As I stumble through the process of becoming a writer, I would
like to share the various lessons that I learn so that others need not make mistakes
identical to my own. While the rhythms
and habits of writers are unique to each, I think I and most budding writers
tend to mimic more established writers in the hopes that copying their style,
phrasing or work habits will translate into similar success. In the months that I have been working on
producing short to medium length science fiction and fantasy novels, I have
learned a great deal about what works for me and what doesn’t.
I have read accounts
about writers who work on their stories from dawn til dusk, and I tend to
admire that kind of commitment and work ethic, but I cannot find the same kind
of resolve in my own writing. I am
currently between major assignments as a marketing writer so I possess the free time, but cannot bring myself to write more than about 2,500 words a day. On the days where I can write up to my
maximum, I find it is usually on fantasy stories, where my characters, magic
and setting are established and I can merely write the action sequences. My scifi works take too much energy to create
new “techie” terms for futuristic concepts which interrupts my flow.
I wonder if these workaholic writers began writing voluminous amounts or if they worked up to it? There is a common metaphor that many of these writers utilize which is running a marathon. Very few people write their masterwork at the outset; instead they learn the basics and develop into the champion writer they are today. So there is some hope for me--I will use that as my life jacket.