In my last post, I was talking about getting past the guilt of not writing for a few days. Some people, though, are in another boat. Some people have not written for years. Some people have not written ever. When you are at that point, you think things differently.
A person who doesn't write for a few days will feel lazy or disappointed for not being better. A person who has always wanted to write, but just never started will feel worthless or that they shouldn't write.
Although you are thinking in different words, the advice is basically the same thing. Just write something, anything, even gibberish. If you haven't written in forever, then you get to make a fresh start. There are no expectations and no pressure. You are free to do anything.
Also realize that with no training and no practice, then you are a true beginner. This also means that you aren't expected to create a masterpiece. You are allowed to make mistakes. You are expected to make mistakes. Feel free to write crap, throw it out, write something else, throw that out, and repeat the process until you have actually gotten practice from all of that writing. Then you are no longer a beginner and you can be sure that you either do or don't enjoy writing and that you can be expected to produce better writing because of it.
If you have ever believed that you want to write, then don't stop believing. Turn your dream into a reality by writing something; it's just that simple. Beyond that, it's up to you.
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My beginning as a writer started in an environment where I was not expected to write crap (It was a free-form roleplaying type thing), but I ignored all the critics and did so anyway.
ReplyDeleteI still don't know why I stuck with it. All I know is eventually people stopped making fun of me.
In fact it's a fairly intriguing trend, that I've noticed. When someone is made fun of, it's because they're doing stupid shit or they're just an easy target. When they change their ways, they are then respected and their past is forgotten.
So I'd just like to add a piece of advice, here. Even if you're chided for shoddy work, stick with it, see where you can improve on, and do it. You will eventually make improvements and gain the respect you deserve. That you were once bad is gone.
Think about it. How many of your parents told you not to smoke/do drugs/drink/have sex as a kid? How many of them actually did this themselves as a kid? Why do they now hold you (hypocritically) to a different standard?
Different concept, same idea.