Begin the beginning.
The blank page is waiting for you to etch all your thoughts on! Never allow the fear of a start to cheat you out of what awaits you! You need only continue!
Begin the beginning.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
There is a release that happens once you finish a written work. This release is this transferring of effort and energy into something tangible? There is no high like it.
There is also something utterly scary about beginning a new work as well. This new thing, only present in your mind, yet biting and burning to get out of you? There is no fear like it.
Embrace the fear, prepare of the joy.
But prepare for the work.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
When I was in elementary school, my teachers from third to fifth grade, when it was time to take a test, would say:
“Eyes on your own paper.”
This piece of advice can be translated to writers. Your work, is your work. It is powered by your own imagination, your own talent and merit. Don’t short change what you are creating because you may be unsure about its outcome!
Work your work!
You can do it!
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
It goes without saying that writers should not, do not, will not steal from other writers.
We can be inspired by other writers, but we cannot take their work.
Inspiration is an honor. Imitation a flattery. Theft is a slap in the face.
Remember, eyes on your own paper. Do your own work.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
Every writer has their own niche, a lens by and through which they see and process the world.
This is can be a non-fiction lens, fiction, satire, prose or poetry.
Your lens is your lens!
Don’t get caught up in trying to mimic someone else’s take, or voice. Develop your own. This is what makes your voice–your lens–powerful. This is what will make your work distinct!
Don’t–Never fear your lens. Only adjust it.
As any good teacher will tell you: Eyes on your own paper, do your own work.
Get to it!
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
James Baldwin remind writers they have a responsibility to do the work of writing, no matter what the world around you thinks or will say.
The world around you will always have something to say! Ignore it.
Sometimes in order to write, write what you want, and write well, you have to ignore the chatter.
Ignore the chatter. Get to your work.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
It’s always odd when I tell my writing tribe to be grateful for the doubts one has while being creative. As I said before: the doubts are a gut-check. They keep you honest! They remind you to respect your craft and keep you working at it.
It inspires discipline
It inspires learning.
It inspires building your toolkit!
With whatever you write, I want you to know the doubt is something to be thankful for–that part right before you begin.
That part RIGHTTHERE? Yeah. That’s always the scariest part. Will always be the scariest part.
But you begin so you can see how it ends.
You must see how it ends.
The doubt comes so you can listen to what the story has to say, not necessarily to what people/fans/agents/tribe want you to write. Stephen King says the story will reveal itself–you have to chisel it out of the rock of imagination.
The rock is always waiting.
Don’t be afraid to pick up the chisel.
