Writing is awfully hard. It's difficult to write well, for instance. Grammar can be a tough chore for most people and spelling... Well, spelling isn't a strength of quite a few writers, which is why
dictionaries do so well.
The funny thing about this is, however, that all of the above can be taught, yes, even spelling. Grade school and high school and even university all offer courses that will teach and correct spelling and
grammar. Also, most people have friends and other editor types to read their stories, or essays, or
what not for correctness.
The difficult thing, however, is to keep writing. Writers of stories, poets, essayists and novelists all
have a number of obstacles standing in their path. They have to have inspiration, for one, and
inspiration, unfortunately, doesn't come easy to everyone. There are solutions for this problem, of
course, but they don't always work. Still, everyone gets their inspiration from somewhere. It's just
a matter of going out and getting it.
The most difficult problem that a writer, especially a professional writer, can face is writing itself.
That might not make sense at first glance. After all, how difficult can it be for a writer to write?
Consider this. You're a writer. You are sitting at your computer, a Macintosh with a G3 inside, and
you are trying to write a short story. Your sleeves are rolled up, your tongue is poking out from
your lips, a la Michael Jordan, and you're ready.
Oh, and it's 25 degrees Celsius outside and the sun is out and you can feel the gentle caress of a
cool summer breeze.
Suddenly, the likelihood of you writing that short story is very low. Understand my point now? It
is this problem that can pose a large stumbling block to writers. The prospect of going outside and sitting out beneath the warm sun is just too great a temptation. However, if that is the case, your
great novel, story, or poem will never get written, because there will almost always be something
that you would rather do.
The solution, I guess, is to either show a little discipline or, better yet, to take along a notebook and
a pen. The first solution is ideal for those who need perfect silence or a specific environment to
write. Ignore the great weather for the time being, difficult as that may be, and know that you'll
have created something that might bring joy to someone down the road.
The second solution allows you to have the best of both worlds. Take in the sun and write about
it while you're at it. Think: you're having fun and being productive at the same time.
D. Truong,
July 12, 1998
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