Anyone Can Write?

A tribute to writers everywhere.

Anyone can write.

What do you think of the above statement--true or false?

(If you’re wondering, yes, I did adapt that phrase from Ratatouille. Moving on.)

I’m gonna say it’s essentially true. Anyone with the time, resources, ability, and inclination to learn how to put letters and words together in a way that makes an iota of sense, can do it.

Does that mean that anyone can write well?

In many areas of life, skill or beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And I believe this applies to the field of writing. In other words, “good writing” is subjective. So, yes, I believe anyone can write anything, and someone, somewhere, in the world will find it staggeringly beautiful and immensely inspiring. Now maybe when it comes to good grammar and mechanics you won't be amazing right away, but once you hone your craft, your writing will grow more and more polished.

So wait, does that mean anyone can write well enough to be published?

Well, that’s another issue altogether. And sort of next-gen for most of us Prosers. But like I said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and when it comes to publishing houses and literary magazines, that adage is exceptionally true. Honestly, I can’t speak much on that front except to suggest that you approach that avenue with a thick skin, fingers crossed, and a folder or ten for all your rejection slips and negative reviews. (Actually that’s probably a good idea for writers in general.)

But what I’m primarily talking about here is simple, basic writing, the act of putting one word after another to create meaning. Yes, there will always be the naysayers and haters, but I believe anyone can write and find some kind of appreciative, supportive audience for their writing. (Especially here on Prose.)

What does that mean for the everyday, aspiring writer? People like you and me?

It’s profoundly simple, I believe. Just keep writing.

Regardless of your age, race, economic status, education level, academic abilities or achievements, current skill-level; whether you love and adore the words you write and think they deserve a Pulitzer, or whether you feel like most of the words that spew from your fingertips are veritable chunks of brain vomit not worthy to be read to the ants in the dumpster.

Because no matter what--no matter what you think of your writing or what criticism you may receive for it--you are a writer, and you deserve to be treated as such. Don't wait for validation to call yourself a writer. Just because you may not have found anyone who relates to your particular brand of awesomeness, it doesn’t mean that day won’t come. And even if you really are a horrible writer now, you won’t stay that way if you work at it.

Just keep writing. Follow your passion. Don’t be afraid of failure. And write what’s true to yourself.

And if nothing else, love your writing for what it is--the visual process of your mind’s inner workings coming to life on a blank page (and that’s a beautiful thing); and what it means--the ability to bring joy to human hearts, to find transformational connections with people around you, and to effect change in your corner of the world with your unique perspective and insight.

This applies to all kinds of writing, whether you are a bestselling author of 50+ thriller novels or whether the majority of your writing consists of well-phrased, succint snippets of life in regular social media status updates.

Even if you only write for yourself, and not a single word that flows from your pen will ever be seen outside the confines of your own private domicile, your writing still has purpose. Writing for yourself is just as valuable as, and in many ways, more therapeutic than, writing for others. Journaling our thoughts and ideas is a healing, self-empowering way of processing ourselves and the world around us. (But I’d recommend that you eventually let the rest of us have a peek inside that marvelous brain of yours.)

What matters is how you desire to see yourself; if you consider yourself a writer (even a bad one), or aspire to be one, don’t let anyone dissuade you from that conviction, and do your very best to be worthy of the title. And remember that the ability of common, ordinary folk like you and me to read and write is a relatively recent phenomenon in the history of our world. So don’t take it for granted. Use your writing to its highest potential. And don’t let anyone or anything keep you from that goal.

By the way, I’m not talking about constructive criticism here; that is something else entirely and very necessary for writers. What I mean is plain old bashing and bullying and attempting to shut you down. So if anyone ever tells you that you are too young, or too old, or too ignorant, or unimportant or irrelevant, or that your voice doesn’t matter, then you can tell them where to shove it.

Well, actually, don’t do that. Here’s a more sophisticated response: Just smile knowingly, like you’ve got a huge secret that only those of us elite people are in on, and say, “I appreciate the fact that you care enough about my welfare to share your kind and thoughtful opinion. I will take it into consideration and get back to you after I finish the final draft of my new novel. Deadlines, you know.”

Or this: “I’d love to stay and chat about the many angles and ramifications of your insightful and enlightening comment, and please know that your opinion is valuable to me; however, I simply must get started on responding to the mound of correspondence that is piling up on my desk. Don’t want to keep the NewYorker waiting, you know.”

Who cares if you sound believable or not. Truthfully, what you say isn’t as important as how you respond. Your attitude is the key, and conveying one of unapologetic, personal confidence and perseverance, no matter what, will be what convinces the naysayers otherwise.

Anyone can write, and that includes you.

And now, because this post is now exorbitantly longer than I’d set out for it to be, I will leave you with a quote or three (okay, eight) for your reading pleasure:

“To succeed, we must first believe we can.” ~ Michael Korda

“A writer needs three things, experience, observation, and imagination, any two of which, at times any one of which, can supply the lack of the others.” ~ William Faulkner

“Talent is helpful in writing, but guts are absolutely necessary.” ~ Jessamyn West

“Success is a process, not an event.” ~ Gary Halbert

“Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.”

~ E. L. Doctorow

“Don’t forget— no one else sees the word the way you do, so no one else can tell the stories you have to tell.” ~ Charles de Lint

“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” ~ Richard Bach

“The only writer to whom you should compare yourself is the writer you were yesterday.”

~ David Schlosser

Sorry, there are just too many good quotes out there to limit myself to three. But I hope they were as inspiring to you as they were to me, and that you got something useful out of this post of mine.

Okay, enough reading. Now go and write.

#opinion

#inspirational

#youareawriter

#andyoureawesome