by Jennifer Minar
A friend of mine is a novelist who is in the midst of writing a second novel while her agent markets her first. I admire her. Not only did she write what, in my opinion, is a brilliant mystery, she hasn't missed a beat setting the second one in motion.
She's not a full-time writer...yet. In fact, she works a fifty-hour work week, most weeks. And outside of work, she has responsibilities--probably many of the same responsibilities as you.
But she finds a way to make the time. When the kids are tackling their homework, or tucked away in bed, when she's commuting back and forth, or taking the rare lunch break, she makes time to write. She even wakes up an hour early on the weekdays to pound out a few hundred words.
Do her writing habits remind you of yours? Even just a little? If not, do you really want to become a published author? Successful freelancer? Award-winning essayist? Then work toward it; become more serious about your writing. And take the advice many writers have imparted to newbies over the years: There are three ways of learning to write: Write. And write. And write. Here are some tips to remember:
Don't Wait Until You Feel Like Writing. Write even when you don't feel like it, because, most times you won't. And don't wait for an epiphany. Gather all your notes and sit in front of your PC and draft something. It doesn't have to be any good at first. What's important is that you are going through the motions. It's no secret that a lot of writers hate to write--at least first drafts. But there wouldn't be any books, articles, or essays if it weren't for first drafts, right?
The More You Write, The Easier It Gets. As with anything, writing takes practice. Feel proud when you have more words on paper at the end of each day. After a while, as the process becomes second nature, the words will flow.
Schedule Writing Time. This is important! Write every day with few exceptions. And don't wait until your schedule slows down because chances are, it won't. There will always be a room to vacuum, a friend to meet, a movie to catch, overtime to put in.
Schedule the time. And stay on schedule. Commit a small portion of your day to writing as you do other aspects of your life. Drag yourself to the keyboard and just stare at your monitor if you have to; half the battle is just getting there.
Schedule as little as half an hour a day. Believe me, the words will add up.
Be Persistent. Ask a writer what it took for her to become a success. Chances are, she'll say that persistence is what got her where she is.
Becoming a success at anything is about prioritizing those things you deem important in your life and being persistent at achieving them. Don't write only when you can get around to it, because often you won't.
Develop a writing schedule that works for you and take it seriously. Write even when it pains you to do it. Later you'll be thankful! And be persistent. You'll find yourself a more prolific writer and a good deal closer to achieving your writing dreams.
Jennifer Minar is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance writer and the managing editor of www.WritersBreak.com. She can be contacted at jminar@writersbreak.com.
