The best writing advice I can give you is to never punch your Smith-Corona typewriter. Don’t kick it, bite it or defenestrate it.
In case you are wondering I just used a five syllable word describe throwing said typewriter out the window. Let me repeat my advice not to do this. The reason why should be obvious but in case you need another let’s just say that the girl you are really interested in will probably not find this endearing.
She won’t see it as a sign of a deeply sensitive artist who she should really get to know better. Instead she’ll look at you as being in need of anger management. You might as well kick her dog, pull her hair and bite her father’s leg.
Ok, don’t do any of those things. That is just ridiculous hyperbole inserted for the sake of keeping your attention. And let me assure you as the father of a daughter that any boy who bites my leg will lose the ability to eat anything but apple sauce and most assuredly will not date my daughter.
So why do I sit here and share these thoughts with you. Why do I ask ridiculous questions and answer them myself? The reason is simple, Writers Write Right.
I have never known a writer who truly loves our craft not to agonize over their words or wonder if they should choose a simpler profession, like brain surgery.
Why do I agonize over simple words. Why do I wonder if people can see what I see and if I have created a connection that compels them to continue reading? Because it is what I do.
I write. I am a writer. I tell stories. I do it because I love this.
Speaking of Love
If you want proof of my juvenile nature all you need to know is that when I heard she cut off ten inches I crossed my legs, fell to floor and pretended to moan.
Ok, that is not true. I didn’t do any such thing but my daughter did cut off ten inches of hair today. Ten inches of her hair is being sent to Locks of Love and I can’t be any prouder of my girl.
Every week I make a point to talk to my children about giving back. Every week they hear me talk about how lucky we are and why we need to help others. I have explained to them it is not done for the tax break or for Karma but because it is the right thing to do.
That is important to me and I want it to be important to them. I want them to understand gratitude. I want them to recognize that even when things are tough there is still a reason to be thankful.
Teach Your Children
These rug rats call me dad and I take that responsibility seriously. It is part of why I write about when failure is an option. It is part of why I write them letters.
My job isn’t just to clothe and feed them- it is to educate them. It is to help them learn what they need to know to become productive members of society. I am dad, this is what I do.
What I Wish I Could Do
What I wish I could do is dance, paint and sing the way that I can write.
Writing is easy for me. I have some natural ability that I have spent hours working upon with the goal of improving. If You Write It They Will Come is a post about realistic expectations and I try to keep my focus there.
Writing is a skill that can be improved through practice. It is part of why I pump out this content with reckless abandon. I know that every time I put pen to paper I am working on becoming a better writer so that I can turn what I love into something more than a hobby.
It is not unrealistic to believe that I can succeed at this. It is unrealistic to expect overnight success. I don’t mind working at it.
Are you working on converting your dreams into reality or are you just enjoying the dream of what you could have?
This week I am linking up with Yeah Write #69 and Just Write #47.
What a great post – it’s both an encouragement and a check-up.
@ErinFeldman:disqus I am glad you enjoyed it.
There’s a great satisfaction about solving a writing problem, because it’s hard work!
@twitter-379127457:disqus Yes there is. When you figure out a solution to a situation it provides a very strong sense of satisfaction.
I am constantly pondering whether or not I am truly satisfied with where I am in life, or if it is time to chase some new dreams.
@079575e6a41977fa05416a4c878eebf2:disqus I understand how that goes. As long as you don’t get stuck in the rut of never making a decision about whether things are moving or not it is all good.
Man, does that photo make me miss the baby blue Smith Corona typewriter my parents got me when I started high schoool. Click click. Pick up the White Out. Click click some more. I also wish I could do more things arts-related. I want to draw and paint! On your question, I am definitely doing the dreams-to-reality thing right now. Keeping my eye on the prize. Thanks for such a thoughtful post.
@twitter-16115105:disqus Sometimes I miss that clickety-clack noise typewriters made. When I was moving it helped me establish a rhythm to my writing. But I don’t miss stuck keys, loading the paper at an angle or spilling White Out on my shirt. 😉
It sounds to me like you have a lot of good things happening for you right now.
What’s that old joke? “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Practice, practice, practice. And not every practice is a concert, some practices are just that — practices. But no one ever regrets practicing, right?
@85b7866102d044675f7361e882c5dcfe:disqus I really didn’t appreciate that joke until I got older and recognized what I wanted to do and how much work it takes to do it. There is merit in working hard for what we want.
I think you are just…BRILLIANT. What great advice to writers! Sometimes I do get weary of writing, especially when writing is a HUGE part of my career. But writing itself keeps me going. When I needed to break away from work-related writing, I find solace in blogging.
You have an awesome voice and I love reading your writing 😉 So keep it up, Jack!
@bfdf66bc8be2ea9b911cce6a53d50e09:disqus Thank you. Writing can be tedious and tiresome, but if you love it you find ways to push through it. Writing has been my friend and my enemy or maybe it is more accurate to call it a frenemy.
I write because I have to. I don’t have a choice in the matter, it is just what I do.
I feel young, but I have actually owned a typewriter (an electrical one) and I had a typewriting course in high school, that’s how young I am 🙂
I write every single day, and I know that I’ll eventually turn content into a living, but I’m not sure what type of content. But like you said, practicing makes us better and that’s why I keep doing it.
I never officially owned any of my typewriters. They belonged to my parents or the schools, but who is counting. 😉
I don’t know about you but I kind of enjoy not knowing what sort of content is going to end up serving as my meal ticket.
That’s what I’m thinking too. I love to write, and I have just bought a camera and I’ve started to learn how to take pictures for my clients. Who knows what will happen 🙂
Hey Jack,
My Mom has one of those typewriters. Â We are packing her up now because she’s downsizing next weekend to a smaller place and that typewriter is going to storage with the rest of our most precious memories from relatives. Â I had to throw that in since I saw the photo.Since I’m not a writer I’ve never wanted to punch the typewriter, yes, I use to use one of those. Â Now it’s just the computer board but I can only image if you’re on a deadline and the words aren’t flowing. Â I think I would have to kill a keyword or two. Â To me, writing does come easy to you because your words are always just flowing. Â But of course, I mainly read this blog and I’ve seen a few of your short stories or do we call them longer posts. Â 🙂 Â Either way, I think you’re just brilliant.So, carry on my friend! Â Write till your hearts desire!~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne,
The words do flow from my fingertips without much effort but the issue I have isn’t the ease of putting pen to paper but the quality.
I don’t like a lot of my writing because it doesn’t read as cleanly as I want it to. That is really the heart of the matter, I want every post/story to read a certain way and when I fall short it irks me.
It is tied into why I spend so much time writing because I know that ultimately it is a skill that can be improved.
Hope you are doing well and that you had a good birthday week.
Snap… I can’t dance, paint or sing; all of which I wish I could do… And writing… I struggle just to make sense!Some folks just get all of the talent : (Hey, I’m pretty good with startups : )Although, you become a master at this by failing more than a few times…Maybe I should just start over! Cheers sir! P.S. Livefyre is buggy Jack… had a hard time just jotting a few words here.
I feel so nostalgic looking at the picture of that typewriter. I had an Olivetti – decades ago. 🙂