Murder…He Wrote

Writing Tips, writing

Sometimes you get more irons in the fire than you can manage. OK, switch those two “you”s to “I.” Is it just me, or is it pretty doggone easy to say, “I am passionate about (fill in the blank),” and then let everything in the world get in the way of doing it?

Ostensibly, we are passionate about writing around here. After all, the wonderful world of writing is what The Write Crowd is all about. Yet, here my blog sits…unattended. I could blame it on many things. I could excuse myself by telling you that I work a day job, maintain a moonlighting ghost-and-copy writing business, and own three other websites. But you don’t want to hear that. You’re busy, too!

I have learned through the years that more often than not, writing is about 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. There are those rare times when the ratio is reversed. That’s when the words flow, a mighty torrent of epic, passionate, irresistible power. That’s when writing is easy, rewarding, and fun!!! Those times, at least for me, are less common. More often than not, I find myself somewhat inspired…and then obliged to toil and strain and bleed and sweat to  turn that dab of inspiration into something worth reading.

About a year ago, I launched an online writing service through my personal website, writedaddy.com. It took six months to land my first job. When I did, others followed close on its heels, and pretty soon, I found myself inundated with requests. I was writing web content, sales letters, white papers, marketing emails, blog content and various other pieces for a growing - and diverse - clientele. I soon learned that writing is WORK! HARD work.

I owed it to my clients to deliver a quality product. They were paying for passion and wit and charm and poignancy and…I needed to deliver. Consequently, I found myself elbow deep in research. I was reading articles on a litany of subjects, watching videos, listening to audio, camping out at Wikipedia and Google. I always wanted to work as a writer…and be paid to do so. I just hadn’t figured it would really be work.

It is.

Lessons learned:

1. Write when you feel like it. When you don’t feel like it, write some more.
2. Work at your craft. A strong work ethic is even more important than an extensive vocabulary or a vivid imagination.
3. Practice self-discipline. Set a routine that fits the demands of your lifestyle and family dynamics…and stick with it.
4. Don’t forget to include your mate and/or children (or parents) in the planning of your writing schedule. Agree with them on when, where, and how long.
5. Once you have established a schedule, be flexible. Inspiration seldom punches a clock.
6. Don’t neglect your writing…or your life. Balance is absolutely essential.
7. Don’t forget to have fun. All work and no play…

Sometimes, writing is murder. (He wrote.)

Write away. Write now.

D. Gene Strother @ April 22, 2008