Three Things You’re Already Doing to Help You Become A Writer

Have you seen those memes floating around the internet where one picture on the left says, “What my friends think I do as a writer”? Then, there’s another picture beside it that says, “What I really do when I’m writing.” That’s basically how it goes. You don’t look like the picture on the left, so obviously, you’re not a real writer. Not true. Whatever the reason is you’re not sitting at a desk with your fingers moving 100 miles per hour on a keyboard, it doesn’t mean you aren’t making moves towards getting there. Here’s how I know:

1. You know what you want to write.

There’s something about watching people at a cafe chatting or overhearing someone’s phone conversation that makes our writing minds take off. We fill in the blanks. We create the backstory. We predict what’s going to happen. We write the stories even when we aren’t pecking on laptop keys. That’s you. That’s you putting together pieces of what could be your first novel or submission to a short story contest. That’s you exercising those mental writing muscles. That’s you. And that is writer behavior.

We never miss a moment to create, whether in our minds or at work physically writing. This is the nature of being a writer. Everything does not happen at the desk. Sometimes it’s while you’re washing your hands at a public restroom sink. Sometimes, it’s figuring out what just happened when your upstairs neighbor makes a heavy thump on the floor.

Writing is a process that doesn’t begin with once upon a time. Inspiration is the preface for writing. You can’t write without it. Therefore, if you are inspired, you are already in motion towards becoming a writer.

2. You know what you want to write.

When you ask someone who says they want to become a writer what it is they write, the number of people who say “I don’t know” isn’t as big as those who can enthusiastically tell you their answer. “I want to write a children’s book.” “I’ve been thinking about writing about my mother's life.”

Whatever the genre is, most likely you know. Knowing brings you one step closer to doing. It also means you’ve identified where your voice fits in the writing world.

Whether passion directed you there or you met someone that made you instantly think about writing a story about them or something that happened to them about them,

you’ve shook hands with the genre you want to write under.

3. You haven’t given up.

If the headline of this blog caught your attention, you haven’t abandoned your desire to write. Contrary to popular belief, being a writer is about constantly making the decision to not quit for a million reasons everyday.

Bad writing day…let’s quit.

Two star review…I’m a terrible writer.

Spilled coffee on your laptop…well, maybe that one doesn’t count.

The point is, it’s still at the forefront of your mind even if it isn’t on your daily schedule. But now that you’re read #1 above, you can now intentionally schedule it into your day. Even if you’ve been saying “I wanna write a book” for what seems like forever, it’s not too late.

As you walk your path towards being the writer you want to become, give yourself credit for the steps you’re taking. They are a part of the process. Writers write. This is true. But writing is not the only thing successful writers do. A lot of time is spent working our way to the page. Whether you want to write romance, or fantasy, or something funny, the world and people around you play a part in shaping the settings and characters you will create. Just remember to give yourself grace and don't skip the self-care of your journey towards the page. You’re already a writer in progress.