Being a writer is not easy.
The writing part, saying what I want to say, that comes naturally. I've been blessed, my whole life with the gift of writing made easy - a gift that made my friends crazy whenever it was time to turn in a paper. The inspiration part, the what to write about part... not always so easy. Some days I have so much to say (which I know is not that surprising to some of you.) But some days. Oh some days...
Some days I stare at a blinking cursor on the screen.
blinking. blinking. blinnnnnnnkinnnng.
Waiting to think of what to write about. Starting stories in my head.
People think that being a writer means a bunch of things: sitting on a couch surfing the net, sipping a café crème and rubbing elbows with Hemingway, Stein, and F. Scott Fitzgerald (I wish!), avoiding all adult responsibilities and calling it a job, sitting in a dimly lit room drinking absinthe in front of an old typewriter. The reality is, deciding to be a writer requires a certain amount of willingness to fail everyday, a lot of passion, and even more dedication. You have to be strong enough to accept that not everyday will result in genius or product and then take that failure, wake up tomorrow, and still want to try again.
Being a writer, or any creative for that matter, is not for the faint of heart. You have to be willing to open who you are and what you create to criticism, to critics. Imagine allowing someone to look at your child, your creation and say Oh too short. Too boring. Too colorful. Not interesting enough. OR the worst - I don't know...I just don't like it. You have to find your own path since there is no "Writing a Book and Publishing it as Both a Critical and Popular Success 101" that will send you in the set direction of your dreams. You need to create and sharpen your own toolbox and find the tools that help you build your craft. My toolbox includes: a pair of headphones for when your working in the library and a noisy Physics class walks in, an inspiring location - for me this is the fab little coffeeshop, Guli's, down the street from my apartment or the clean, mostly quiet library at school - my MAC notebook, my iTunes playlists simply labeled Writing or Old School Cuban, a list of blogs to read when I'm feeling exceptionally inspirationless, and a cup of coffee to start me off with most of my pieces. You have to show up to work everyday without the incentive of a paycheck, the burden of a boss, or the organization of a time clock. If you don't show up, guess what... no one cares. Well, maybe you Reader, maybe you care.
Otherwise, we wouldn't be writers.
Nicely written, friend! So glad get over those hurdles so that all of us can enjoy your gift!
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