Writing Tip #4

It’s Thursday, which means only another day until Friday! Hope you are all having a lovely week and that your Friday rounds it off nicely!

I’ve been writing tips all week so if you’ve missed Monday’s, Tuesday’s, or Wednesday’s; be sure to check them out!

The tip for today is incredibly important – be persistent!

Such a simple idea, at least it seems simple, but anyone who has written anything or wanted to be published knows it’s not as easy as it sounds.

You have to fight against so many of your inner insecurities, doubts, and uncertainties. Is your writing good enough? Is there a point in even trying? Well, keep this in mind: just the fact that you worry about your writing, that you worry about the quality of your writing means you’re a good writer. You’re conscientious, you’re self-aware, so all you need is to try.

“The first draft of everything is shit.” – Ernest Hemingway

Or maybe you struggle to find the time, the energy, the motivation. You work at a full-time job, you have kids, you have other hobbies, or you’re just plain too tired. Smarten up. Sit down and set a daily goal. It doesn’t have to be as ridiculous as Nanowrimo – maybe stick with 200 words a day, or write for a minimum of 30 minutes everyday.

You’ll start to notice a change, writing will become easier, ideas will come to you faster, and your quality improves. No one can make you take that first step to dedicating yourself seriously to your writing – that’s wholly on you.

"The nearest I have to a rule is a Post-it on the wall in front of my desk saying ‘Faire et se taire’ (Flaubert), which I translate for myself as ‘Shut up and get on with it.’" — Helen Simpson

Be brave. Be fearless. Ignore any doubtful voices, nagging criticisms in your own head, and just write!

See you all tomorrow!

x P.L. McMillan