Stop writing like there is someone over your shoulder. There isn’t if you think that it is, you will never write. You will never write as you need! You will write for other people and not for yourself–this always cheapens the work.
Don’t sell yourself short.
Close the door and write. If the masses wish to peek in, send them to the corner and make them hush–or wait until you’re done.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
Drafts do not just fall out of the sky–they are the product of love, talent and time. The fuel to this process, will always take work. There is no shortcuts to the development of a draft, but the sustaining energy of any work of any draft is the love you have for it!
Let me explain a little more.
There is a fire that should be created in you when you begin a Work in Progress. You should want to see the end of the work as you create it. Bear in mind the words of Toni Morrison, “If there is a book you want you read, you must write it.”
You must write it!
From brainstorming, to freewriting, to the completion of a draft, you must be willing to follow the process of the completing of a draft must be powered by passion and work! There is a part of you which must love what you are creating in order to complete it. Love is the source by which powers the work.
Find the source.
Finish what you have started.
Writing is work. If you follow this space, you know this. You know that I pull no punches in regards to this craft. This post will be no different.
You only get better at writing, by writing. There is no quicker way, there is no secret, there are no ways to be a writer without writing. One of the ways your get better as a writer is to increase your tools. The essential tool every writer has is your vocabulary.
Build it.
Push it.
Develop it.
One of the quickest ways of increasing or strengthening your vocabulary is reading. Any word you come across–look it up! I know, I know. Very rudimentary, extremely low tech, but it works. That word, start to use in conversation. Know that it means, and write it down. The other way? Dictionary app.
The Dictionary App is on of the quickest ways to build your vocabulary! There is a option this app has where you can subscribe to The Word of The Day. Everyday, you can learn a new word, or even look up the etymology of words–especially helpful for expanding your vocabulary horizontally.
Case in point. Let’s take the word witch. The archaic word for witch is beldam. This word, beldam, is also a word for an old woman or a hag–hag is another word for witch. See how that works?
Good writers are good readers. Good writers have an arsenal of words to build words and create.
Don’t fear it–build it.
Happy Writing.
JBHarris Writing Services 