How Serious Are You About Your Writing?
By Jerry D. Simmons | January 31st, 2006 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
Becoming a writer is more than just calling yourself one, and much more than simply attending writer meetings and an occasional workshop. Writing takes discipline and hard work. Authors have told me that the best way to improve writing is to write, and to do it every day. Regardless of the amount of time you spend, the fact is that you need to write something every day as part of your daily routine, and something that you make a priority.
As I speak to more and more writing groups and college classes about the subject of publishing, I am convinced that less than 10% are serious about their writing. The definition of serious would be someone hard at work writing on a daily basis.
Everyone wants to get his or her manuscript published, and that is certainly understandable. However, writing and completing a book should be the goal, not getting it published. Have you ever stopped and asked yourself: Why am I writing? Is it because I enjoy the work, the challenge? Or am I only interested in getting published? Not everything you write, and even complete, may be worthy of ending up in print, is that reason enough to stop?
If your concentration is improving your writing, and you focus on finishing a task that you started, then perhaps you will get to the point where your work warrants publication. Every completed manuscript does not deserve to be published. And being published should not be your primary motivation. Being a good writer takes talent, unfortunately everyone is not blessed with such ability. I’m a perfect example! That doesn’t stop me from trying, and I don’t have hopes of ending up on anyone’s bestseller list.
My writing is done to convey information that I think is important to writers. It is crude and often times grammatically challenged, however I am hopeful it sends the right message. Ask yourself the question: Why am I writing? Your answer may surprise you.
Tags: Book Publishing, writing
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