Three Qualities A Writer Needs
First, the news! My regular readers will remember the Selkie[1], my trusty beta and the other half of my writer-brain. One of her short stories, Perambulations, is in a new anthology from Norilana, Under the Rose. Perambulations was mentioned by name in PW as a great story, which caused us no end of glee. (And I loved it the first time I read it.) If you’re interested, go take a look at the anthology. She also writes as Nina Merrill. (Her Scarred is one of the hottest things I’ve ever read, by the way.)
Things are calming down around here a little, which is good. This week’s Friday post is going to be short, yes. But it’s also got some chewy nougat. I’d like to tell you about three qualities I consider essential for a writing career. This is by no means an exhaustive list, it’s just three things I think are basic and often overlooked.
* A gluttonous love of words. It’s amazing to me, how many people who “want to be writers” don’t read and aren’t in love with words. Words are a writer’s tools, their stock in trade, the things they have to pick up, manipulate, and make effective every day. If you don’t like words and language, how on earth is writing going to be a pleasurable activity? And if it’s not pleasurable, why put up with the uncertainty, the rejection, so on, so forth?
I am not sure if a love of words can be taught or practiced, like the other two qualities. But I do consider it essential.
* Discipline. Of all the qualities I think a writer needs, this one is both most important and most cultivable. Discipline requires forming a good habit, then sticking to that habit. Humans are habitual creatures; instead of letting habit be a master we need to find a way to make it serve us. The way to do that is by choosing and cultivating our habits.
I’ve been suffering a great deal of emotional upheaval lately. One of the things that’s been getting me through is the fact that I have wordcount I need to achieve each day regardless of how I’m feeling. The habit of sitting down and being present, reinforced over and over while I was happy, is standing me in good stead. Some days I don’t want to, but the habit is too strong and I sit down and do it anyway. When one’s heart is breaking, the habit of writing and the muscle of discipline one’s built up can be a lifeline.
It’s not easy, but you have a good shot at cultivating discipline. Making writing a priority and doing it every day, using your trusty kitchen timer–these things will exercise your discipline muscle and keep it strong. Then, when you need that strength, when life or the writing isn’t going well, pays off. Of all the things you need to be a writer, this is something you can do every day that vastly increases your chances of getting where you want to be.
* Idiot persistence. Once, when I was very young, I was presented with a choice. I could stay down and bring something painful to an end, or I could keep getting up. I kept getting up, long past the point any sane person would have. It taught me a lot about life, and not so incidentally, about publishing. I think persistence can be practiced, too, just like discipline.
You do not have to be rejected X times before your work is accepted. You just have to submit until you do get accepted somewhere. It’s a slight but critical distinction. Persistence–which may be a component of discipline–is that habit of getting up off the floor as many times as you can. No retreat, baby…and no surrender.
Of all the qualities I think a writer should have–and believe me, the list is long and constantly revised as I meet other writers and learn more about the craft–I view these three as the most important.
So tell me, chickadees, what qualities have helped you as a writer? Which ones do you consider important? I’m always adding to that list.
[1] Note: that’s a new site, there’s not much there yet. But more will come!
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Tags: fellow weirdnesses, Friday Writing, what we know is true
October 16th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Great points! This chickadee has two more thoughts.
I think a writer has to be open. Too often we close ourselves off to focus and write, but without peeking up once in a while, we could miss something major … like a massive shift in the publishing industry, for example.
I also think a writer needs to be flexible. Not only with our lives outside of the writing, but with our lives within it.
Other than that, I believe you’ve hit the primary three qualities right on the head!
As always, great blog, Lilith
Debbie
October 16th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Being a student, I haven’t yet been able to start my glorious writing career. But there are some things that I have deemed important (besides your excellent points).
Compartmentalization. I don’t know how many times that I’ve tried to write a story about one thing, but the personal drama in my life kept sneaking into the story. I think if you’re writing a story and the personal drama in your life is what the story is about, then absolutely it’s a good idea to write it out. But you have to be able to distance yourself from those feelings if need be for the story/characters sake.
I know that there’s more, but I’m drawing a lovely blank at the moment. You’ve certainly touched on the main ones though. Awesome post; looking forward to the next.
~Xia.
October 16th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
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October 17th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Thanks for the tips! I always like your writing segments.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Persistance and dedication that I’m going to be published some day (soon). I have faith that I’m going to get there and even if I have to do other things in the process, writing and getting published is in my blood and something that I want to share with others.