Have you ever wanted to be a writer? Not just write for yourself, in your journal, or to your best friend, but a professional writer. Someone whose words are read by others in a meaningful way, whether it’s to make them laugh and cry, make them think, or just give them an escape from the every day.
Being a writer is one of my favorite things to be. Yes, I love being a publisher. I love helping others find or fine-tune their voice and then share it with the world. But I love being a writer more. As my mentor and friend said to me, “Glad you are continuing to write… it’s a key source of your life energy.” He’s not wrong.
There’s something about sitting down at my desk in front of my keyboard and simply allowing the words to flow. Do they always? Not really, but it’s rare that I can’t get at least a steady trickle. This is how I know writing is for me. It’s always there, ready to flow, when I’m ready to turn on the tap.
I know this isn’t the case for every writer, so I’d amend it to say this:
If the urge or desire to write is there, just waiting for you to turn on the tap, you’re a writer.
And if you’re a writer, you must write. How you go about writing, is up to you, but I have a few tips that I have learned over the years that I hope might help:
Use prompts. Writing prompts are one of the best tools we have to get back into the flow and turn on the tap when we’re feeling a little sluggish with our words.
Change genres. There’s nothing quite as exhilarating (or challenging!) as changing genres. If you’re used to writing prose, try poetry. If you write self-help, try a short story.
Shift your mindset. If you’re always thinking about writing for some professional gain, or consumer-based product, it can hamper your flow. Write to write. Use editing to make the final product.
However you choose to write, I hope you choose to write often. If you’re a writer like me, it’s part of your DNA and your blood. A day without writing something can feel fair, but days without writing can quickly add up to feeling a lot worse. So grab that pen or keyboard and let your fingers take you on a journey that only you can take.