I had conversations with three talented authors recently and they all said the same thing in their own unique, evocative way.
Writers need to resist the urge to write.
Yup. You heard me. That’s me paraphrasing, but the message was the same, three times over:
Exercise patience and don’t start writing until you’ve wrapped your arms around the subject matter.
I did a modicum of research for my ‘work-in-progress’ and found some surprising ancestry info. It was research, of a sort, but the topic was still close to home – about myself and my family.
The three writers I heard from talked about their process – conducting painstaking research long before an outline took shape. No story arcs in mind. No characters pre-planted in their heads. They dove into specific places to connect with the subject matter and the power of place, their curiosity guiding them to stories emergent and powerful.
When wisdom arrives in in three successive beats, I figure I should take notice and I did. And then…in my inbox I received a fourth nudge. Just in case I missed the message the first, second or third time…
B.A. Durham, in his blog, Ditch the Oldest Rule in Writing, joined the chorus:
“Every writer has heard it: Write what you know. It’s presented as foundational wisdom, a starting point for any story. However, this advice is limiting and stops you from creating compelling and imaginative work. It’s time we replaced it with a much more powerful mantra: Write what you’re passionate about.”
Whoa and wow.
“Great writing isn’t about having lived something; it’s about being able to portray it convincingly.”
“Passion fuels research, empathy and the creative energy needed…so forget what you know. Go find out what you want to know and write that instead.”
As my current project gets closer to the finish line, I’m musing about what comes next. Whatever it is, I’ll choose well. Remembering the joy writing brings, the restorative power it holds, even if a little digging is involved.
Vicki 💝
Lagniappe? More posts about writing? Here you go!
Hi – I’m Victoria, Vicki, Dr. Vicki. I hold a doctorate in Adult Education and I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and author of Surviving Sue | Eckhartz Press.
Check out this link to learn more about my book “Surviving Sue”.
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More posts about writing? Here you go!
Victoria Ponders 
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