Coming Up For Air

And Breathe....

Note to self:  Do not start blog when you are swamped with other things.

Additional note to self:  Fructose is at the centre of our obesity epidemic in North America.

OK ~ I'm already digressing.

So, here's the thing:  No one can teach you to write.  It's a verified fact.  Maybe you know, your Grade 3 teacher can teach you penmanship; but that's not writing per se.

(I can hear the daggers being flung towards me as I type this)

Let me clarify:

No one can teach you to be a good writer....except for one person.  Yourself.

You can take all the courses you want, study every script ever written, make detailed outlines of every movie ever made -- but if you aren't on board to correct and improve upon yourself along the way; well, sorry to say it just won't happen.

To be a good writer you need two things: talent and tenacity.  And both require an extra-ordinary amount of work to keep them both engaged and productive.

Being a writer isn't just about being able to tell a good story.  It's so much more than that.  It's about being able to tell a good story, to market yourself, to always be willing to improve, to have an extra-ordinary level of faith and belief in yourself (and your work), and to persevere.  Always. 

Then, maybe you might have a chance.

Being a good writer is about learning from your mistakes, recognizing your true voice and being able to capitalize on it.  It's about networking, understanding trends, and above all the ability to use your words to engage others around you.

And, if I were being completely honest, it's about recognizing that you aren't meant to do anything else and that you'll pursue it until you see the results no matter how long that takes.

Actually, this little rant just made me think of a post I should write about the fallacies associated with being a writer.

I'll add that to my To Do list.

For now, just chew on what I've said -- and be prepared to work REAL hard if you want to optimize the potential within you. 

It's possible. 

You just have to want it bad enough.

And now a little ELO to motivate you....