Writing yourself into existence
Today I heard a quote by the Swedish writer Lars Norén that stuck with me:
The writer must first create the writer.
Interesting thought. How do we go about accomplishing that? Maybe we should start by looking at how not do it, since it's easy to fall into that trap.
Wading through books, videos, and podcasts on how to find your voice can be fascinating, but it will never “create the writer”. Instead, it often leads to an endless loop.
— Just this book, and then I'm done. Oh, that series of videos mentioned in the book sounds exciting. Yes, that online course they talk about in the videos is a must.
It just never ends. It's a waste of precious time.
The solution is much simpler ... and so much harder if we listen to our inner critic. But the real, final answer will always be the same:
Write, write, write. On your phone, in a journal, on a napkin, in your head, on a computer...
Yes, it's rewarding and important to read what others have written too, but writing yourself will always be number one. It doesn't matter how you do it — although I like to do it in blog form to add a bit of "healthy pressure" — the main thing is that you do it.
Having trouble finding something to write about? Check out the posts listed in the ‘What to Blog About?’ category on the Blog Inspiration page. Participating in a blogging challenge can also give your writing a boost.
Best of luck! Keep writing — always and forever.