Writing and Work both start with “W”

            Writing is a process.

            I am reminded of this every time I sit down in front of the computer…or every time someone asks me what it’s like to write a book. Recently I had a student ask me what she needed to do to write a book because she had an idea and she wanted to get it published.

            Would that it were that simple.

            Ideas must become realities, and it takes time and practice to create the perfect reflection of an idea. Words are plentiful, but that doesn’t mean the perfect words materialize on the first draft. Writing requires regular revision and editing to find the right words to convey your idea. You must be descriptive and not just in setting and characterization, but in actions, thoughts, and motivations. You have to find the perfect balance between how much to tell the reader and how much to trust the reader to fill in the gaps for themselves. You want to make sure your vision of your characters is clear but still allow room for the reader to cast his or her own fantasy version of the hero.

            And then you have to write. Regularly. Every day if possible. For some reason, this bit of advice really seems to take a lot of people by surprise. No, the words don’t just magically jump from your head onto the computer screen. You have to write, and rewrite, and rewrite some more. You have to be willing to cut-and-paste or simply just cut. You have to be willing to stick your tongue out at the last three hours’ worth of work because, let’s face it, it sucks. You have to be willing to go back to the drawing board again and again and again.

            Once you have managed to write a good 10,000 or so words—or heck, even a whole manuscript—you must be willing to face criticism. Finding a solid group of people you can trust to evaluate your writing is a must, and no, your mama doesn’t count. This group should ideally be made up of other writers, people who understand the process and what it’s like to fall flat on your face, or at least people who are not intimately acquainted with you and, therefore, will not try to stroke your ego by telling you you’re the next Nicholas Sparks or Rick Riordan. As a writer, you should seek honest feedback: What worked. What didn’t work. Why didn’t it work. Suggestions on how you could make what didn’t work work. You should encourage and participate in discussion around your story, listen to what others have to say, and take notes.

            And then, guess what? You end right back up rewriting some more. The revision process is seemingly never-ending, and yet there will come a moment in time when you realize…you are done. The manuscript is finished. Now you are ready to release it into the world for good or for ill.

            Yes, writing is a task that is not finished in a single day nor a single month nor sometimes not even within a single year. It requires patience, solitude, and the opinions of others. It requires dedication, fortitude, and perseverance. It also requires the writer to know when to step back, walk away, regroup, and begin again.

The writing process is not for the faint of heart, but the reward—that satisfaction you get when you have reached that moment when there is no more to say—is so worth it, and I can’t wait for my next idea to become reality.