I have always wanted to be a writer, and I meet a lot of other people who want to be writers. But most people stop before they get going. They give up because the prose doesn’t flow out in the perfect way they imagine in their minds. Or they don’t plan their writing projects and get slammed by fast-approaching deadlines. Sometimes people give up because they get frustrated with their bad results, the editing process, the self-doubt, and sometimes the soul-crushing feedback. Many people don’t realize that many accomplished writers deal with the same frustrations and must face their demons again and again.
Don’t let self-doubt derail your writing aspirations
In a recent interview with Stephen King in the New York Times, David Marchese asked King how he knew whether a piece was working. King, author of 60-plus books and more than 200 short stories replied, “I never did anything that I thought was working. When I get in the middle of something, a part of me is always saying to myself, This is certainly a piece of [expletive].”
It might be a piece of crap or you might think it is, but don’t let that stop you. Realize that the words aren’t going to flow from your pen in perfect form on the page. Writing doesn’t work that way.
Don’t give up your writing dreams!
That’s why I love these Study Hall: Composition videos by ASU with Crash Course hosted by ASU composition student and fellow Sun Devil Yumna Samie.
Study Hall: Composition is a great intro (or refresher) on what works. It helps new writers get started and seasoned writers get back in the game.
I like this seven-video series videos because Yumna is engaging, the videos are short, and the content is actionable. You will learn a repeatable writing process from these videos.
I Googled Yumna to learn more about her because that’s what curious people do 🙂 and I found this short TEDx talk from 2019:
I admire her willingness to retire from being over competitive and her willingness to pursue something that she could not do well–running. It endeared her to me all the more.
So if you have always wanted to write, start here and start today.
Want to know the secret to better writing? It’s more writing!
(And more revising. And more editing.)
Time to start! Or start again. You’ve got this.
Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash
Hey! I know it’s been months since you posted this but thanks for featuring me and the series on your blog! I’m absolutely honored that you thought I was helpful. Let me know if you ever wanna chat about writing or the series or anything else– I’d love to hear from a fellow aspiring writer! 😁