Write Like Breathing

Writing.

It’s not so much about writing books as it is about just writing. It is the art of words, and letting them form or sometimes forming them, into whatever they need to be.

Maybe they become a thick novel, or just a sweet sentence of encouragement texted to a friend.

Maybe they are read by no one, but you need to get them from your heart to the page. A sacred transfer. A “flush of the soul.” An airing out of thoughts. Therapy.

Or the words become an important letter that is saved in historical archives for generations. Or they get thrown away.

Sometimes they are just “Don’t forget to call the doctor’s office,” jotted onto a dry-erase board, or “I love you!” left on a sticky note for your spouse.

I like to write a word I come across for the first time and its definition so I can learn, understand what I’m reading about and expand my vocabulary as a writer and communicator.

Words are everywhere, in everything. There are so many ways to use them well, and group them together beautifully and thoughtfully.

You are not a “good writer” because you sell a lot of books. You are a good writer because you are good at writing, and use your writing for good.

Writing and authorship and literature-it’s a whole world. It is almost fiction in itself; so vast, unique, magical, off the path, immersive and rich! You get lost in the best way, escaping to it, as you would to one of its best claims: Fiction.

Being a writer feels like getting to live in a book, not just write one. And I think there’s quite nothing wrong with romanticizing your life of creative vocation.

If you are an author, embrace everything about it that you love. Why not? If you’re going to be something, “be the whole thing!”

Surround yourself with your favorite “authory” things. Light the candle, play that sad or happy or strange music that matches the mood of what you are writing. Drink tea from a special cup. Put an inspiring painting above your desk.

Buy the nerdy glasses and wear the librarian cardigan and penny loafers, if you want to.

Be the person that only orders coffee to justify how long you unashamedly turn a cafe table into your office for hours at a time, all the while secretly feeling cool and mysterious because you look like you are doing smart and serious work. (You look like you are, because you are.)

Close your eyes and replay your favorite movie scenes or recite lines from your favorite books. Hang the quotes.

Write what moves you. Make sure you laugh or cry when you read your words back. Don’t just write something you are detached from, hoping it will strike the emotions of other readers. It won’t.

If it doesn’t move you, it won’t move them. If it bores you, it will bore them.

Write from your heart, your real life or the one you are imagining from a place of real passion and interest. Write the characters you want to know and understand deeply.

Don’t write just to get words down that you care nothing about.

One authentic sentence is worth more than 100,000 forced words.

Let the love of writing, the need to tell your story drive you. Not some deadline from some company or even from yourself. Write because you want to, love to, have to.

Write like breathing.

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