[spaces] – Writers on creative writing: experience, style, technique

Posted by Michael Biornstad on Nov 21, 2011 in Academy | 0 comments

If creative writing is the hero of a story, in many ways university seems to be its antagonist. Not an evil villain, but an equally important force working towards a different goal. There are many conversations to be had about the death of creativity in the university, but that’s not what I’m referring to. I am referring to the contesting demands on your time.

University keeps you busy. You are expected to juggle, on average, five classes and all that they entail, and still find time to eat and sleep. How can you possibly expect to find time to write? It seems creativity must take a four-year hiatus.

But, permit me to say, you must make time to write. There can be nothing more important to a creative writer’s career than simply to write. In the midst of all the demands, expectations, and stress, you must make the time to write. Even if what you write is trash, it is critical that you continue to put words on paper.

Notice I said to make time, not find time. Here is something that has taken me three years of undergraduate studies to learn: you will never “find” time. There isn’t any to find. But when it comes down to it you have time for what you make time for. Nothing more, and nothing less. You make time for what is important, and if you want to write, it must take precedent over Facebook, Stumbleupon, and that godless slashing fruit game.

If you need to, set yourself a quota: write for half an hour a day, five days a week. After half an hour, if you want to stop, then stop. But if, after half an hour, you have more to say, then write until you say it. Keep track to make sure you meet your quota.

Even if you sit at your computer and feel like there are no words, make yourself write something. Use your writing time to write, and don’t allow yourself to skip it just because you have writer’s block. Google “writing prompts” and write what you are given, no matter how stupid it seems. Content is not always as important as the act.

As obvious as this sounds, if you never write you will never have written anything. Make your writing a habit and the words will come. Give in to writer’s block and the block will never be moved.

Bekki McCoy