“Being a writer is more than just writing”
Writing lessons I have learned (in 2024) - blog 1.3
Dearest writers,
While writers rarely look up from their keyboards - I in fact have. And somehow, as I look to the bottom right corner of my screen I see that it is the end of 2024. This revelation has left me a little perplexed, yet unsurprised. I am not sure if this is a common experience, but the years have been coming in quick succession lately. I am not sure about the younger generations, but I at least have concluded that the compounding quickness of time must have to do with age and simply, the ‘getting used to’ of the earth’s rotation around the sun. I am already in my early 20s for goodness sake. Wasn’t I just ten, watching Avatar the Last Air Bender in my big sister’s room? Or writing a poem about my cat and flowers with crayons at the dining table? Oh, dear writers, don’t worry, I will stop with my musings. I’m sure you’re way too exhausted for my silly reflections and frustration of Time - he is such a mysterious character! (Fun fact: I have always thought of Time as a man in a black top hat. But that is quite irrelevant to this blog issue. Why are you still reading my un-edited thoughts? Shoo! Read along).
Now, I plan to tell you some writing lessons I learned this year. 3 in fact. But I must tell you, before I start, that if you wish for a ‘Writing Reflection’ of 2024, I implore you to watch my last YouTube video on my channel here. It is a comprehensive biography of 2024 and my reflections about writing which may give context of how I came to access such writing ‘wisdom’ (mostly just through crying at my keyboard at 11pm). Also see below the blog for a little gallery of my 2024 recap if you’re interested! But now, with that out of the way, let’s get onto my writing 3 lessons.
The writing mood is a powerful thing
If you are acquainted with my many projects - you would know that I have quite a diverse pallet. This may not be a very practical tip - in regards to getting novels finished per se - but following your writing mood is a really important thing. Since I have so many different projects, I have started them - or return to them - when the mood to write them, comes.
Sometimes I really feel like writing a fantasy. And then the weather changes and I want to write a dark ghost story. And then, hec, I just watched The Empress and I want to dive into 1800s for a historical fiction. This may be more applicable for when you are a more beginner writer (like me) who may want to practice writing different characters, settings and storylines.
This is effectively achieved through exploring - you guessed it - different genres. Of course, try and finish the novel after the inspiration strikes. I happen to be quite good at this (however, do not hold me too accountable), since when I start a novel I usually need to see it to its full completion - even if it is just through plotting or writing the zero draft (which would take me 3-4 months instead of a first draft that may take a lot longer).
So, dearest writers, you must learn that yes, while your novels - your ideas - aren’t going anywhere, your ‘mood’ or ‘motivation’ to write such a novel or idea may disappear. For example, I was going to go onto writing the first draft of project.prison - a literary-fiction mystery (having just finished the 0 draft days prior). But lo and behold I suddenly got inspired to write a historical fiction (now known as project.orchestra) - which was quite the drastic turn around.
I have never written a historical fiction, nor do I read much of it. But I had this vision and this sudden surge of motivation and suddenly - I had to make a decision: to write that other draft, or strike when the iron is hot and dip my tentative toes into this other project. And I know that if I didn’t make the decision to write project.orchestra, the book would not exist. Those ideas would have flown right over my head. Yes, they may have been still there, but they would have had to be ignored to pursue another project and then another and then another (you see where I’m going here). Hence, in taking hold of my creative intuition, I created one of my favourite novels of all time. So use your creative mood to your advantage and take that chance! Truly, you might write your best novel yet.
I also wanted to add this. It is also important to know that it is okay to simply grow out of your projects. Take a leap of faith and if you want to write a book - don’t let word count goals or your meticulously organized plan of writing and publishing this one specific project (being the be-all-end-all) come in between you and your creative expression and happiness. It is just too much of a risk to watch an opportunity like this go by. Because the inspiration, simply, may not ever come again.
So, I hope the free-spirited writer in me is rubbing off on you (ha). I know it is scary - abandoning one project for another, but specific-project writing motivation - at least for me - comes quite rarely. And I am actually practicing it right now, having momentarily abandoned project.ghost (which of course I still love) for my secret fantasy project. And I am falling in love with writing again, simply because right now, I am so so so inspired to write the book I am writing. And you deserve the same!
2. Brainstorming is great but get straight to the plot, babe
I literally love love love brainstorming and I truly could spend forever thinking about my project’s world, the social class system, the biomes, the languages, the type of magic, the history, the monuments - I could go on and I know you could too. I see some people online (which honestly are so cool don’t get me wrong) who have been worldbuilding for like 10+ years. Planning to consequently write a novel. But - 10 years!! Huh!? You don’t need to know what happened in the year 1498 to write your novel. Nor who was a grandfather to whom. There is context and then there is just too much detail. Limit your world-building or else you will never stop. I have found this struggle in my current fantasy project, where there is so much to write about and explore. I call it the world-building vortex. But I forced myself to not get lost in it and to focus on the plot.
And get this! I have found that plotting will fill in a lot of world building elements. You would be surprised. Because, sometimes world building may actually limit the plot beats you can come up with and where your story can go.
I honestly think it is more important to be grounded in the story’s tone and ‘vibe’, not so much the world’s history or what exactly happened every single day since your MC’s birth. I have found a lot of use in music and attaching my project’s identity to a feeling - a soul. One particular song, for example, has become my anchor in sitting in my secret fantasy project’s story. It has allowed me to feel what the heart of the story is.
I think this should take priority. Because tone is so much linked to purpose and therefore it may give you important knowledge about how you will ultimately write your novel and plot your story. World brainstorming is yes, really fun but I encourage you to focus on tone - as well as characters. In fact, I have begun my own ‘plot’ for my characters where I come up with my character’s backstories and therefore their motivations. And these motivations give me plot ideas. It’s an interesting process, but I have found that identity - both in your book and in your individual characters - will help bridge your brainstorming to your plotting.
For example, what race is your character and how are they treated differently? This question - having come about through ‘plotting’ a character’s backstory - allowed me to establish this new rebellion race which has become one of the most important parts of my story.
So what am I trying to say? Ultimately, don’t lose yourself too much in brainstorming and separating it from your story’s main plot. Let each work in tandem and don’t forget to use tone to guide your novel.
3. It’s okay to be a dream-writer
This year was hectic. I was studying full time and went on exchange and travelled around Europe while trying to write my many novels and keep my youtube channel growing - whew, what a running sentence!
Ahem. Because of this busyness, there came (lots of) times where I either didn’t have the time and/or the energy to write. If I am being honest, I didn’t write a lot this year. At least not as much as I planned and expected for myself. But I learned that being a writer is also just being a dreamer and a lover for life and art. I have found that it is actually quite on brand for writers not to write. And this seems to be laughed at when you see something along those lines in a reel or writing-meme online.
But it is true. Writers, first and foremost are exactly that - dreamers. Our identity of being a writer should not be so closely tethered to word counts and completed manuscripts. Just as being a musician can simply just sometimes be a person playing an instrument and singing. Without recording. And without writing lyrics down.
So, dearest writers, just working on a story even at a literal snail's pace - which actually is how most novels are realistically written - is okay. Being a writer is just that - writing. And in my opinion, writing doesn’t need to be strictly on paper. You can write stories in your mind, in poetry, in music, in thoughts and conversation. You aren’t even strictly ‘just a writer’, but a part of a wider identity of being a creative.
Creating, in any respect - does not even mean finishing. Being a creative is that dearest writers - creating.
Since when have we become so obsessively mechanical with our beloved projects? Since when have we forgotten what is is like to be a child with a paintbrush and PVA glue in our grubby hands, creating in silence - not thinking about what it would look like in the end, or how people will judge it or how we can make money from it - why can’t we return to such childlike creativity?
So, you must know that it is okay to not write. Our lives are busy and being a writer is truly a lifestyle not just a career. And since learning that I have been so much more kind to myself and my creative heart. And I have allowed her to write as she wants, when she wants, pushing only when she needs to be pushed. Of course, I am talking in moderation. You must force yourself to write sometimes, that is what self-discipline is - doing something you don’t feel like doing but doing it anyway because you have your eyes on something bigger. I am just saying that sometimes, it is okay to just dream for a little bit. Be softer to yourself. If you’re a student or a mum or are just going through it - you are allowed to take a breath and simply create without expectation again. (But if you have a deadline I am sorry, you might need to really, really force yourself to write).
Concluding thoughts
But those three points are my writing lessons I learnt this year. They seem to be more unconventional, but it's been quite an unconventional year for me. Sometimes I wonder if I’ve gone too soft. And then have an identity crisis, laughing at the mirror and cupping my hands over my mouth after I say (to no one) ‘guy’s i really need to lock in’ (please tell me I am not the only one). But I really do hope to write more next year and try to fall in love with having a more disciplined writing routine. Not to be more ‘strict’ per se with myself, but to be more like a mother forcing her daughter to take medicine because she knows it’ll make her daughter feel better. Yes, that in fact is exactly how I feel with writing sometimes - ha I’m terrible!
But cheers to a new year of writing and all the messiness that comes with it. I am excited for new vlogs and new blogs and just to write while I can. It’ll be a very busy year academically so I simply just have to see how I fare. I hope you stay updated on my YouTube channel and on my writing blog too - I hope to create some great content for you in 2025!
Thank you all who have supported the introduction of this blog back in October when my first issue was released. Your support means the world. I wish you the best year in 2025!
Creative blessings, Ana.
