The Hardest Thing About Being A Writer

Let’s get this out of the way, shall we?

There are so many things that could keep you from being a writer.  See if any of this sounds familiar:

No time. You won’t get paid for slapping words together right away, so likely you’ll need some other form of income. The other form, known as a job, will seriously cut into your writing time.

Procrastination. In the world we live in today, it’s easier to do almost anything than it is to write a novel. We have so many distractions: social media, the internet, TV, social media, social engagements, hobbies, social media. Not to mention families, households to run, school or volunteer obligations. It’s easy to put any of that stuff before writing.

Excuses. You don’t feel good. It was a bad day. A bad month. You’re tired. Your dog needs walking. That cupboard you’ve haven’t opened since you moved into your house suddenly needs organizing. You stubbed your toe…you get the picture.

You’re not experienced enough.

You’re not talented enough.

Your family thinks that being a “serious writer” is a joke.

On and on I could go.

My point is, any number of things could prevent you from pursuing this craft. Writing is hard. A different kind of hard, I would argue, than a lot of other jobs. Which got me wondering: what is the hardest thing about being a writer?

Obviously, our answers to that may differ.  And honestly, I could probably name more than a few things here. But after really thinking about it, one answer rose above all others: the hardest thing about being a writer is letting discipline guide me instead of emotion. Let me explain.

I’m a rather feelings-driven individual. Not one of my shining qualities. I’m sensitive. I get upset often and easily. I feel things deeply. Not bad things in and of themselves, but they do make navigating this life a bit harder.  I don’t believe in living by my emotions. Emotions are signals and markers, but rarely should they be guideposts. So being a person with a lot of emotion is complicated sometimes. 

As in life, emotion can be both a blessing and a curse when it comes to writing. Writing a scene in the heat of a particular feeling can lead to some really heartfelt, powerful stuff. But not writing for a whole streak of days because you don’t feel like it is how this thing goes from being a calling to being a hobby. 

That is where discipline comes in.

Now, I am not one of those writers who advocates that you write every single day of your life, rain or shine, deadly flesh-eating virus or not. People need rest. Brains need breaks. But I am saying that you should write enough that the act of writing becomes a habit. That not writing on a designated writing day makes you a little twitchy. A little uncomfortable. A little stabby, if you will.

Writing muscles are grown by writing. Period. Which is why discipline is necessary. Which is why writing is hard. I don’t know of anything that can take the place of discipline when it comes to writing. You’ve got to sit your butt down on a consistent basis and put in the words. That’s it. There is no shortcut here, no cheat sheet. 

I desperately wish this wasn’t so some days. I struggle with writing discipline; am struggling with it as I type.  I’m nearing the end of the first draft of my novel, The Sky Itself, and work is griding to a halt. I don’t know if it’s because I’m tired or burnt out or just plain unmotivated, but I’ve been dreading the keyboard. It’s a terrible feeling. The finish line is within sight, but my legs are wet noodles. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, but I’m stuck in a stalled car.  Truly, I don’t know how I’m going to go on.

And that feeling right there, that defeat? It’s powerful. It’s Big Girl Emotion. It’s enough to make a person throw in the towel. But.

But but but.

Discipline says I can’t quit now. I’ve come too far. There is a way to move forward, and that way can be found if I don’t give up. 

Discipline. Stick-to-itness. It may just be the hardest thing for any writer to master, but all the books lining my shelves from authors I love argue that it can be done.

So stop reading this post and go write. That cupboard can wait.