Why Genuine Love Matters When Writing
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When I wrote what I considered to be my first “novel,” I adored it. I wanted the entire world to read it, and I wanted to get it out as quickly as possible.
I have since come to realize that it was horrible, with no plot, no concrete character development, nothing but overdone tropes, and genuinely had no memorable moments, but I’ll say this was due to my young age and general inexperience.
And honestly? I’m okay with that. Because I know I loved it, and I still do.
Loving the Art
Argue with me if you would like, but I strongly believe that in order to be a capital ‘W’ Writer, you have to love it. Well, maybe you don’t have to love everything you write to be a writer, but it certainly helps. No arguing on that one.
If writing is your full-time job, or hell, a fun pass time you have, then you should love what you do, especially if it’s how you make a living. There’s nothing more fulfilling than finally covering a blank page with stories you’ve created, everything you’ve envisioned falling out onto that document. And you should love every second of it.
Even if you hate the job you’re in. If you don’t adore the writing you’re working on. You should still. Love. To. Write.
There are a lot of things in this world itching to take away your happiness, so don’t let writing be something you lose. Don’t let it be something you’ve come to hate.
Making It Work
Imagine you’re on a basketball team. You love basketball with all your heart, and you’d do anything to get better. You practice every day, you eat right, you bond with your team, and you give it your all at games and practice. You’re going to get better, and fast.
Now, imagine that you hate sports (maybe you don’t have to imagine). You can’t stand to watch them, let alone play them. But you’re still on that basketball team, and you aren’t exactly the MVP. If you practice and give some effort in the game, are you going to get better at basketball? Sure, but nowhere near as much as you would if you were someone who enjoyed the sport you were playing.
The same goes for writing. You can write articles and emails and grants, or poems and stories and…
