IT'S a WASTE of TIME

How many times did you heard that sentence? 5-10 times? Not once? Don't worry, you'll hear it, and boy, it won't be good. Why do ordinary (not everyone, but some) people think it's a waste of time? Jellaousy? Maybe, in their minds, it's something to do when you're bored. Maybe they're realistic, and know that only few writers can live from writing? I seriously doubt that (but you can reassure me), because people  who say that things are... well, I got the feeling they're not really satisfied with their own lives. I know it maybe sounds crazy, and I don't have pattern large enough (only a few people), but it seems they say it because some sort of jelaousy; because writers life is so much better. Colorfull yes, better... I wouldn't go that far. Most people think writers actually are better persons than themselves. Why? I don't know. Maybe because our heads are filled with everything and nothing; creatures, worlds... we have the imagination they don't, or they're scared to use it. So, if you put it that way, I think we have better world where we can escape when reality becomes too ugly. It's our consolation, our joy, our peace. Writers are mockery of the society. My parents, friends, never supported me in my writing. Since I started writing when I was about 10,  people thought I was "weird".  Today 's different situation; everybody are amused and awed they know a writer, or because they can read unpublished things right from the authors hand/keyboard.

And there's the other thing; those people think writing means doing nothing, just scribbling something on the paper (or computer), wasting hours and papers on words. "God forbid you kid become a writer some day!"- might be some kind of curse for them- that kid is provided for failure, he's no good, he'll starve, because it's hard to live just off writing. That doesn't mean we can't dream big, and maybe, one day, if we're good enough (oh yeah, there's a lot of bad writers (that's another pair of gloves- when it's common reason to think you're good just because you write) - you even may think I'm one- and that's fine. Criticism is what writers must embrace as their own child, it's needed in the progress of becoming a better writer.), make some money (but most of us never published authors would settle just for the fact we're published- yeah, we're that cheap. But appetites do grow.), and proudly claim ourselves Authors. Of course, we're writers since we put first sentence with intentions/aspirations on that white paper, but being published is a big thing, that's how we value our existence, our work. We're weird bunch of people, but  if Ego becomes our master, we're gonna have a bad time (like in the real world).  

I remember one time, this person asked me how could I waste my time on writing? I wonder why did I ever bother to explain my point of view to someone who spends days and weeks on playing PC games (no, I don't have anything against games, I like to play them too, but enough is enough, especially when it comes from somebody who has no goal in life, and is basically a parasite, boy , that pisses me off that much I turn into a dragon XD), and has such a sad little life, with no imagination. So, if you wanna piss off a writer, you know what to ask. ;) Writing is the most underestimated job in the world. You're a writer? Pff, good luck.

But why do we really write? I can answer only for myself, and the truth is: I love it. Also, my stories are bothering me, they want to be written, and I can't do anything about it but to write them. Being a writer is somewhat like being haunted by a ghost - only this time you're haunted by endless possibilities of worlds, characters, beings,  your brain imagines. True writer is never alone, not when idea comes along, and then something in that story (or just plain conversation about something, you wouldn't believe how many ideas I got that way) triggers another idea, and another... you get the idea. Being writer liberates imagination, it opens portals to another worlds, other "mortals" can't see.  If you're ready for a life-long relationship, that'll take you to many fantastic voyages, just put words on paper, and see where will it end.

 DO's and DON'Ts

Whether you're "serious" about writing, or not, like in real life, there are some rules. Of course, nothing bad will happen if you disobey them (but you're going to jail, seriously), they're more like guidelines for good writing. If you discard all the DON'Ts, and manage to write a good story, you're on the right track! Note that this is just my opinion and you shouldn't take them for granted.

DO's:

- find a writing routine which suits you best

- read a lot, preferably books in genre you're writing

- have a lot of fun while writing

- write what you like (even if other people think it's a stupid idea)

- take your time,  no one became successful author over night

- if you're beginner I'll recommend you to read some book about writing (I read several, and everything I read, I already knew. If you're many years in writing I suggest you to skip this step, you probably know everything what you need to know.)

- self realization (as an author) is great! The more you accept concept of you being a writer, the easier will it be (I'll write about that particular "problem" later)

- plug your imagination, and let it take you away, to undiscovered worlds

- research, especially if it's Sci-Fi, or similar genre (depends if you want your story to be credible), and don't make some crucial mistakes like putting  dinosaurs and people in the same period (unless it's some paralel universe), or Moscow capital of England (Google maps can take you anywhere, so you don't have to "imagine" streets or cities).

- write, write, write until you're good. Then write some more.

- enjoy your writing, write because you love it, you need it, and you think world deserves to know that story

DON'Ts:

- think you suck as a writer just because your first draft (or the whole story) isn't satysfing; you'll get the chance to make it better

- think you're a loser just because you got rejection letter from your agent/publisher

- think writing is a waste of time (but if you think like that often, maybe writing isn't for you, and that's just fine)

- delete/edit or re-write your story just because somebody told you it's not good. Think about what you can change to make your story better, only if you think it needs to be changed (that's often double-edged sword; sometimes writers are "blind" to criticism, but with time they'll know what needs to be edited, even without advice of others). But then again, spelling and good grammar is always obligated.

- quit too soon – if you lack of inspiration, let it rest for some time, until your inspiration "recharges", and you can always work on other stories

- let anyone tells you writing isn't a serious work (it takes a lot of time, research, nerves, practice, and years to become a good writer. Writing is not just some scribbling, invent this, put a little fiction, work on that for few hours, and that's it.)

- if you can, don't let your mood dictates when you'll write (I almost never write when I'm not in a mood; depressed, sleepy, angry...)

- write genre you don't like just because it's popular right now (you could if you're writing only for the money, otherwise, it's not worth it), trends change, and you'll always have that taste of bitterness

- copy other writers – you're not them and you'll never be. Find your unique style, and be proud of it.

- read the DO's and DON'T's list

I'm sure that over time almost every writer has their list of DO's and DON'Ts, but you need to experience some to know you'll never do that thing again.

Here are some writing advices (the rest you can find on the link) from published authors, which I found on Writing forums (you should join in, it's a great community of writers):

Margaret Atwood

1 Take a pencil to write with on aeroplanes. Pens leak. But if the pencil breaks, you can't sharpen it on the plane, because you can't take knives with you. Therefore: take two pencils.

2 If both pencils break, you can do a rough sharpening job with a nail file of the metal or glass type.

3 Take something to write on. Paper is good. In a pinch, pieces of wood or your arm will do.

4 If you're using a computer, always safeguard new text with a ­memory stick.

5 Do back exercises. Pain is distracting.

6 Hold the reader's attention. (This is likely to work better if you can hold your own.) But you don't know who the reader is, so it's like shooting fish with a slingshot in the dark. What ­fascinates A will bore the pants off B.

Anne Enright

1 The first 12 years are the worst.

2 The way to write a book is to actually write a book. A pen is useful, typing is also good. Keep putting words on the page.

3 Only bad writers think that their work is really good.

Esther Freud

7 Never forget, even your own rules are there to be broken.

Neil Gaiman

4 Put it aside. Read it pretending you've never read it before. Show it to friends whose opinion you respect and who like the kind of thing that this is.

5 Remember: when people tell you something's wrong or doesn't work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong.

6 Fix it. Remember that, sooner or later, before it ever reaches perfection, you will have to let it go and move on and start to write the next thing. Perfection is like chasing the horizon. Keep moving.

7 Laugh at your own jokes.

8 The main rule of writing is that if you do it with enough assurance and confidence, you're allowed to do whatever you like. (That may be a rule for life as well as for writing. But it's definitely true for writing.) So write your story as it needs to be written. Write it ­honestly, and tell it as best you can. I'm not sure that there are any other rules. Not ones that matter.

And for the end, one picture I found on 9GAG, that pretty much sums up all this DO's and DON'Ts

INTRO

So, you finally decided to write a story/novel/book. Congratulations! That's your first step to unlimited imagination and great new worlds. Maybe you had something published, in that case, congratulations to you too. It's a big step, whether your story ended in some magazine, or in a collection of stories. Or maybe just published at some blog. Which is fine, you get a lot of critics and rewievs for free! My first contact with "publishing" was on my blog. I had my doubts about that, will somebody steal it (as an writer, you're always in that fear, at least me), will people like it, and so on. So, if you're not sure is your story any good, maybe try it that way? Maybe you discover something new about your writing, maybe you discover true writer.

I don't know is your writing a hobby, or a job, but I believe you'll know when it's time. For years writing was my hobby - although I always knew I want to be a writer (writer=job) - but somehow I used it only to have some fun. Over the years, appetites grew bigger, and I realized this is what I want to do. Every day, like a job, like a hobby, if I'm sad, or happy. Writing fullfils me, it is my dream, and I tend to keep that dream alive.