Struggling with the Difficulty of Putting Words Down on Paper
Writing ain't a walk in the park. It's a literal mind-bender.
You know it, no need for a pep talk. Writing's tough, no matter how much you love it - it's your passion, your sanctuary, your lifeblood - but that doesn't mean there aren't days you fight tooth and nail just to put one word after another. Writing isn't as simple as it seems. Sometimes, it's like the words are flowing faster than you can type, but that doesn't last. Later, you're staring at an empty cup of coffee, wondering where those 2000 words went.
Why's that? Because writing's a mental marathon. You're not just thinking - you're selecting, analyzing, translating, and interpreting thoughts at lightning speed. That's some hardcore brain stuff, man.
I'm not a brain guru, but I'll give it a shot. What the hell is writing, anyway? It ain't just thinking. It's not just jotting down ideas. Nope, it's a hell of a lot more than that. You're selecting that perfect thought, deciphering it, figuring out the best words to put it all down, and then you're putting it into action - all in just a few seconds.
And that's draining, let me tell you. No wonder you're always eyeing that coffee pot and that chocolate bar.
Writing's work, make no mistake. And even the ones who claim it's a breeze get tired. They might think it's quicker for them, but it's just as much effort for anyone. The way you interpret and translate ideas into words might be quicker or slower for some, but that doesn't take away from the work it requires. We're all human, and we all run on the same energy. Once it's gone, it's gone.
So that's why writing's hard. Because we're just people. No matter how many ideas we've got, no matter how creative we are - there'll always be days when we simply can't write.
Don't feel guilty for feeling drained. Don't let people tell you writing's easy. Those folks don't know what they're talking about. They ain't the ones sitting at their desks, struggling to put their thoughts into words, frustrated at the words that just won't come right, but pushing through anyway to create something that others might benefit from and appreciate.
But if you must continue, there's a line between rest and quitting. Take a break when you need it, but don't let it set you off course. You've got to keep going, to recognize when you've pushed yourself too far, to back down, and then jump back into writing as soon as you can. That's discipline. That's resilience.
Yes, writing's hard. But you're tough. You're strong. You want this. So you can't just give up. Your ideas need you. Don't abandon them. Let them carry you through the toughest days, the days when even the coffee can't help and you can't keep your eyes open and you just want to take a nap. It's going to be worth it. All the sacrifices you're making, you'll be grateful for them later. You can't see it now, but believe it. Challenges make you grow. Growth helps you become a successful writer. You can do this.
Meg is the creator of Novelty Revisions, a space dedicated to helping writers turn their ideas into words. An eight-time NaNoWriMo winner with work published in Teen Ink, Success Story, Lifehack, and USA TODAY College, Meg can be found on Twitter, where she shares writing tips, foodie finds, and all things nerdy.
Inspired by Meg's relentless pursuit of her passion for writing, she might find solace in cultivating a different form of creativity when she needs a break - a hobby that taps into a different realm of her mind, such as home-and-garden projects or designing her personal lifestyle. For instance, she could blend her love for flowers and foliage with a unique DIY centerpiece for her home, or perhaps re arrange her living space to foster an ambiance that fuels her creativity when writing becomes tiresome. These activities, while different, still exercise Meg's creative muscles, providing a refreshing change of pace to maintain her writing momentum.
