Recently I was invited for an interview where the host asked,"Can anyone be a writer?"
Was this asked ten years back, I would have said, “No, you need to have an aptitude for it.” At that time, I was living under the notion that writers are born.
After publishing two books and writing blogs for more than nine years, now I can positively say that anyone can become a writer with a condition - you need to have eagerness and attitude towards learning the art.
Writing is a skill that can be developed with patience, practise, and persistence. It is the same as cooking, gardening, or painting; anyone can learn if there is a tiny bit of ambition to hold on to art and to put in sufficient effort when the tide is rough. An optimum level of interest in any activity does the trick to clutch on to the endeavours you wish to grow in. An unwavering mind can hardly produce decent ideas, sustain focus or find consistency to stay committed to learning the art.
Like any other skill, writing a blog or a book requires knowledge of basic nuances and a commitment to invest time into practice.
Maintaining the right expectations is critical at the early stages of moving into the writer’s community. You need to know the dos and don’ts of writing (hyperlink my other blog of writing). And must overcome the myth that your first right-up or book will create history and put you among the category of best-seller authors.
The harsh fact of writing is to learn to climb the hill after a steep downfall.
Many venturing into writing worry about vocabulary inadequacy, punctuation errors, creative inability, and comprehension incompetence.
What they must worry about is high-quality content. I have spoken to readers of fiction and non-fiction books, and the prime reason for them to pick up a book is content that is worth reading.
Would you watch a stodgy movie or series on Netflix? Wouldn’t you switch off the tv if there is a boring show? Bridgerton, Lupin, The Scam are well-accepted series by the audience because the content was compelling to hold the audience attention.
It is the same for writers; the content must speak volumes. Intense, entertaining, or educating stuff, whatever you may write, mindfully have an ardent grip on your content.
Along with that, every writer must work on enhancing their wellbeing. This requires bringing healthy balance between mental and emotional physiologies and learning to connect with your gut. A writer requires a constructive frame of mind to deliver innovative ideas and frame a sentence to comprehend efficiently.
The prerequisite to writing is an amalgamation of research and intuition
And all the above is dependent on one and non-negotiable question,
“Why do you want to write a book or a blog?”
The one answer you should not have if you are working towards exploring book writing or blogging, “I am writing for yourself.”
In that case, stick to journaling. You don’t have to put in the immense effort if your writing is meant simply for you.
You must continue writing if your answer is …
I can enhance my business through this book.
I know it will make readers laugh and forget their worries for a while.
I want to tell you that I have the authority to talk about this subject matter.
I want to change careers, and this book will help.
What I want to say will change the way people would live their life.
You would be able to cross all sort of challenges when you have clarity about your ‘why’ which lets you define your purpose. You will stick to writing if you know your drive towards writing. This itself will give you the strength: to work on your vocabulary, punctuation, ideas, comprehension, language or any other required skill for writing.
Hence, my answer to the question, “Can anyone become a writer?”
Yes, anyone can write if the purpose is clear and a self-commitment is done, to holding the feet in all challenges.
Very beautiful article Vandana. Written in simple language and to the point. I am a writer because that’s what I have always wanted to be. From what I know of myself, my identity is tied up with writing although I in my college days I never pursued it aggressively unlike now.
Writing is an art, which ,with passion and honing becomes like a beautiful painting of words.
Dear Arti! Always a pleasure to receive feedback from a passionate writer like you.