Why is Writing So Hard?

I have always been a daydreamer. I remember in grade school being reprimanded by a teacher for ‘never paying attention’ in class. She was right. I found my imagination far more interesting than arithmetic. I still do…

It is easy to dream up a story. An idea comes into your head and if you allow your mind to go, it can take you to some very interesting places. People and events form, then come alive, decades of time flitting past in a few minutes of thought. So why is it so hard to transcribe these stories to paper?

For me it is the grind of writing detail. The broad strokes are easy, but fleshing out those strokes to show the fine lines and gradients of color is a challenge. Some writers bang out a first draft in weeks, then spend months refining dialogue and description. I had a first draft of Return of the Sun finished within a year or so. It took nearly thirty years to complete. In all fairness to myself, I did have children, pets, and a job as distractions.

Time. It takes time and effort to complete a story. Without dedication and perseverance, you won’t progress. If we make time for the things we want to do, we can accomplish so much. It can take weeks to form the habit of a daily routine, but once you do, it makes setting aside time for undertakings, such as writing, much easier. I know that if I can succeed, so can anyone.

During my dedicated writing time, what I found works for me is to come to a point in the story that needs more, read that section, then close my eyes. Just like with daydreaming, I let my mind take over and imagine what would happen in that moment. Sometimes I can’t write fast enough to keep up with the flow! I often find myself returning to a particular point that still isn’t quite right, and picking at it until I am satisfied.

Whatever you are working on, whether it is writing a story, composing a piece of music, or knitting a sweater, I hope you make time for your project. The creative process is fulfilling, and the end product something of which we can be proud.