Writers don’t navel gaze: they write!
It all started with this on my friend’s Facebook page:
These images really got me thinking, because this pretty much sums up many people’s attitudes to writers and writing.
Whenever I tell people I’m a writer, living in the countryside, I always get the same reaction; “Ah, that’ll be inspiring. You can look at the sea for hours on end, waiting for the ideas to come. That’s the life!”
Well, yes, in many ways, it is the life. I’ve surrounded myself with beautiful views and inspiring people, and I get to do what I love every day. But as any writer knows, writing doesn’t entail sitting and waiting for an idea to form; writing is hard work. You have to discipline yourself to sit and write every day – you have to make ideas work, yet be prepared to scrap hours, days, or even several months’ worth of work if the plot/characters/general ideas don’t work out in the end. And you also have to be ruthless and selfless enough to spot the failure in the first place, despite the time and effort you’ve invested.
Writing can be lonely, time consuming and takes an enormous amount of self control – it’s a selfish monster but, if you’re a writer, it’s a necessity. Writing is embedded in your soul and words need to be formed, manipulated and loved on a daily basis, no matter what else is going on in your life. But don’t get me wrong; writing is also a complete delight. And there’s an unidentifiable joy that you gain from jumping into the sea of language and coming up with a handcrafted pearl.
As writers, we take huge risks to follow our passion, our dream. We risk isolation, rejection and failure as, every day, we strive for perfection. We practise and train as much as athletes, craving success and recognition as well as the satisfaction of producing an enjoyable read. Ask any writer; you can write for yourself and try to feel satisfied with your work but there’s an inherent need for verification in the form of a publishing deal.
Yet, with or without a publisher behind us, we have to remind ourselves on a daily basis that yes, we’re writers. We have to know what we’re aiming for and be prepared to go out and get it. So we stoke up our laptops and wield our pens, then leap back into the tide – unsure of where we’re going but delighted to be going on the journey.
Why? Because, contrary to popular belief, writers don’t navel gaze; they write. No matter what else is going on, writing is our driving force for everyday life. And, I must say, it’s magical.
First of all, I love that image above, and yes, you’re dead right, I think that IS what people think when we say we’re writers. But writing is work. Sometimes, very hard work, sometimes hugely enjoyable work; but work, nonetheless. At the end of the day, every time you sit down to write, you’re learning a craft, in the same way a carpenter learns their trade. But our apprenticeship is carried out on our own, with only how-to books and the odd writing workshop to help us out. And the most important thing, as you say, is to not be distracted from this. Writer’s write, that’s what we do. I think that’s the best advice any of us can be given: You want to be a writer, stop procrastinating, stop navel gazing, and write!
Sometimes, for many of us, even those closest to us do not understand. As an ex-girlfriend once said to me: “You’re coming shopping with me. Now. I’m not carrying a load of shopping bags while you sit on your arse writing.”
The greatest writer of his generation and she wants him carrying shopping bags!!
I ask you.
Would it be churlish of me to say that I do spend a lot of time navel-gazing? I’m at the coast at the moment, going for long walks at the beach and soaking up the scenery – I love it. Yesterday while I was on the beach I thought of a solution to a rather thin part of my WIP. I whipped out my iPhone and dictated my thoughts to myself, then continued my very pleasant walk, working the plot through in my head. Today I spent half an hour writing that scene, based on a 2 hour walk.
I seldom write for more than three hours a day, and that time still feels like an indulgence. Or maybe it’s like the old saying; Find what you enjoy working at and you’ll never work a day in your life. I think I’ll keep on navel-gazing
Exactly, Derek – I often get embroiled in chance meetings with people who’ve written a first draft who want to get it published, but they don’t want to edit it first. Most of them don’t even want to research where they’re sending the novel to and want me to provide the answers, which as we all know, isn’t possible. I love writing – like you say, it’s hugely enjoyable but it is work, a craft – and that’s what I always try to get across to people.
U.V. Ray – Ha ha – I can picture the scene exactly. That’s exactly what I’m talking about. I guess all creative/arts-centred careers will get a similar reaction – they’re less measurable than, say, commuting to an office, working at a desk for 40 hours a week and getting a set wage at the end of every month. I know, because I’ve done it; and that’s been one of the biggest struggles while making the transition from ‘worker’ to ‘writer’- trying to make it measurable. But hey – I’d never go back!
Jane – I don’t think that’s churlish at all. I also walk at least two hours a day, go running, boating, fishing, gardening etc – with W.I.P. issues volleying around in my head. And yes, writing is a complete joy. But these times dont encapsulate the whole entity that is writing – you still have to put in the hard work as well. Three hours a day is good going – and it’s when you get the results from the inspirational bit. But you still need to rework & edit what you create. I love how you’ve explained the navel-gazing bit – I agree completely that it’s a necessary part.
Navel gazing is where the the magic is concieved ..
And through the writers wand the magic is expressed ..
Through the power of the pen entire universes can be created x