Writers write. Are you a writer?

Published: Fri, 05/02/14

I will do anything not to write. I'll work overtime, do my laundry, pluck my eyebrows, re-wash my hair, complain about not writing enough, advise on other people's writing, clean my apartment, run unnecessary errands, make a writing schedule which I'll then forsake for any one of the procrastinations listed here. I repeat: I will do just about anything to avoid the dreaded and dear process of writing.

I've always been this way. I discovered a penchant for writing early in life but would practice in short, frantic bursts--voila, a story!--rather than in the deliberate, regular writing habit my parents expected.

"Shouldn't a writer . . . you know . . . write?" my mom would ask.

Yes, Mommy. Ugh, I hate when she's right.

There are those lucky individuals who run for their writing desks, who can't let a day go by without creating, whose hearts sing with every precious word they commit to the page. If you are one of those people, more power to you. I am wildly jealous. But the fact of the matter is I am not one of those people. The more important fact is that's okay.

It's okay to not feel like writing. Writing is hard. Writing is work--often enjoyable work, but work nonetheless. So it's okay to experience resistance. In fact, it's more than okay; it's expected.

What's not okay is giving in to that resistance, at least not all the time. And therein lies the distinction: when it comes to the act of writing, to actually putting words on the page rather than merely talking about putting words on the page, it's not what you feel but what you do that counts.

If you write, you're a writer, plain and simple. If you don't--let's not even go there because you're going to write . . . right?

Here's what we'll do, and we'll do it together now:

Pick up a pen and paper or open a fresh word processing document now. I mean right now, this very minute. Not when you finish reading this paragraph, not on your lunch break, not when the mood strikes. NOW.

Seriously. If you're reading this sentence and you don't yet have a pen in your hand or a blinking cursor on your screen, you are not with me on this. If you want to write more and write better, be with me on this. Go on. Do it.

Did it? Great.

Now write a sentence and come back to me. Don't know what to write? Jot down the first thing that comes to mind. Drawing a blank? Fill in these blanks: [First name] wants [desire] desperately but can't have it/get it/do it because [reason]. Still not sure? Steal this: "In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since." (Bonus points for identifying the book that opens with this line!)

Now write another sentence. Come back here.

And again.

Write two more.

You know what? You just wrote a paragraph. You wrote! Today, you're a writer. Will you be a writer tomorrow?

Our professional writing coaches make sure that you're a writer tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that.

Let's chat about your coaching. Reply to this email with "I AM READY TO WRITE!" It's the biggest decision you'll make for your writing all year.

Awaiting your email,
Justine

Justine Tal Goldberg
Owner, WriteByNight