A pep talk (or: being a "Real Writer")

A word of warning: this is a pep talk for people who are suffering burnout, fatigue, or writer’s block this month. It’s aimed at people who like to think of themselves as serious writers, not for people who are doing Nano casually. There’s nothing wrong with exploring writing as a hobby, or just deciding to write a novel on the side, but if you’re the person who’s just dabbling in writing, this isn’t for you. This isn't the pep talk you're looking for. This is for people who think they're “real writers”, but are stuck. There's nothing wrong with getting stuck, but, for "real writers," there IS something wrong with staying there. Here's my experience with beating writer's block this month. Maybe it will help you, too.

So I’ve been stuck in a rut for awhile now. I’ll admit that I’m a Nano rebel, and my current story is a continuation of the story that I began last November and have been pecking away at for a year. I got one week into it this month, and suddenly my story just wasn’t interesting anymore. Suddenly the words no longer flowed easily; they ground out slowly, one by one. The plot reared its ugly head and I realized just how much there was to do in my story, and how dead my brain was. Whatever wit and turn of phrase I had possessed last month when I started this story was just….gone. And so was the fun. I’ll say it: writing was no longer fun.

And, like many of you thought when you hit that point, I began to wonder whether writing was “my thing.” Whether I was actually a “real writer”, or had just pretended to be one all these years.

Now, I’ve heard different people say different things about that. The snarky answer is that if you write words, you’re a real writer. Some are more existential, and say that if people read what you write, you’re a real writer. Others are more practical, and say that if you make money on your writing, you’re a real writer. Still others say that only if you feed yourself and pay your bills with the money from writing, you’re a real writer.

Now, everybody’s different, and if you need to have any of those things in order to write, or to feel like you’re a writer, then fine. Personal style is always a factor, and you should do whatever works for you. But as I thought about what various people – Nanos and non-Nanos alike – were telling me about writer’s block and about what it took to be a “real writer,” I realized the truth. And once I realized that, I realized why I CAN’T have writer’s block.

I don’t care if you’re burned out, or stuck, or tired, or busy. I don’t care if your story and characters are boring, or misbehaving. I don’t care if the words themselves fight back. I don’t care if all your fingers fell off, or if your computer got teh virusez and Word had a psychotic break. I don’t care if it’s no longer fun, or if you don’t “feel like” writing today. Being a real writer isn’t about just having fun, and it’s not about having a hobby. Nor is it about making writing your financial support. Because for a real writer, writing is more than all of those things. It’s more important than fun, or a hobby, or your material survival. For a real writer, writing is not just something fun or cool to do when you feel like it, nor is it just your livelihood.

Being a real writer is about writing when it’s NOT fun. Being a real writer is about WORKING on your writing anyway, whether you feel like it or not. Because it’s that important to you, and if you don’t, you’ll go crazy. You must write. It’s WHAT YOU DO. If you’re religious or spiritual, it’s what you were made for, the reason you're here on Earth. If you can say “no” to writing and go on with your life, then you’re not a “real writer.” You eat, you sleep, you write. Those are the basics.

So, if you're a real writer, put your hands on the keyboard, or on the typewriter keys, or pick up that pencil or pen. Find it within you to write right through that writer’s block. Muster everything you’ve got to push through that burnout. Find the story again, meet your characters again, summon the passion back. Because if you’re a real writer, you MUST. You can’t wait, you can’t walk away, and you can’t slack.

If you’re a real writer, you don't GET to wait for the Muse.
If you’re a real writer, you don't GET to say “no.”
If you’re a real writer, you don't GET to quit.

NOT THIS MONTH.

*applauds*

tl;dr version: when Nano eats your soul, reach down Nano's throat and GET YOUR SOUL BACK.

*Applauds more*

Thank you for the reminder. My back hurts, my feet hurt, work was long, and I'm tired. But this is so important to me, and I was in danger of forgetting that.

Thank you, that was wonderful.

Can I hug you now?

This is a really great pep talk.

This is exactly what we need.

This is...

AWESOME.

**APPLAUDS**
Bravo!!!

Very well said, and you are COMPLETELY right.
Real Writers are the people that write casually or seriously.
But, SERIOUS writers are the ones that drag out the words when they no longer flow so well.
I am a serious writer, and have books that prove it- but you're all right.
When Nano eats your soul, take it back.
And when you no longer feel like writing- well, that's just tough.
We don't get to quit. We write because we can't NOT write.

I am tired and still managed to write at least 500 words.
As long as you write something, it's worth it.

Anyways, time for me to go back to work before going to bed.
Night all. x

HELL YES! This is hands-down the best and most encouraging thing I've read so far this month. Thank you! And I'm having one of the same testy-rebel months you are.

I think my soul's way down deep in the belly of the beast, but I just killed it, and all I need is a flashlight...

This is amazing. I love you.

Even I thought that was brilliant and I'm a miserable cow.

This is exactly how I feel about writing. And it's really in doing NaNoWriMo (I am also a rebel or sorts, currently knee deep in an intended 90,000 word draft that I started in October) that this has sunk in for me. If I want this, which I do, then I just have to do it. Doesn't matter how I feel, what I think, what comes out, what stays in... if I don't do it, it won't get done, and that's the end of my writing career and the deep satisfaction that I don't get from anything else.

So I keep writing.

Now THAT is a pep talk!

C'mon, all you REAL Writers! You can do it!

Despite being one of the least serious people on the planet, I am a very serious writer and I found this helped a lot.
Now, some help with convincing this teenage "real writer"'s parents to let her stay up past 9pm to write?

::Claps:: Thank you.

I needed a real pep talk, the ones they're sending out haven't been doing it for me.

::Goes to write::

That was fantastic, thank you so much. That is a pep talk. Where was it a week ago when I needed a pep talk, though?

Now THAT is a pep talk.

And one that I really needed, since I was feeling really stuck. I had a bunch of ideas as to where to go, but no idea how to make them come to life.

And now I have to just write them to see what'll stick once it's time to edit, and what'll be tossed aside or put somewhere else.

That was all kinds of perfect. I wanted to keep shouting "YES!" the entire time I was reading it. :D

Thank you.

This pep talk is exactly the thing I needed. I'm sick at the momemnt, and I'm lying in bed thinking, "I should write, I don't want to, but I can't go to sleep...ooh NaNo forums!" And now I've got the will to write, even if it's just that next scene.

Thank you!!!

I desperately needed that today. Thank you.

This was amazing! This will help a lot of people write, and become 'real writers'.