Writing, Writing, Who is-a-Writing?

 How many of you have more than ten books on writing?  Go ahead, raise your hand.  I'm sure ten is an insignificant number compared to how many you actually own.  Why do we do this to ourselves?

We load up our reading library with an insurmountable number of 'how to write' books that we will never read.  Yes, some we will get through.  I like Ray Bradbury's Zen in the Art of Writing.   This is one of those 'quick read' books that inspire.  You cannot walk away from that book and not be pumped to write the next chapter.

For every book like that, I own at least five I have been unable to finish.  Some I couldn't even get started.  I have become more discerning about this genre of books.  If I'm not hooked in the first paragraph, I'm not buying it.  Sound familiar?

The question I lay before you now is: How has this latent library of how-to-write books impacted your writing career.  I'm sure there will be those authors - very left brained in many ways - that will peel off dozens of books that have impacted their writing life. 

What about the intimidation factor?  You know, the "I'm not doing it like this person says therefore I must be failing" mentality.  I fall into this often.  I have to step back periodically and say out loud, "Take the best of what this person says, and throw away the rest."

Writing is not linear.  Writing is not analytical (unless you write that scientific stuff).  Writing is creating.  Writing is snagging thoughts that zip past your consciousness faster than the speed of light.  Writing is crafting your own words into something that compels others to feel, to connect.  Writing is individualistic in nature, yet, a writer who hoofs it alone often fails. 

We need the comfort of other writers.  How many friends, family and acquaintances have you spoken to on the subject of writing?  How long did it take for their eyes to glaze over and find an excuse to go clean a toilet?  Writers love to talk shop.  Non-writers don't.

These how-to-write books are surrogate friends.  These people wrote books to talk shop with us.  Many of these books help us in our writing life in some way or another.  Just be careful.  You are as viable an author as the person who wrote the book on book-writing.  The only difference between you is that they've written down their writing experience and you haven't.

I'm on a mission to compile my writing experiences and see where they may help others.  Yep, one day I may throw another of those how-to-write books into the mix.  Just remember, that which I've endured and experienced in my writing life that affects you in some positive manner - keep.  That which does not help - toss.

Writing is something you control.  You have the final say on when, where, how, why, about whom, etc.  Never let me nor anyone else knock you off track.  We all take different paths.  They may appear very similar, and often they are, but ultimately, your path is an amazing path that someday others will wish to read about.  Believe it.  Live it. 

Go ahead.  Scoff at that small library of how-to's behind you.  Shout, "I'm as good as you".  Smile and get back to it.