How to write

I want to be a writer. This is the mantra of my morning commute. It is 5:45 AM and the light is dusty pink as the sun peeks over the horizon. There are hundreds of cars on the road, sluggishly moving towards individual destinations. If I were a writer, I think, I would be at home right now, sitting on the sofa in my pajamas, with my laptop, appropriately enough, on my lap and a steaming cup of light, sweet coffee within reach.

It does occur to me that the job, to which I commute five days a week, requires a great deal of writing. I write technical, functional and business specifications, but this isn’t the type of writing I want to do.

I also go to school and here to, there is plenty of writing required. I write essays regarding Customer Service, Rhetoric, The History of the White House, Implications of the Patriot Act, Conflict Resolution and How to Prepare a Resume. But this isn’t the type of writing I want to do.

I write articles on subjects that interest me: How to Feng Shui Your Home, How to Simplify Your Life, How to Achieve Your Goals, How to be Happy and I write reviews of the movies I see or books I read. I write TV blogs and personal antidotes.

The majority of my day is spent writing, in one sense or another, but still I crave something more. When I proclaim to the Universe that I want to be writer, I am actually proclaiming that I want to be a writer who is good, paid, successful and free to write what, where and when I choose. This is as unlikely as it is unreasonable.

The most successful writers are the hardest working. They must study their craft, perfect their skills and apply them within strict deadlines.

My first step on my journey will be to learn the rules of language. My skills are adequate, but not to the standards necessary for a professional writer. I don’t know when to use a semicolon; a comma, or join sentences with a colon: although I’ve read the rules. I just have difficulties applying them, so I opt for short, direct sentences and hope for the best. This won’t do when I’m writing fiction, unless I intend to target the “New Reader” demographic, ages 5-7. Grammar is not my only shortcoming. I must also learn to use the appropriate word for each situation. Whether (not weather) it’s (not its) more important than (not then) structure, I can’t say. There are plenty of resources to learn the rules of language: dictionaries, thesauruses and reference guides, all of which are available on line or in print. I also take courses such as English, Creative Writing and Business Writing, to reinforce my skills.

The next step of my journey will be to learn from those who write. I read author interviews, make special note of the lessons they learned the hard way and most importantly, I read their works. One of the common bits of advice each successful writer offers: Do It. If you want to be a writer, write. Not every word will be a beautiful gem worthy of display, but that’s ok, because initially the objective is to cultivate a habit. The simple act of writing every day, regardless of the content or quality, will strengthen my writing muscles. It is with this bit of knowledge I dive into the “IDEAS” pile; a random, messy collection of news items, magazine features, excerpts from books or movies, experiences jotted down so they can’t escape my memory. I’m not currently working on a novel, but each day I write something, whether it is an article to help others or a short story that will never see the light of day. These daily writing exercises will serve me, like the Olympian who trains privately, then performs miracles in front of millions. Someday, if my mentors are to be believed, I’ll be prepared to perform in front of an audience too.

The final step of my journey will be to have the tenacity to keep writing, regardless of the outcome. I have yet to write a piece that pleased me 100%.  In my imagination, words flow effortlessly,  like tinkling notes they drop upon the page and form the perfect piece of music.  Instead, I fumble for the right words and structure. When I edit my drafts, I feel like Dr. Frankenstein trying to piece together a human being using random parts and creating a monster. I’ve abandoned countless efforts, seeing only a lifeless carcass instead of the living, breathing story I imagined. I struggle to be the writer I want to be, my vision and goals much loftier then my abilities. I must not let discouragement dissuade me from pursuing my dreams.

Only by improving my skill, practicing my craft and sticking with it, will I accomplish my goal: I want to be a writer.

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