"Writing
There is one thing you should know about writing. It will inevitably lead you to dark places as you cannot write authentically about something unless you have lived it. ... You must emerge from adversity, scathed but victorious to tell your story and, in turn, light the way for others.
-Lang Leav, Sea of Strangers"
The Writer’s Frenzy
The one thing all these poets, authors, and memoirists have in common is that they know the secret behind spellbinding readers: it’s about making them wonder why. On a subconscious level, it's a question we, writers, always ask ourselves: Why am I writing this? Long story short, I’m writing this because…
Reason one: I am a staffer of The Mover.
Reason two: I felt inspired to write about writing.
That is what writers do. They answer the question “Why?” then wrap that answer in a blanket for readers to unveil. Writers know that every detail has interesting stories behind it 一 everywhere you look, there are thousands to be told. The specialty of being a writer is collecting a story that life gives to you, and telling it authentically in your own empowering way. It allows you to explore the tiniest details of life. It involves your own vivid imagination. However, it’s not always that easy.
The Writer’s Block
Think of the time you had a story in mind — more like a plausible plot — at the most random place and time, and you felt inclined to write about it. You could have envisioned it as though it were a movie. When your pen and paper are in front of you, the right words don’t seem to come. So then you turn to Google to fix the problem, but the makeshift words that appear make no sense.
Especially for fiction writers, writing about something you’ve never experienced is a tricky business. When a writer is at a loss for words due to personal reasons, maybe a “creativity hiatus,” this is what you call Writer’s Block. It can happen to any and all writers, and there are many ways to overcome it.
"The world is moving forward and I am stuck."
Writing Prowess
Writers like Suleika Jaouad一 a cancer survivor who wrote a memoir called Between Two Kingdoms recounting her life before, during, and after illness 一 have experienced events that have changed their lives forever. From writing stories about other people from a third person point of view, she looked inward and casted her gaze on herself. Jaouad relied on her eidetic memory, her medical records, and letters to write about her experience with the utmost brevity.
Not all writers need to have undergone drastic changes or illnesses to write authentically, though. One of the simplest ways to get creative is to read. It's not bad to get whimsical; explore the potency of the pen of others to find yours. What you read, hear, and listen to might be what you’ll end up writing about.
The Writer’s Imagination
Behind every figment of imagination exists a reality. At the end of any published book is a copyright passage that says: all rights are reserved; the book is a work of fiction, and it is a product of the author’s imagination.
Do you notice how an author always has insights unique to themselves and is often inspired by their current trajectory in life? An author writes about the things they know best, which may be about places, cities, and people. Other times, it can come out of nowhere. An author like you might gain an idea from strolling around, skimming through magazines, eavesdropping, and the list goes on. Everyday can be a reconnaissance mission, and everywhere can be a great source of information if you make it. If you're lucky, life will give you a scenario.
In short, you need to get a handful of life to write.
At The Homestretch
If it's writing skills you're chasing and not a creative outlet, then it's time for you to pour your heart into writing everyday, even with one sentence to narrate your findings. If you write journals or diaries, one day you'll find yourself rekindling your words, maybe laughing and noticing just how much you've changed because your words can age like fine wine or bad cheese. If you see writing as one of your possible professions someday, then the way to jumpstart your career is by starting today.
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