As a writer, I like to complain.
Artfully, if possible, with plenty of tribulation thrown in for good
measure, of course, but, usually, any old grouse will do.
It's the
burden of being an artist, right? We suffer and bleed our insightful
impulses onto paper for the enlightenment of others. We have the
right to complain about the agony of it all.
I recently wondered what the point of
all these wretched woes are when I last had the opportunity to begin
my usual writerly griping. I was talking to another writer, who
stated that she just didn't have the time to write. I agreed. It was
on the tip of my tongue to detail all the things that daily harassed
my writing routine. But she spoke first – almost the exact words I
would have used – and I knew why I wanted to complain.
The fact is, I was feeling guilty. I
knew I hadn't been trying, that there were plenty of opportunities
that I had been too tired or too lazy or too bored of which to take
advantage. Isn't it obvious? I wanted to complain
to hide my shortcomings. I think that attitude is one most of us
writers can relate to.
It's so much safer to detail the
troubles keeping us from writing than it is to actually do the thing
we need to do. Everybody these days has a busy life – they can
understand the inability to accomplish a long and difficult goal.
It's safer and more comfortable to gain a sympathetic ear rather than
to do the work itself.
Sadly, the more we complain, the less
we write. It becomes a habit to not write then to complain about all
the work we can't do. All the while, we pay for books and courses,
visit blogs and websites, and go to meetings that tell us the 101
Ways to Become a Better Writer when we could simply do the deed
itself and become better through practice.
I think it's time we all took an honest
look at the obvious: we'd be better writers (we'd feel like writers)
if we actually wrote.
I'm sure I'll still need to complain
from time to time about the lack of hours in a day. But, from now on,
I'll make sure it's after I've actually attempted to write.
Ah to complain. I agree though it is often just us making excuses. I think time management is so important to a writer. I have finally, this past year, gotten myself to writing everyday which has been a goal of mine for years.
ReplyDeleteLOL. No, I'm too exhausted to complain after writing. The brain no longer fires. Vision fails. I tumble into bed. *snore*
ReplyDeleteIt's easier to complain than it is to share with someone that you've actually wrote something. It takes guts, so write.
ReplyDeleteThanks great bloog post
ReplyDelete