Why Struggling to Write Does Not Make You a Bad Writer
But rather a good one.
All writers have been there: The excitement of an idea makes you jump right into anxiously getting your words onto the page. But then you stop. You’ve reached the point of the inevitable “What now?” Could be for a number of reasons. Maybe you’re stuck with your plot or you don’t know your characters very well. Or maybe it’s just a vague, indefinable feeling that something isn’t quite working.
Like so many other writers (and non-writers), we then tend to fall into thinking that putting words together is supposed to come effortlessly if you have a degree in writing. But if you struggle, you do not really seem to be a “good” writer.
So who among us would then be worthy of the title?
Fear is an Illusion
Every writer has a story to tell, but fear often keeps us from telling it. Even the most natural wordsmith at some point breaks into a nervous sweat of letting someone else read their draft and the fear of inadequacy kicks right in.
Fear of failure should never be the reason you avoid claiming your role as a writer. Writing well is hard work and starting is half the battle. Forget the final product and write like no one’s reading. Forget about the big picture — start in the middle, start at the end. Start writing without any idea where the paragraphs will fit in.
Perfectionism is a Trap
Usually, we tend to characterize perfectionists as people who are detail-oriented, efficient, and reliable. Unfortunately, perfectionism does the opposite in writing: it creates an unsatisfying writing habit, as you try hard to meet all your deadlines. Besides: Perfectionism in writing doesn’t actually mean anything.
Perfectionism can be a good thing at the right time. Separate writing from editing. Of course, we all want to fix an error when we see it. But the more you start revising while writing, your production slows down. You’ll find yourself editing and rearranging the same phrases and paragraphs over and over again until you’ve lost all your motivation to write down all the good ideas you had. Simply resist the urge. There will be plenty of time for that.
Procrastination is an Asset
Let’s restore procrastination’s glorious history: Ancient Greeks and Romans would basically sit around and think and not do anything unless they absolutely had to. Let’s face it: Writers are excellent procrastinators. If a piece of writing is waiting for you, there are endless activities you could be doing instead, especially if they feel more productive than staring at your blinking cursor.
But there is no need to feel guilty when procrastinating. Actively engaging in other activities helps stimulate your brain, so use it to your advantage. It is a great way of working out what you want to say while doing laundry or washing dishes. Try out sentences and dialogues in your head and put the best pieces on paper.
Struggle is a Gift
All writers, no matter how many years of experience they have, struggle writing sometimes. Writing was never meant to be easy because a writer’s purpose is to make every new piece of writing better than the last.
Struggle can be a sign of your growth. If you ever get to the point where every article, essay, blog post, or even chapter in your novel becomes easy to write, you’re doing something wrong. You have become too comfortable with the topics you’re writing about. Do more research and cover topics and ideas you’ve never had the courage to write about.
Embrace those steep hills and rocky mountains you’re bumping into. Having hard days doesn’t mean you’re not meant to be a writer. Push through the struggle and your persistence will make you a great writer.
