Writing like any art form, any true skill, takes time to truly hone. There are the rare exceptions, of young geniuses and artists through history, but for now let's assume that you fall somewhere in the middle range of writing talent. Let's say you have a certain grasp on vocabulary, or you write dialogue that flows, or maybe settings are your forte. Whatever you are skilled at, the talent you have been told you have for writing, it won't make a best selling novelist. It won't even get you a finished novel.
I've spent the last two or so years learning this, truly grasping the concept that my own supposed talent for crafting a story, would get me nowhere.
Don't get me wrong, talent will get you somewhere. Without persistence though, talent will leave you in that dark corner of somewhere without a way out.
The key to finishing a novel, is persistence mixed with a sense of discipline. Talent gives you a head start in that arena. What I notice though, is that a lot of talented writers, young as they may be, get lazy because of the fact they think they're very talented. I'm not saying they're not. I'm not denying you the right to say you're a writer or a future bestselling author. You might very well be.
I didn't finish my first full novel until my freshman year of college. Up until that point, writing had always been a bit of hobby, some typing here, some character descriptions there, nothing more. My mind was an endless swarm of ideas, with nowhere to go. Then it hit me, this strange inspiration to write. I spent six weeks working on a pretty crappy first draft. But the feeling of holding my first novel in my hands, there is nothing in the world that can replace the happiness I felt that day.
I wrote a novel. Maybe it would stay in the bottom of my closet, but the impossible task I had thought would be accomplished in the distant future, was done. Writing a novel took away my fear of putting words to paper. It was magic. It really was. A week later, when I sat and read through it, I realized something else to. I had no sense of how to write a novel. I had the backbone of something, the hint of a story, but I needed to learn my craft. Talent convinced me to write the words, persistence kept me going, and discipline told me one novel wasn't enough.
To everyone out there, talented writers and newbies as well, if I can tell you one thing, it would be to write. Write every day. Write without thinking about when you're going to get published or whether anyone will read your story. Read. Write. Rinse. Repeat. I can tell you that a year of doing this, has improved my ability to write a novel immensely. I'm not saying that I'm a genius or that I've reached the pinnacle of my writing. I'm only 20 so I hope I haven't. But writing and publishing my work through different forms, some free, others paid, has allowed me to get rid of my fear of what the reader might think.
It's simple. Don't be afraid. You are in a field where fear is your worst enemy. Not the agent you emailed, or the Big 5: just fear. Write and expose your work to new eyes. Grow and learn that not everyone will love your book. And that's okay. Find the people that do, and shower them with appreciation by writing more. I can assure you for every story idea, there is someone who will fall in love with it. Go the traditional route or self-publish. Whatever your path is find it. But first hone your talent and let go of your fears.
In time I promise you'll make it past that blank page.
Those are my ramblings for tonight.
Love to all those writers out there. Your idea matters. You'll find your calling. Keep writing my friends.
- Daniela
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