My husband and I are travelling to the other side of the world this week. We will take a break, and we’ll be back until November.
We’ve planned this trip for over a year, and we’re really looking forward to it. The time has come, and now we can enjoy it after months and months of hard work.
I’m also looking forward to all the thoughts that will pop up as I experience places I never thought I’d visit. Of course I’m ready with a brand new notebook to capture as much as I can. Travelling is inspiring after all.
For some reason, the other day I woke up with this song playing in my head:
This song reminds me of my childhood. My parents tuned in the radio quiet often, and this song would be playing. Back then, I didn’t pay attention to the lyrics, but now I can really feel it has a powerful message.
Sing a song (…) don’t worry if it’s not good enough for anyone else to hear. Just sing. Sing a song.
I feel the same thing happens when writing. You compose a story, and then you wonder if it’s good enough. However, the first draft is for your eyes only. Nobody else is reading it or judging you. All you need to do is write and edit later on.
As long as it all comes from the heart, the next improvements will follow. That’s what the song says to me. What does it say to you?
Your art is personal and intimate. It feels safe to keep it for your eyes only.
However, the time comes when your work urges to reach the public light. How will others receive it?
What will your family and loved ones think about your creations? What if they are your harshest judges?
It’s natural to have these questions in your head. It’s natural to be scared of reactions from people who know you so well. Famous artists, at some point, went through the same situation. Dave Gahan, lead singer of Depeche mode, came to mind. As the band gained more popularity in the 80s, Dave didn’t want his mom to see him on stage singing and dancing. One day, Mrs. Gahan went to a concert and saw his act. She seemed to have mixed feelings.
Whether she liked it or not, that was Dave being himself. I guess they made peace regardless of any confrontations. His dancing style didn’t change over the years. Here’s proof.
So, the art you create might not delight your family or loved ones, and that’s okay. They may not be your audience, but you will find it. There’s always public for anything and everything. Your priority as a creator is producing quality work and improve yourself.
Meet your own expectations and take pride in your accomplishments. Your family and friends will always love you for who you are.
Some people are able to write 10,000 words a day. I’ve always thought that’s impressive, and I’m really happy they can reach a high word count. At the same time, I also think it’s fair to say that this goal is not for everyone. That’s okay.
Each writer sets different standards and, therefore, different goals.
I recently visited a bookstore and spent hours thumbing through the pages of different magazines.
It’s impressive how these publications can target really specific audiences. On the one hand, you have your typical politics or sports magazine; on the other hand, some revolve around chicken farms or philosophy in our day and age.
This got me thinking. Magazines can teach us so much about writing. They’re an endless source of ideas.
Today my mom is coming to visit me. She’s staying for three weeks, and I’m writing these lines as she’s making her way through the airport in Vancouver. Then, she will fly to Calgary.
I’m getting married next month. Her presence, support and guidance means the world to me. There’s a lot of things going on in my life right now. Big and exciting changes are coming my way, and I wouldn’t be able to get through them without her.
I’m thinking this is also the case for writing. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be motivated to be a writer. Here’s four tips she gave me to get started.
In my teen years, I used to read a lot of fanfiction about anime characters. I remember spending hours online discovering stories and making sure I reached the final chapter.
A few days ago, I retook this habit and decided to read with different eyes. I realized that fanfiction is a type of creative writing with tremendous potential to cure a case of writer’s block. Here’s why.
