Write damn you...WRITE!

Stephen King said in his book, On Writing-
"If you wanna be a writer there's two things you have to do. Read a lot and write a lot."

As it so happens I agree with him.

Let's look at it this way - if you ever expect to be a writer then you have to write something. Right?
Many people dream of being writers, I think it's in our nature as humans to want to create. Whether it be art, music, film or writing, there's always that something inside of us that wants us to be "known" to the world. We want to leave our mark in some way. Writers are no different.

But here's the catch...you have to work damn hard. So hard in fact, that you may tire yourself into exhaustion some days, or cry or laugh or sweat over your keyboard (or notebook) while in the thralls of composition. It's hard work being a writer but being a writer means you have to write.

I dreamed for years about being a writer. Sure, I had always done it, from an early age, this crazy thing called writing. But there was a time in my life where I never wrote a thing and instead, just sat there and daydreamed about what it would be like to be a writer. I made up mock interviews with myself, talked to people at book signings and saw the fictitious checks come through my mailbox. All in my head. Crazy? Not so much...

I think quite a few aspiring writers feel this way because frankly, they are afraid. I know I was. Afraid of sitting there and looking at that blank page, knowing how much ground you have to cover and how much work is involved. Afraid that your work might not be accepted (fear of failure) or that your work might be accepted and you won't know what to do afterwards (fear of success). The truth is, fear is something that we all encounter. The question is...are you going to let that fear control your dreams? The answer...hell no!

I woke up and the next thing I knew I was 30. Shit, how time flies when you're doing nothing. But then it happened. An awakening and epiphany or whatever you want to call it...it happened. I realized that if I ever wanted to be a writer I would have to write something. So I did and am still doing so. My mistress has returned to me and our love affair is more passionate than ever.

Am I published yet? No. But I soon will be. Oh how I wished that I never took that time off to daydream. How I wish I was writing all those years (5 to be exact) and sending my work to agents and publishers and magazines. Who knows, I may have a book out there now instead of later.

So dear friends and aspiring writers I have one piece of advice for you...

Write damn you...WRITE!