Find the Missing Ingredient in Your Writing Life

Isaamyn West, American Writer says "Talent is helpful in writing but guts are absolutely necessary.  Without the guts to try, talent may never be discovered.

Guts + Talent = A Writing In The Making

G/Gifts + U/Unique + T/Talent + S/Sparkle = Y/You

We covered W R I and T - now we'll cover E, R, & S.

E/EVERYDAY

Find time to write everyday.  Discvoer what works for you.  Write every day and write any where and any time.  I hear a line in a move that hits and I write it.  Write in restaurants on napkins.  Carry notebooks with you.  Just write.  Keep the writing juices flowing. 

R/RISK

Take a risk and say I AM A WRITER.  Be prepared to risk reading your material in class.  Risk and rejection go together.  It's ok.  When you risk, you get.  Submit your work.  You may get rejected; it comes with the territory.  When that happens you risk again and keep writing and keep submitting and one day something wonderful happens.  Your risk turns into a magic happening. Someone likes what've you've written and your words are published.

S/STYLE

Develop your own style.  There is only one of you.  Style is you and it is unique and it is your soul and spirit.  My style is short, practical and I want to express on paper my feelings, thoughts and ideas.  If the reader feels good when reading my writing, that is my style and that is what matters to me.

In real estate, three words apply LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION.

For writers - write - read - ideas - tools - everyday - risk - style

One more habit you should acquire and I think it is probably the most important one of all.  FUN FUN FUN.  Have fun.  Enjoy yourself.  Amaze yourself with your words and what you put on paper.  Laugh, ring them bells.  When I was a kid I loved going out to play.  Now at my age, I love going to writing classes and being with other writers.  I'm having fun.  What great fun it is when you have taken a risk and sent out your writing and are told it is going to get published.  What fun is that.

It's like winning at the Masters.  Did you watch Bubba Watson win yesterday? Don't you love his name?   How much fun was that.  I think writers and golfers have a lot in common.  In golf, it's only you,  the club,  the hole.  In writing, it's you, the pen and paper, and words.  The golfer's goal is to get the ball in the hole.  The writer's goal is to get the words on the paper.  One key element is to visualize - golfer sees ball going into the hole - writer sees words on paper. 

Enjoy your summer and have lots of fun.

Here's to the writer in you.