by Lori Freeland
Writers are unique and diverse creatures. We’re mysterious and unpredictable and original. That’s part of what makes us . . . us. And that’s a good thing. There are as many types of authors out there as there are genres to write in.
We can be introverts, extroverts, or a mix of both. We can be organized planners, chaotic pansters, or fall somewhere in between. We can be inspired by waking up to the energy of the sun or by winding down to the stillness of the moon. Some of us prefer to write alone while others feed off sharing a workspace.
But it’s not the differences between us that matter, it’s what makes us all the same—our crazy obsession to create. No matter how or where or when we work best, there are five things we all need to feed that drive to write.
“No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.”
-Robert Frost
Despite the number of writing skills we’ve mastered, if we’re not excited about the story we’re telling, it’s going to show.
There are a lot of reasons why you may not be “feeling” your latest project. But bottom line, the “blah” you have toward your words and ideas will affect your reader. They may not be able to pinpoint what’s wrong, but they’ll pick up on your indifference or negativity.
Whatever’s not working, take the time to figure it out and fix it. If it’s worth your time and energy to write the book, it’s worth your time and energy to do it right. And if this statement isn’t true for you, consider moving on to a different project. Don’t beat yourself up trying to make something work if it’s just not right.
Side Note: If you’re a serial project skipper and find yourself always moving on to a new project, ask yourself why. Because that’s a whole other issue.
“Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything really good.”
-William Faulkner
All writers struggle with confidence no matter how many books they’ve churned out or how successful they’ve been.
Each new project can feel like a blank slate, a test of our skills, an opportunity to fail. If we’ve been successful in the past, the voices in our heads tell us, “That was a one off. You’ll never be able to live up to that again.” If we’ve fallen below our own or others’ expectations, the voices in our heads tell us, “Why bother? You’re never going to be any good.”
Lack of confidence will kill even the best book. Forget about the past. Start now in this moment. Duct tape those stupid voices and find a new one. One that says, “You can do this. You’re going to put in the work and make it happen.” Then do an honest evaluation. What are your strengths? Play those up. What are your weaknesses? Make solid goals to fix them. Take a class. Find a mentor. Join a writing group. Ask for help. That’s how we all learn.
Side Note: A lack of writing confidence often bleeds over from a lack of confidence in other areas of our lives. That may be the deeper issue. And it may be worth looking into—even if it’s hard. No one likes being vulnerable. But sometimes that’s what it takes to find your confidence and your value. And when you find it, it’s so worth it.
“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”
-Zig Ziglar
Goals are what get us where we want to go. Without them, we have no plan, no map, no destination.
Sometimes writing feels like navigating an impossible maze in a deep, dark cave that has no exit. At best, stumbling around in the dark is a haphazard gamble that we’ll ever find our way into the light. At worst, it’s a confidence and career killer.
Set aside an entire day to make some goals. Push everything else aside to really think about what you want when it comes to writing. Don’t be afraid to dream big or start small. Make a list that’s just for you. Brainstorm whatever comes to mind, then go back and pick what’s most important, and create a step-by-step map of how you’ll reach each goal.
Side Note: Keep your goals manageable. If the big picture seems overwhelming, even an hourly goal pushes you one more step toward your destination.
“Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.”
-Barbara Kingsolver
Everyone needs some kind of buffer to get into and stay into the headspace of their project. And that requires a set amount of time and your own space—unless you’re one of those writers who works better being near someone else. The good news is that the more we exercise our “writing muscles,” the quicker we can dive into our projects and get traction.
Whether you prefer writing in Starbucks, in an office, on the couch, or in your bed (guilty!), having a place you’re comfortable in is crucial. You know what kind of space works for you. Claim your spot.
Being deliberate about writing time makes all the difference in your productivity. You can think about wanting to write, talk about it, set goals to do it (also guilty!), but until you put your booty in that chair, you’re going nowhere. If all you have is your lunch hour, take it and use it the best you can. I’ve found the more “free” time I have, the less of it I spend writing. There’s something about being forced to fit writing into my day that kicks me in the butt to get it done.
Side Note: If your space isn’t working, don’t be afraid to change it up and try something new. If you can’t find the time to write, make a list of how you spend your day and cut something out.
“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You Too? I thought I was the only one.’”
-C.S. Lewis
Behind every _______ (insert one or all: successful, working, productive, confident, goal-focused, passionate, creative) writer is a _________ (insert one or all: writer bff, critique group, accountability partner, cheerleading crew, supportive spouse, writing family).
Isolation is a real thing for writers and so are writing highs and lows. We need people who understand that to celebrate us in our “ups” and console us in our “downs.” Somehow, knowing we’re not struggling alone can make whatever we’re dealing with feel better.
Whether you join a writing group, meet a fellow writer for coffee, or start an accountability group on Zoom, make connections. Find your people. Only writers truly get other writers.
Side Note: Don’t feel bad about taking your time to put together your squad. The wrong people can hurt you as much as the right people can help you. For more on that, see The Up and Down Sides of Critique Groups: Is There Value in Finding Your Peeps?
Speaking of squads, we learn so much from each other, don’t we? Some of my “coolest” writing discoveries have come from comments, opinions, and suggestions on what I’ve written. So . . . let me know. Which of the five things writers need are most important to you? How do you make them happen? What doesn’t work for you? What other things do you need as a writer? And feel free to share your favorite encouraging quote down in the comments!
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An encourager at heart, author, editor, and writing coach Lori Freeland believes everyone has a story to tell. She’s presented multiple workshops at writer’s conferences across the country and writes everything from non-fiction to short stories to novels—YA to adult. When she’s not curled up with her husband drinking too much coffee and worrying about her kids, she loves to mess with the lives of the imaginary people living in her head.
You can find her young adult and contemporary romance at lorifreeland.com and her inspirational blog and writing tips at lafreeland.com. Her latest release, The Accidental Boyfriend, is currently free on the Radish app.
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Thanks for a great post, Lori! I've been so bad at setting goals and it shows...This is the one area I really need to work on. I appreciate the outline of how to get started!
Me too. I wrote this "to myself" as much as to other writers. Let's make a pact to do better next year!
Writing goals are really hard with a demanding day job. The writers I know who did this successfully allotted a specific amount of time to it each week - like 2 hours in the morning before work, or every day on their lunch hour. I think that's the only way it happens.
Wonderful post, Lori!
I feel that all of your points are important, but #4 and #5 are up at the top for me.
Joining NaNoWriMo this year proved to me that I am capable of writing much more than I thought possible. A highly enlightening experience.
Without my weekly writers' support group and critique group I would be lost, especially this year. The feedback is valuable and the relationships help to keep me grounded.
That's so awesome that you did NaNoWriMo and learned that! I think we're all capable of doing more than we do. There just seem to be so many reasons not too, don't there?
Oh, I need all five of these to write flowingly and successful. The one I put as less important is the one I need the most: #3, Goals to lead the way. I have created my time and space, and slowly, over time, I've acquired confidence in my writing. None of these would matter if I didn't have HUGE passion for writing and using words to create a story. I teach creative writing, and have found a great squad there where my students and I cheer each other along every week. But the goal... thankfully I blog once a week, so that spurs me to write and post weekly. But it's the longer novel that needs more goalposts.
Novels do need a lot of goals to get you there. I agree. Sometimes for me, it's chapter by chapter. Thanks for sharing!
This is so fantastic! Thanks—just the inspiration I needed.
Just the inspiration I needed too! #preachingtomyself
Me too, Julie!!
Great post, Lori! I have all but #2. I'm working on the fine edits to my fantasy romance and can't stop comparing myself to the great writers--the "I'll never be good enough" and "my book will never be good enough" syndrome are strong in me. Thanks for the reminder to focus on strengthening my weaknesses while recognizing my strengths. I do have them.
Yes! Everyone has strengths and things that come naturally. Sometimes we forget that about ourselves. Just like it's easier to see someone else's mistakes, it's sometimes easier to see their strengths too.
Time and space to create is my number one. It's been a challenge during the pandemic with everyone underfoot.
denise
It has so been a challenge! While its great to everyone home . . . it's also chaotic. I agree 🙂
You forgot coffee and chocolate. Although, most great writers (aka me) like Earl Gray and Reeses PB cups.
Also, the article was great. I'm sure there are 10 things every writer needs. Here are a few more i could totally justify for EVERY writer out there.
A calendar
A set of notebooks/pens/pencils
Music
My trusty dusty Thesaurus
My dog (or cat, mouse, hamster, parrot, goldfish), who is my complete confidant and wont spoil my twisted and wonderful plot by telling others but listens to the crazy ideas and makes that "face" when they know I've crossed lines that I really shouldn't have (i.e. putting a cat as the favorite pet in a story...that is a no-no).