I’m deeply engrossed in the pages of “On Writing”. My mind is also preoccupied with a lot of work related deadlines but I’m taking a slight break to address a question posted by a reader. She wanted to know if I could recommend a way to become an awesome writer. The way the question was phrased made it sound like there’s a potion somewhere you can order, drink and wake up as the next Ernest Hemmingway. If this potion existed, I'd be the first in line to buy it. After all, who wouldn’t love a completely effortless writing process? Unfortunately, this formula doesn’t exist and never will. The only way to awesome writing is, wait for this, writing. The only way to get better at writing is to write, write and write and when you think you can’t write anymore, write some more. When you feel like you’ll hurl the laptop through the window if that sentence doesn’t come together, write some more. When you think you want to watch something on TV, write some more. And when you’re finally done with all the writing, guess what, you still have to write some more. Even if you read all the how-to books, newsletters and ezines on writing in this world, believe it or not, you still have to write. A Lot! There’s just no way round it.
It’s an underwhelming and slightly annoying answer but every successful writer from John Grisham to Stephen King to Dean Koontz will tell you the same thing. The only way to become an awesome writer is to continue writing. The more you write, the better you get at it.
