Writers Write

Over the years, I have heard countless people express a desire to write a book. While that is certainly a laudable ambition, I am unaware of anyone who has actually written a book. I think a primary reason for this is they don’t understand a simple truth: writers write. And I speak from personal experience.

As a teenager, I aspired to be a writer. However, other than assignments for school, I didn’t write. Even though I was a reasonably talented writer, I wasn’t improving because I wasn’t practicing. I didn’t have the discipline to write unless I “had to.”

Writing a book can be a grueling process. Including research, planning, writing, revising, and everything else involved, it can take years and requires perseverance and discipline. One must write regularly and consistently to complete a manuscript. From my experience, most aspiring writers aren’t up to that task.

Before I attempted to write a book, I blogged daily, and I did so for several years. Doing this got me into the habit of writing every day, and that was invaluable when I began writing my first book. I had developed the discipline to write regularly and consistently. The quality of my writing also improved significantly because of blogging; I was practicing the craft.

Athletes and musicians spend countless hours practicing and honing their skills. Writers must do the same. A professional football player does not improve by skipping practice and binge watching Friends. A writer does not improve by failing to write.

My advice to anyone who wants to write a book someday is to write today. And tomorrow, and every day after that. Develop the discipline to write regularly, even if it is of inferior quality. If you can’t do that, you will never write a book. If you don’t write, you will never be a writer.