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In real life, when I tell people I write, they often say, "oh, I wish I could write, but I get so intimidated. I feel stupid. I don't know where to start."
Maybe you struggle too.
But I know how to defeat this feeling.
THREAD
Maybe you struggle too.
But I know how to defeat this feeling.
THREAD
The central mistake people make: overcomplicating what they're doing. Writing is moving your fingers on a keyboard or dragging a pen or pencil across a page. That's it.
Do not think of it as a reflection of your brilliance or lack thereof.
Do not romanticize writing.
Do not think of it as a reflection of your brilliance or lack thereof.
Do not romanticize writing.
Writing does not have to be this agonizing, profound, dramatic experience.
It does not have to be a grappling match with the void, a confrontation with your traumas, ex girlfriend, dead dad, etc.
It is not a continuation of the canon.
It does not have to be a grappling match with the void, a confrontation with your traumas, ex girlfriend, dead dad, etc.
It is not a continuation of the canon.
You do not need to be smart to write. If you are smart, you do not need to sound smart.
In fact, the less you try to sound smart, the better.
But maybe your ego is still getting in the way. You want to impress others and yourself. You don't want to embarass yourself.
In fact, the less you try to sound smart, the better.
But maybe your ego is still getting in the way. You want to impress others and yourself. You don't want to embarass yourself.
Here is what you do: trick yourself.
It's not you that's sitting down to write, it's someone else.
Who is it? Who gives a shit. Make someone up. Philip J. Zanzibar. Margeurita Shaquita. Unidentified Author. Some nut in a mental hospital.
It's not you that's sitting down to write, it's someone else.
Who is it? Who gives a shit. Make someone up. Philip J. Zanzibar. Margeurita Shaquita. Unidentified Author. Some nut in a mental hospital.
The key is to get yourself NOT to identify with what you write. Especially not at first.
Even if you're writing about your life. Well, it's someone else's life now. No big deal.
Even if you're writing about your life. Well, it's someone else's life now. No big deal.
The rush to identify with everything we do is holding a lot of people back.
No one thing you do or say is the final representation of your skill, intelligence, talent or worth.
You're going to get better. You're going to learn.
No one thing you do or say is the final representation of your skill, intelligence, talent or worth.
You're going to get better. You're going to learn.
Good writing reads like it just plopped right out of the genius author's brain onto the page.
But it's a stage effect. It's a magic trick.
You don't see all the behind the scenes work, you don't notice the sleight of hand.
There's a lot of messy work involved.
But it's a stage effect. It's a magic trick.
You don't see all the behind the scenes work, you don't notice the sleight of hand.
There's a lot of messy work involved.
Furthermore: No one cares whether you're good or not, whether you're brilliant or dull.
Let's say you really do suck. Your writing is godawful.
Doesn't matter at all. You don't even really care, you just think you do.
Life goes on.
Let's say you really do suck. Your writing is godawful.
Doesn't matter at all. You don't even really care, you just think you do.
Life goes on.
You have to look at writing as a craft, like a real material craft.
Like learning how to build a chair.
You don't look at your first chair and go "well, that sucks, I'm not gifted, I'm an idiot."
Like learning how to build a chair.
You don't look at your first chair and go "well, that sucks, I'm not gifted, I'm an idiot."
No, you understand that you need time to handle the materials.
You need time to learn how to sand, measure, cut, how to design, etc.
A badly made bad chair doesn't reflect your lack of intelligence or sensitivity.
Just keep sanding and hammering.
You need time to learn how to sand, measure, cut, how to design, etc.
A badly made bad chair doesn't reflect your lack of intelligence or sensitivity.
Just keep sanding and hammering.
Finally:
Remember to have fun. Don't buy in to the idea that writing is painful or that you *should* hate it.
It's okay to like what you do.
Remember to have fun. Don't buy in to the idea that writing is painful or that you *should* hate it.
It's okay to like what you do.
