One Writer’s Life

One Writer’s Life

I meet people almost every day who ask me what it’s like to be a writer when I tell them that’s me. So I thought a post on the topic might be useful. For those of you who are already consumed by pressing quill to parchment incessantly, do you agree?

 

Writing drives me to distraction. I can’t stop. I’d just have it no other way. Some might suggest this is the very definition of insanity. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it?

A serious writer’s life can be thrilling, depressing, obsessive, tiring, costly, a frustrating emotional roller coaster, and of course, educational, rewarding, and hopefully, an entirely different way of viewing and devouring the world and what it has to offer without choking on it. Bite-size chunks, Grasshopper. Don’t forget to ask for help. You’ll always need it.
If you know six writers, you’ll hear six different versions of this recipe for personal writing success, and possibly as many variations on the mix of these ingredients, or others, I didn’t mention. That’s okay.
Said differently, there are as many ways to approach writing as there are writers. Some just write for their own enjoyment. Some write as a way to flex personal pain or to explore some obscure aspect of themselves or their surroundings. Some publish, independently or traditionally, as a casual hobby or an as all-consuming profession, possibly something somewhere between the extremes. Some write fiction, some non-fiction. Well, you get the idea.
Writing is an intensely personal living thing. It can take over. And that may be okay. You choose for you.
The truth is that I personally spend more time writing and learning about the craft of writing than marketing my stuff. I have a circle of published author friends, at least one of whom is a New York Times bestselling author. Frequently I hear advice to “follow the formula”, including avoiding controversial storylines in my fiction. Yes, there is a formula for just about any kind of writing. Think “rules”. It’s important to learn those rules before you break them. Then, anything goes.
 I write from my gut instead of for sales. Fortunately, I have that choice financially. So I try to strike a balance between provoking and appealing to readers. This is a very personal choice that you, as a writer must also make. I guarantee your interests and choices about writing are as unique as you.
So what does a day in the life of this writer look like?
First, if you don’t know already, you should know that the serious writer’s life can indeed be a tough nut, depending on your goals, but that’s okay if writing is your passion.
I spend a LOT of time by myself, and there are so many other time-consuming tasks that support my writing but take time away from it. Examples:
  • reading widely so I learn what appeals to me as a reader
  • building an author brand with a website,
  • nurturing my social media following,
  • conducting writing seminars,
  • attending conferences and workshops,
  • reading specifically about the craft of writing – learning,
  • practicing writing… every single day… even if it’s crap,
I run hot and cold on each of these diversions from the actual practice of writing or editing my next “masterpiece”. I am a lousy planner, but some of that is essential. Like diet and exercise, I turn a few focused thoughts into actions every day, as challenging as that is for me. These include the following essentials:
  • I spend at least a few minutes each day posting value-add content on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, as well as browsing what my followers have commented on and are interested in, responding as I’m able,
  • I curate and publish a “Writing and Reading Fiction Daily” newsletter on Twitter each day with dozens of contributors (book reviews, bloggers, articles on the craft of writing, videos). If interested, see a recent edition here,
  • I now produce and publish a monthly “Reading, Writing, & Painting with Rhyme” newsletter I send exclusively to the subscribers and readers of my writing blog at GKJurrens.com

Okay, fine, you’re thinking, but what about actually writing? Let me say this about that:

  • From 4:30 until about 8:30, every morning (or whenever my bride of 49 years gets up), I write, uninterrupted, every single day,
  • Before 4:30, I’m usually still in bed either discarding stupid ideas or trying to remember ideas worth writing down after I get up that I can use in my writing projects,
  • I also try to spend a little time online with other writers sharing issues, ideas, and inspiration before I start clacking the keys in earnest,
  • My notebook is ragged from constantly jotting down ideas for short stories, poems, or the next novel. Sometimes, these are little more than ideas for editing what I’ve already written,

The rest of the day? I talk about writing with anyone who will listen–you need to be a shameless self-promoter if you actually want anyone to read what you write. Fun fact: there are almost 5,000 new books published every day!.

But mostly, after 8:30 until bedtime is the time I deal with all the non-writing stuff such as family, creative photography, practicing my Native American flutes & guitar, painting (I’m a watercolorist). Truthfully, with so many interests, I’m constantly reprioritizing among them even though I’d prefer to spend most or all of my time on each. I need to be okay with that.

I’m still constantly taking notes throughout the day so I don’t forget a single idea that might fit into one of my stories or poems. My wife clearly believes I do NOT need any more “hobbies”… I keep reminding her of these are passions, not hobbies (being obsessive is a useful attribute for a writer). Naturally, I make every attempt to divert her focus away from the magnitude of my book bank account. I keep telling her, It’s not about the money, at least not yet.

So in terms of the creative arts, I’m on my own time, and to draw a metaphor from a sport I dislike, it’s a tricky dribble.

For you experienced authors and other creatives, share with us your own experience. For you aspiring authors, your recipe will be different. Despite the difficulty of pursuing a life of writing, I encourage you to explore this exciting world not too many are privileged to witness.

Find your own creative center and expand your world from there one concentric circle at a time. It is so worth it.

A few resources I’d aim you toward for further personal research on the topic of writing (there are many, these are a few of my favorites):

Yes, there is a lot to this writing stuff, but I encourage you to start small and grow your craft over time. Start a journal. Write in it every day. Jot down what you see, hear, touch, smell, taste, what you feel. Take specific notes about interesting people you meet. One of them might be a character in one of your stories some day.

Start building your own reservoir of creative thoughts and ideas for characters, settings, plots. Who knows? Even if only a small percent, including zero, end up getting incorporated into a story, much less published, you are devouring your world in a different way, one bite at a time. That’s what real living is all about, is it not?

Stay hungry, my friends. Believe in yourself and what you write. Keep going!

Listen, I’d be honored if you’d subscribe to this blog and consider following me on Twitter (for access to reading and writing fiction newsletters) and Facebook (sip the insanity of this writer’s life). Thanks in advance.

With pen in hand… Gene

 

 

 

Into Year 3 of my spirit quest…
GKJurrens.com
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