Becoming a writer feels like the process of conceiving and giving birth to a child. First, the writer lives every moment anxiously waiting to be invited to that grand, romantic ball. Dressed up and anxious, the writer arrives into that space where topics and ideas swirl in enticing gowns and tuxes. The rhythm of the orchestra of the mind keeps the writer and ideas searching for connection.

Sometimes in a moment of glorious kismet and sometimes with a gentile tap on the shoulder, the writer and idea touch and the mind ignites with a fireworks of stars. At last, across a crowded room, on some enchanted evening, the writer can incubate their next blog post, their next short story, or their next epic novel.

The writing process itself is not unlike that of a sculptor. The written word is not built from the inside out, but rather hewing away what does not promise the reader the free-fall foreplay moments of conflict. Bit by bit, the block of granite is shaped by the writer’s never-ending pursuit of word and storytelling perfection.

Next, the writer must provide details which will bring the piece to life. What do the characters see? Hear? Smell? When are they? The writer must explain where they are, why they are there and who else is participating in the scene. All of these important components build the context which helps the reader make sense of what motivates the characters and drives the story on. And finally, the writer must follow-through and keep all the promises they made teasing the reader into each conflict. The protagonist and story must come to a satisfying resolution. All the peripheral storylines must also be tied up. When all of these beats come together with synergy, the dance between the writer and the inspiration is beautiful and compelling.

While the final work might be hideous or beautiful, that is in the eyes of the beholder. The completed words were cleaved into their form by an artist: some just discovering their talents and other savvy and prolific authors. It takes fortitude for a writer to brave the process of sculpting that enigmatic block of inspiration. Author E. L. Doctorow says it best, “Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.

– Write On