It’s a question that too many wannabe writers have asked when sitting before a blank page or screen. And finding no answer to fill that void before them, shelved their dreams forever.
They forget that to succeed at anything in life, we need to sink in loads of practice, perseverance and self-belief. And writing is no different. Says the famous author Neil Gaiman:
“This is how you do it: you sit down at the keyboard and you put one word after another until it’s done. It’s that easy, and that hard.”
So before you give up, give it one more try. Keeping these pointers in mind.
Write what you know
The best story ideas are usually deep within, the challenge being to dig deep enough to get them out. Write about your world, your experiences, and your emotions. Develop your own style because that is your USP, unique selling point. Nobody else can think, feel or write like you. So, write your truth and write it your way.
Know what you write
However, if writers confined themselves only to life experiences, they would run out of ideas pretty quickly. And some of the most popular books would never be written. Inspector Ghote detective novels, which were set in India were written by H. R. F. Keating, without having set foot in India even once!
So, once you have build up your confidence and picked up writing momentum, attempt ideas that you care about. Or places and people that interest you. And then do your research so that you know what you are writing about. Read up, talk to people in the know and then “fill your paper with the breathings of your heart” (William Wordsworth).
Never say die
Each day, when you sit down at the writing table, you will face a new challenge to your writing. But if you really mean to be a writer, then you will just have to hammer away till you win the battle with the blank sheet.
