Write For Writing's Sake

If you want to be a good writer, you have to enjoy it. All of us have periods of difficulty with our art, but writing comes from the soul, and if you do not love what you are doing, you will not be able to create anything worth reading. Sometimes, we lose ourselves. This can be an isolated problem that only involves writing, or it can be an extension of problems in other parts of our lives. Writers often struggle with personal problems and let them seep into their projects. This can be helpful if you are trying to add emotion to your writing, but when it becomes counterproductive, it is important to remember that writing is about joy and need.

Write for writing's sake. Write because you need to. Write because you enjoy the act of writing. Do not write to be published. Do not write so that you will 'finish' a novel (although that is a great goal, it is not the MAIN reason you should write). Write because you love turning to a blank page in your notebook or opening a fresh word document. Write because you have a story to tell. Write because you need to, not because you think you should.

If you have lost the desire to write, work to rekindle that desire. It's kind of like maintaining a romantic relationship. You and your writing should have 'dates' to sit down and get some work done. Read books you love. Write scenes that are interesting to you. Set small, manageable goals. Even if you do not think that other people will be interested in what you have to say, write what speaks to you. Chances are that it will speak to someone else, too.