We learn to do by doing.

Because if we as writers, like artists of any kind, aspire to a small glimmer of immortality, then surely it’s a measure of our success in that quest when we create a world other writers want to inhabit on their own.

– WHY I PLAY WITH OTHER PEOPLE’S TOYS: A FAN FICTION MANIFESTO

Creating a world that other writer’s want to inhabit on their own has been a big dream for me over the past few years; even just a world that my readers want to inhabit. Someone once told me that one of my stories was so comfortable that they wanted to curl up in there with a blanket and a cup of tea and never leave; best compliment I’ve ever received.

The quote that I really used to identify with obviously came from Chuck Palahniuk, because that bitch is my idol:

The unreal is more powerful than the real, because nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it. Because its only intangible ideas, concepts, beliefs, fantasies that last. stone crumbles. wood rots. people, well, they die. but things as fragile as a thought, a dream, a legend, they can go on and on

– chuck palahniuk

Even considering how much I love it, and how abstractly inspired I am to be a writer, getting back into the actual craft has been notoriously difficult. Today, while keeping myself busy at work – considering there’s no actual work to do – I decided to go through some of the old documents on my computer; and I came across a few archived posts from my old blog, most of which related specifically to this very problem. It was actually sort of shocking.

One of the things I found was a mini-rant about why I fail at writing and how I want to start doing it again:

I used to write all the time; short stories and poems and random little scribblings of half-constructed thoughts. These days, the furthest I get into writing anything is jotting down a sentence or two on the train; further than that I can’t do. It’s becoming too difficult to take a thought and stretch it out. Part of it is abandoning a lot of my old stories and ideas, part of it is my job of having to churn out bite-sized chunks of dumbed-down almost humour.

Whatever the reason, I am determined to get back into writing again.

Honestly, getting back into word craft is something I’ve wanted to do for years, and something I’ve never managed to do – until Boyfriend came along. He’s been pretty great at keeping me inspired – since he’s come along, writing just seems to come naturally again.

Past!Me would be proud of the fact that I’ve actually started playing about with words again – not even just drabbles and fanfiction. I’m actually blogging somewhat consistently and I’m even working on my first short fiction.

The excuse I found for not ever blogging consistently is actually pretty legit, and now that I look back on it, my final thought was right:

It’s also difficult to mesh my disjointed thoughts into a coherent whole that I feel is worth anything; most ideas are scrapped before they get anywhere. Again: good intentions and all that. Apparently the road to hell is paved with them.
I’ve got all these projects I want to start: thirty days, short stories and letters to my future offspring – they’re all just sitting there collecting dust on my mental shelves. Like every other project I get interested in. It’s surprising I’ve actually managed to hold down an office job as long as I have without boring myself to actual tears.

All I need is to actually get started on some of these ideas. Kicking my insecurities and perfectionist tendencies to the curb might also help a bit.

I really did just need to sit down and start putting words onto paper. The fact that Boyfriend is also trying to get better writing is really helping. He’s always excited to write, and it rubs off on me, because his excitement is just infectious. He makes it so necessary to actually write, and work on getting better all the time – and I know that to get better, I need to practice constantly; even if it’s just writing a lame introspective blog post like this.

We’re both still determined to work on the themes list though, and I’m trying to blog every day; it’s doing wonders for me to be so somewhat consistent.

Really, I’m just shocked at how much things have changed since last year. Aristotle was right:

“What we have to learn to do, we learn by doing.”

The other thing he was right about:

“I count him braver who conquers his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victort is the victory over self.”

Sitting down and making yourself write isn’t an easy thing to do – especially when there are a million better things to do and you feel like your writing isn’t up to scratch; but it’s the only way to do things. You’ve really just got to suck it up, sit down and force the words onto the page until it becomes easier to get them there.

How to write like a boss.

It seems like every time I actually have a moment free for a spot of actual writing, blogging or general creative shenanigans, I lose all inspiration. All free time which should be dedicated to doing something creative is then spent messing around on the internet, playing around on photoshop or just browsing through my old writing and pining for the days when I could actually string a sentence together.

Considering Boyfriend wants me to blog today, and I want to actually start writing again, I figure there’s no harm in killing two metaphorical birds with a stone that may or may not also be metaphorical and combining Ke needs to start writing again with Hey look, it’s a blog post.

So, to follow is my list of things that are important to know or do if you eventually want to be a writer who actually writes:

1. Know the rules for writing fiction.

but also remember, Edward Weston once said:

Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk.

and the same applies to writing. Don’t get so bogged down by the rules and how to write that you forget about what you’re actually trying to write.

2. Know your grammar, and a little something about writing style.

finding grammar and style tips online is as easy as a Google search. One that I found just today is the Writer’s Handbook  which has all sorts of useful little facts about how to use semicolons and dashes – two of my favourite punctuation marks. Really, eventually you want to be able to write a sentence like this:

This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. It’s like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety. Now listen. I vary the sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length. And sometimes, when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals–sounds that say listen to this, it is important

Even The Oatmeal knows how important semicolons are: How to use a semicolon

Learning about narrative point of view and sentence structure is pretty important too.

3. Practice ALL THE TIME

the two things I’m using for practice are the 100 themes and writer’s exercises. That way I get to practice both my structural style and my content – nothing wrong with that.

 Okay, so it’s a really short list, but I don’t even care – it seems like all the most important things are covered. The main thing is that I’ve got to actually get around to writing every day.

I’ll probably get around to updating and adding to this list at some point – when I actually have any time and/or interest in doing so.