Today, I would like to thank author Joshua Silverman for taking time out of his busy writing schedule to inspire us to think about why we want to write.
When I was a kid, my favorite question was “Why?” Everything my parents said to me I would respond with “Why?” until they got so fed up they ended up saying something like “because I said so” or “that’s the way it is.”
What I’ve found, though, is as we get older, we accept things the way they are and stop asking why.
Knowing why you are doing something is important. I offer you two view-points of being an author.
“I don’t know much about creative writing programs. But they’re not telling the truth if they don’t teach, one, that writing is hard work, and, two, that you have to give up a great deal of life, your personal life, to be a writer.” – Doris Lessing
“I’ve never worked a day in my life. I’ve never worked a day in my life. The joy of writing has propelled me from day to day and year to year. I want you to envy me, my joy. Get out of here tonight and say: ‘Am I being joyful?’ And if you’ve got a writer’s block, you can cure it this evening by stopping whatever you’re writing and doing something else. You picked the wrong subject.” — Ray Bradbury at The Sixth Annual Writer’s Symposium by the Sea, 2001
I agree with both of these quotes, even though, on the surface, they are contradictory. Writing is hard “work” in that it takes up most of your time and, as Doris Lessing said, you will sacrifice much of your personal life for your dream. By the same token, writing should not be a “job”. You should write because you love your characters and story. If you can’t find that passion, then maybe, as Mr. Bradbury suggested, you’re writing about the wrong subject.
If you want to be a writer, newsflash, it takes a lot of discipline. As I said in my “Schedule of a Working Writer” post, if you don’t have the willpower and discipline to write for 2-3 hours after you’ve done your day job – maybe you shouldn’t be a writer.
To accomplish anything you must have a clear understanding of WHY you are doing it. If you don’t know your why, you’ll end up wasting a lot of time, getting frustrated, and most likely, quitting.
So ask yourself:
Why do you want to write?
What I’ve found, though, is as we get older, we accept things the way they are and stop asking why.
Knowing why you are doing something is important. I offer you two view-points of being an author.
“I don’t know much about creative writing programs. But they’re not telling the truth if they don’t teach, one, that writing is hard work, and, two, that you have to give up a great deal of life, your personal life, to be a writer.” – Doris Lessing
“I’ve never worked a day in my life. I’ve never worked a day in my life. The joy of writing has propelled me from day to day and year to year. I want you to envy me, my joy. Get out of here tonight and say: ‘Am I being joyful?’ And if you’ve got a writer’s block, you can cure it this evening by stopping whatever you’re writing and doing something else. You picked the wrong subject.” — Ray Bradbury at The Sixth Annual Writer’s Symposium by the Sea, 2001
I agree with both of these quotes, even though, on the surface, they are contradictory. Writing is hard “work” in that it takes up most of your time and, as Doris Lessing said, you will sacrifice much of your personal life for your dream. By the same token, writing should not be a “job”. You should write because you love your characters and story. If you can’t find that passion, then maybe, as Mr. Bradbury suggested, you’re writing about the wrong subject.
If you want to be a writer, newsflash, it takes a lot of discipline. As I said in my “Schedule of a Working Writer” post, if you don’t have the willpower and discipline to write for 2-3 hours after you’ve done your day job – maybe you shouldn’t be a writer.
To accomplish anything you must have a clear understanding of WHY you are doing it. If you don’t know your why, you’ll end up wasting a lot of time, getting frustrated, and most likely, quitting.
So ask yourself:
Why do you want to write?
About Joshua Silverman
Joshua Silverman was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Orange County, California.
While attending California State University, Fullerton and studying Criminal Justice, Joshua was introduced to a creative writing class where he wrote a series of paranormal stories. As a child, he has always been an amateur historian, focusing on ancient Egypt, Greece, and Roman civilizations.
Since working in the legal environment, he has combined his passion for creative writing with his love of ancient history by penning his debut novel, The Emerald Tablet, the first of seven in the Legends of Amun Ra series.
Genre: Sci-Fi, FantasyLeoros doesn't have many friends. The son of a scientist and archeologist, he is constantly on the move. But when his parents make a startling discovery in Egypt, Leoros' world is turned upside down.
Do you wish you could have the power of a god? Would you use it for good…or for evil?
When an archaeologist discovers the mythic Emerald Tablet buried beneath Egypt’s desert, her son decodes the ancient text leading him to a distant world.
On that world, a slave girl begins a journey towards a destiny she cannot imagine. But when an ancient foe rises from the ashes, they will be brought together by forces neither understands.
Leoros, who dreams of being like the heroes in the comic books, must fight to unlock the secrets of the universe to save a people he never knew existed.
Atlantia, whose bloody visions wake her in the night, senses the darkness coming.
Together they will face an enemy with the power of dark energy, lose a mentor to the assassin’s blade, and be betrayed by someone they trust. Their fight for the future is just beginning, and before it is over, a final sacrifice must be made. When the darkness comes, will they stand and fight or will they join it?
There is darkness in everyone.
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