Writing Quote

Writing Quote

Saw this quote today in the book 'Writing Mysteries-a handbook by the Mystery Writers of America'.

"The truth of the matter is that you must teach yourself how to write. We can offer guidance, the painful wisdom of our own hard-won experience but in the end, you must hone your own skills, conquering the countless devils that will plague you as you learn." ~ Sue Grafton ~

Because of the nonfiction writing I do, I'm occasionally asked to mentor someone. I don't mind in the least sharing what I know. I enjoy helping others. What I don't enjoy is when I encounter people who think because I'm a writer, I'll be glad to co-write their article. Or read and edit their 250,000 word next best seller.

I tell them all the same thing. All I can give you is my limited knowledge. It's the butt-in-the- chair, fingers-on-the-keyboard writing and more writing that will teach you the most.

I am a better writer today than when I wrote my first novel way back in high school. I was all of 18. I just knew it was a best seller waiting to happen. Know what happened? I lost the manuscript in a move. Every writer who has ever written a novel knows how I feel about that inside.

I poured my heart into those words. It's like I lost something of myself. Can I rewrite it? Sure. But I don't remember all the words, all the nights I wrote (yes, hand wrote, this was during my Amish days) that first novel. There's something special about finishing your first major work. I've written a ton of manuscripts since then and each one has taught me something more about writing, something more about myself. So, while writing classes, conferences, writing groups, critique groups and how-to write books can be a help, none of those can take the place of actual writing. And that's how you learn to become a writer. You simply write.