Cintia
asked
Mary E. Pearson:
Hi, my name is Cintia and I'm from Argentina. Being a writer is what I want the most in this world, nothing makes me happier than writing, but I'm more and more frustrated with each passing day, because I've been blocked for 3 years. And it is not that I have an unfinished story. I have NOTHING AT ALL. A blank page in front of me, that only makes me sadder... Is there a way to overcome this? How do you handle it?
Mary E. Pearson
Hi Cintia,
I think sometimes we have a story in our head that we love so much and have such high hopes for, or maybe no story specifically, but such a love of words, that we want whatever we write to be perfect and that very huge, immense love and expectation is a like a wall that keeps us from moving forward, and I think the only way to overcome that is to allow ourselves to write badly and know that EVERYONE writes badly. First drafts, even by published authors are BAD. It is okay and normal to have stories that ramble and stumble and generally suck. It is in the revision that they gain form and beauty and start to become what you envisioned. So write ten words. Ten bad words. And the next day write some more. And the next, and the next. And then revise and revise. Keep going. THAT is how books are born--a long slow, growing process. And when you finish a book, you learn something about yourself--you are able to hang in there to the end through all the doubts and obstacles--which is a huge powerful thing. It doesn't matter how good or bad it is. You did it, and now you are ready to take on more. Becoming a writer isn't a fifty-yard dash, but a long marathon. Hang in there Cintia, and go write your first ten words!
I think sometimes we have a story in our head that we love so much and have such high hopes for, or maybe no story specifically, but such a love of words, that we want whatever we write to be perfect and that very huge, immense love and expectation is a like a wall that keeps us from moving forward, and I think the only way to overcome that is to allow ourselves to write badly and know that EVERYONE writes badly. First drafts, even by published authors are BAD. It is okay and normal to have stories that ramble and stumble and generally suck. It is in the revision that they gain form and beauty and start to become what you envisioned. So write ten words. Ten bad words. And the next day write some more. And the next, and the next. And then revise and revise. Keep going. THAT is how books are born--a long slow, growing process. And when you finish a book, you learn something about yourself--you are able to hang in there to the end through all the doubts and obstacles--which is a huge powerful thing. It doesn't matter how good or bad it is. You did it, and now you are ready to take on more. Becoming a writer isn't a fifty-yard dash, but a long marathon. Hang in there Cintia, and go write your first ten words!
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