C.G. Jones
I think the word "inspired" is a bit of a misnomer. There's no question that many well-known writers (and artists of every ilk) have been inspired at one time or another, but I don't think that's a beneficial way to look at the project of writing.
It is my opinion that every moment of artistic inspiration is short-lived. In other words, it's not something to rely on.
Though it may sound a little pretentious and dramatic, to write is a mode of life. Just as playing a sport is a way of life for a professional athlete. Professional hockey players do not have to get inspired to play three or four game per week. They do it because that's their mode of life.
The same goes for writing. Someone who really wants to write will do it because that's the mode of life they have chosen. That's not to say there aren't moments of inspiration. Absolutely there is. But the prospect of writing is not contingent upon being inspired. And if you writing really is contingent upon getting inspired, you're not going to last very long.
Why? Because more days than not, you will have to grind out words despite feeling less than average. Inspiration is, most of the time, not there. Most days, it takes serious effort to get something down. And the most challenging part of it is that you will have to do it alone. These are the terms. You will have to ask yourself if you can agree to them.
Someone who wants to seriously write will not treat it as a hobby, where they drop it and pick it back up at will. It's something they have set out to do virtually every day—in one capacity or another. And if you do this long enough, it becomes second nature. The prospect of whether or not to write will not even register in your mind. It will go without saying: writing is what you have to do.
My final thoughts:
1.) Most people who fancy writing are in love with the idea of writing (or being a writer). Being in love with the idea of writing (or being a writer) is much different than being in love with writing. This part takes some soul-searching. I wish I had more to offer on this front, but I don't.
2.) Writing development takes a long time. This year marks the 10th year since I devoted myself to writing (I started when I was 19 years old in college, and I'm now 29). I've written millions of words during that time—most of which were terrible. Most of the words I write, even now, are bad. But I managed to get my debut novel published this year, and I'm currently working on a short story collection. There is a payoff so long as you have devoted yourself to the mode.
It takes a lot of time. A lot. Don't be afraid of this. It's normal, and perhaps necessary.
It is my opinion that every moment of artistic inspiration is short-lived. In other words, it's not something to rely on.
Though it may sound a little pretentious and dramatic, to write is a mode of life. Just as playing a sport is a way of life for a professional athlete. Professional hockey players do not have to get inspired to play three or four game per week. They do it because that's their mode of life.
The same goes for writing. Someone who really wants to write will do it because that's the mode of life they have chosen. That's not to say there aren't moments of inspiration. Absolutely there is. But the prospect of writing is not contingent upon being inspired. And if you writing really is contingent upon getting inspired, you're not going to last very long.
Why? Because more days than not, you will have to grind out words despite feeling less than average. Inspiration is, most of the time, not there. Most days, it takes serious effort to get something down. And the most challenging part of it is that you will have to do it alone. These are the terms. You will have to ask yourself if you can agree to them.
Someone who wants to seriously write will not treat it as a hobby, where they drop it and pick it back up at will. It's something they have set out to do virtually every day—in one capacity or another. And if you do this long enough, it becomes second nature. The prospect of whether or not to write will not even register in your mind. It will go without saying: writing is what you have to do.
My final thoughts:
1.) Most people who fancy writing are in love with the idea of writing (or being a writer). Being in love with the idea of writing (or being a writer) is much different than being in love with writing. This part takes some soul-searching. I wish I had more to offer on this front, but I don't.
2.) Writing development takes a long time. This year marks the 10th year since I devoted myself to writing (I started when I was 19 years old in college, and I'm now 29). I've written millions of words during that time—most of which were terrible. Most of the words I write, even now, are bad. But I managed to get my debut novel published this year, and I'm currently working on a short story collection. There is a payoff so long as you have devoted yourself to the mode.
It takes a lot of time. A lot. Don't be afraid of this. It's normal, and perhaps necessary.
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