted to write, can’t wait to get started, and soon afterwards, the site is left with a few determined hangers on.

So you want to be a writer, but you are not willing to commit to the craft? When you decide to become a writer, it is a relationship not much different from a committed relationship you’re in with a man/woman.

It takes dedication, commitment, sacrifice, and work, lots of hard work, if ever you expect the payoff in the end. This day and age people are so ready to just throw in the towel and give up. I think this generation has the highest divorce rate ever. Why? Because people think giving up is easier than hanging on and suffering a little to reap the rewards!

If you want to be a writer, fight for it! Commit to the craft, the lessons, the learning and the growth.

1. Walk the walk and talk the talk – When you say it out loud and to others that you want to be a writer, DO IT! Do everything in your power to BECOME a writer.
2. Stick it out – There will come times when you feel like bailing, but look at quitting as a non-option! There is no quitting. You either go full steam ahead or do nothing.
3. Commit – I know it is hard; I’ve been there! But commit to seeing it through.
4. Dedicate – Dedicate time out of your day to commit to the writing course you signed up for. If you’re going to be an absentee student, don’t sign up for the course.
5. Don’t give up – I know sickness happens but whatever you do, DON’T GIVE UP! People are depending on you, and YOU are counting on you to see this writing bug through!

This is the time to take the bull by the horns and stay in this relationship you’ve committed yourself to. This is not the time to give up and run away. This is the time to commit! Persistence pays off!

Flutter of Keys

Can you hear it? The sound of keys tapping crazily, people writing, posting, scrambling, (no pushing and shoving) all trying to get into the Free Writing course that I’ve decided to mentor once again this session. I had put it off last session to take a break from the insanity, but with it now in full swing since last Tuesday, I realized, the insanity has begun again.

I only say insanity, because have you ever seen over 500 writers all trying to get into one hallway, looking around for rooms, names and lessons all that will carry them on the journey of writing that they’ve decided to embark on?

They’ll come in, demanding to be given a lesson, tired of looking around at all the links, they’ll want to begin like yesterday on this writing journey. Some will not like the fact that they need to adhere to rules, post links of their websites and be out the door. We have over six hundred registered and I’m always amazed how so many people begin the journey but few stay the course to see the journey through.

As volunteer mentors, we take quite a battering. As students get frustrated, sling harsh brutal words at you, slit your throat while you’re off helping someone else, these people need to realize that we are humans behind the screen, who have taken many hours out of our lives to guide you, the new writer on a path that just may lead you to the published world.

Even if you don’t get published; as one person has asked us NOT to  publish his/her writing in our EZine. Can you imagine that? Someone hails your work as good enough to be publishable and because you’re not getting MONEY, you say you will decline having your work published? And I’m telling you, they put up a good argument as to why they DON’T want their work published. I just hope that seven years down the line as they are still struggling to get something published, has forced them into giving up writing entirely, that they remember that the one score on their resume where it says PUBLISHED, is missing.

You still are being taught the basics in writing. Some really good lessons on Dialogue, Characterization, and  quite a few other tricks of the trade. All of which you will carry with you on the leg of your writing journey, where you feel as if you’re in the least, a competent writer.

As you sail off on this writing journey, respect the ones who are there giving of their time to see you through this leg of your writing career. We’re here to assist, it is your job to learn, not butt heads with one another because guess what, every market that you submit to, will have guidelines and rules.

Enjoy the path that you’ve chosen. You’ve chosen wisely. Stay the course my new friends.