“Just write the damn book.”
This was the advice given on this wonderful Reddit thread. The OP asked: Hello, beautiful community! Wondering, what was the best advice you got that helped you?
The answers were a gift that keeps on giving. I must share what I consider to be the best advice of all.
Quote:
“Just write the damn book.”
Honestly, that was the best advice someone gave me years ago. I was so hung up on if I was writing something my family or friends would be proud of, instead of just writing what I wanted to write. Writing without worrying about social etiquette, societal morals, or if someone would approve. It was such a freeing experience and I learned a lot about myself.
So, I just shamelessly wrote the book, and here I am years later, wishing I had just bit the bullet and started sooner.”
I feel this. It is very difficult to write without anticipating other people’s reactions, and if one dwells too long on this, it will totally corrupt the writing. Many of us are people pleasers and want people to like and relate to our work. But writing to please is a betrayal that kills and the joy and freedom writing should give.
It takes a long time to get over the need for approval. And now, on top of that, comes the desire not to offend. Not to use offensive language and character portrayal is a minefield. There is a need for sensitivity readers. In my next book, my main male character will show signs of mental illness and I briefly wondered if I should add a trigger warning in the book description. I wrote one up and then decided against it.
Some other pearls of advice from this Reddit thread are:
“You have to get up in the morning and write like a drunk has to drink”.
“You can’t fix a blank page.”
“Write the story you want to read.”
This is what I do and though my approach is not the most popular in my genre, I have to write what is fun for me, not what is popular. I do get up in the morning, and get drunk on writing.
Artwork generated by AI using Midjourney.
DEE HARPER LEWIS 