As the leader of a writing group, I’m often asked this question “what can I do to be a writer?”
I answer, “write something.”
“No no,” the person persists, “what can I do to be a good writer?”
“Write something good,” I respond.
Some people don’t know when to quit. “What can I do to become a successful writer?”
I rarely answer that question, because the price of success is too high for most people. Success (as most hopefuls define the word) could mean abandoning everything else in life – eating, sleeping, home, relationships – everything. The point of breathing is to write. It’s not just an attitude you wear one day like a coat. It's certainly not a job.
In her blog, My Inflammatory Writ, New York City playwright Kari poignantly expresses her understanding of what that means.
“By fifteen, (I was) a playwright, unleashing the voices in my head and my heart.
At twenty eight, I wonder why I ever thought I could be anything else.
Writing is the way to answer the unanswerable.
My way of praying.
When I know nothing else, I know that I write.
When I forget who I am, writing is my way of remembering.
Of finding my way back.
I can’t be scared of doing the only thing that brings me peace
in a world and a life where peace is impossible.”
Any questions?
jb
I answer, “write something.”
“No no,” the person persists, “what can I do to be a good writer?”
“Write something good,” I respond.
Some people don’t know when to quit. “What can I do to become a successful writer?”
I rarely answer that question, because the price of success is too high for most people. Success (as most hopefuls define the word) could mean abandoning everything else in life – eating, sleeping, home, relationships – everything. The point of breathing is to write. It’s not just an attitude you wear one day like a coat. It's certainly not a job.
In her blog, My Inflammatory Writ, New York City playwright Kari poignantly expresses her understanding of what that means.
“By fifteen, (I was) a playwright, unleashing the voices in my head and my heart.
At twenty eight, I wonder why I ever thought I could be anything else.
Writing is the way to answer the unanswerable.
My way of praying.
When I know nothing else, I know that I write.
When I forget who I am, writing is my way of remembering.
Of finding my way back.
I can’t be scared of doing the only thing that brings me peace
in a world and a life where peace is impossible.”
Any questions?
jb
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