I wouldn’t be surprised if writers, in general, had moments when they wondered what it is they were writing for. Does personal satisfaction push fingers to type, or are they driven by a particularly personal point they wish to get across to readers? Do they write to escape within the fictional and ( sometimes non-fictional and introspective) worlds that words create? Or is it to attempt to prove their English teacher wrong after being told that they had no future as writers? I don’t know, but what I do know is that we are all driven by something to write. I came across this link on a blog that I am following which really got me thinking about my writing: http://james-smythe.com/blog/an-open-letter-to-new-and-would-be-writers
It is, as the name of the link states, an open letter to new and would be writers of which many of us, especially here on the blog-o-sphere, fall under. So when a successful writer reaches out to us to offer advice, should we not at least consider it, and even be moved to take it? As I progress in writing my novel, Junk Yard Angel (which has been on a standstill for a while now ), I asked myself why I was writing it. Yes I was writing it because it’s what I’ve wanted to do for years (write a novel that is) and finally I am in the process of it but what really spurs me on, what fire fuels my desire to write this novel, what exactly am I hoping to achieve with this novel – and I found this quote helpful from the above link:
“You got into this to write. I tell myself that, when I am feeling sad about this – and I do, frequently, I won’t lie – but you got into this to tell the best story that you can, in the best way possible. You got into this to push yourself, and to try to affect people…
…And you, ambiguous writer, have to believe in whatever it is you’ve written, because that’s all that matters. Make it the best it can be, put your heart into it. That’s what matters. Heart doesn’t sell books – luck and money sells books – but heart means you’ll be proud of it, and that you can stand by it.”
Maybe as you read through the letter, you will find something that stands out for you to take in and use, helping you along on this adventure that is writing. Read through the letter and let me know what you think by commenting below – let us benefit, inspire and grow with one another as writers!
A-Scribe To Describe 