"It is comparatively easy to become a writer; staying a writer, resisting formulaic work, generating one's own creativity - that's a much tougher matter." -- Brian Aldiss
Brian Aldiss is science fiction writer, born in England. He has written about a billion things, novels, short stories, poetry. I used to read a LOT of science fiction in high school. I like to listen to what science fiction writers have to say about writing because I understand them; they sound real to me.
I've been writing my blog for years. It was comparatively easy to write, but I was a whim-writer. I would like to have been a regular blogger, but never had the time. Then I noticed, the people who write their blogs regularly tend to have writing a blog as their job. Huh. I have decided to make writing my blog my job (did you notice?) and write every day, except Sunday. Every. Day. Every day is a lot of days. But when people go to work, they go every day, and nobody freaks out much. I have nothing to do, and no job to go to: I decided to work at something that I can do, something I like to do, something people say they enjoy and benefit from reading. Nobody takes taxes out of my paycheck, because nobody pays me. In return, I can write whatever the hell I want to. It's a good life.
Staying a writer, even a blog writer, resisting formulaic work ... I have found that both easy and hard to do. It's hard because it is every day (see above), and while it would be easy to have some formula to write a blog post, it would be boring, for you and me both. Really, that's the only hard part. I made a Google calendar (I love Google calendar! It keeps several calendars and my project list and my project queue right where I need them! For free!) and every month I put in something on each day that I would write about. If I have a burning issue that comes up and I must write about it RIGHT NOW, then that day's topic goes to the end of the line. Easy Peasy. If I am stuck finding a thing to write about, my helpful calendar is there to save the day, like Mighty Mouse.
The problem is, I have started to have days that I can't stop writing, my brain is on overload. Those days, creativity is just oozing out of me, all over the place, big gobs of creativity .... well, that's a little yucky. But you know what I mean. On those days I write maybe four posts (I can write them to post later; I never ever get up at 6 a.m. to get a post ready by 7 a.m. Sorry.) and then I have to quit, but my brain is still buzzing, so I knit, I think about knitting, I listen to music and knit and design a new thing in my head, which leads to more writing, gahhh. I am generating my own creativity. And it is wonderful.
I am delighted, Beth! My SIL is a writer and blogs at: http://www.flowerpotdays.blogspot.com
You might also enjoy Kate Davies' blog (bet you can get there through Mary Jane's blog).
Carry On with Confidence. Shelagh.
Posted by: Shelagh | January 28, 2012 at 07:15 AM
Great blog! Your sister in law is a very good writer :)
Posted by: Beth Collins | January 28, 2012 at 08:39 AM
I dream about spinning fiber and knitting. I blog as well and have made it part of my job as the other part is the farm.
Posted by: brandi | January 29, 2012 at 09:50 AM
Hi Beth, so glad you are doing more blogging. Love the topics and learn many new things. Sure hope you keep it up for a while.
Rhoda
Posted by: Rhoda Thombs | January 29, 2012 at 08:21 PM
Hi Beth,
Have you thought about writing a book? Maybe even science fiction???
Posted by: Sarah Otley | January 30, 2012 at 08:30 AM
I have one half started; it is fantasy, though, kind of, the way Anne McCaffrey was fantasy. Maybe writing my blog will kick-start the novel writing process :)
Posted by: Beth Collins | January 30, 2012 at 09:17 AM