This desk and room might not be mine, but sometimes it does feel as though this is what’s in my head.
- Write for myself and no one else.
- Compare myself to no one.
- Write what I’d like to read.
- Write the story only I could write.
- Some writing sessions are better than others.
- Take the time to enjoy the creation, because the creation is the whole point, potentially the only point.
- Taking breaks during writing sessions isn’t a bad thing.
- Reading and writing are the two sides of the same coin – one can’t happen without the other (well, to be sure, I can’t write my own stories without reading the stories other people write).
- I’m not writing a book; I’m telling a story.
- Simply being in the writing-room and writing, even if the writing is utter rubbish, is 70% of the task.
- When in doubt, play and dream – enjoy it.
- Be gentle with myself.
- Just keep going.
Under the counter or a flutter in the dovecote 
10 comments
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July 14, 2013 at 9:16+00:00Jul
broadsideblog
Sounds about right, although probably better suited to fiction/poetry than non-fiction. But I like your point about telling a story — not writing a book. Too many books now are a collection of data points.
July 15, 2013 at 9:16+00:00Jul
Nigel Featherstone
Hi Cait, interesting to have the non-fiction perspective. If you had just three tips for writers of non-fiction, what would they be?
July 15, 2013 at 9:16+00:00Jul
broadsideblog
Wow. No pressure! 🙂
1) Never assume you have nothing new or fresh to add to the larger conversation. If you read widely, think deeply and notice patterns, you’ll find something.
2) Never let rejection deter you — IF you are being rejected by people whose income you need but whose respect, at root, you do not.
3) Get to know, like and trust other good NF writers. You need a strong network of first readers, blurbs, advice and counsel. Once you reach a certain level of the game, you have to teach yourself.
Hope those help!
This is even before my first coffee — it’s 8:07 a.m. here in NY. 🙂
July 15, 2013 at 9:16+00:00Jul
Mark William Jackson
I’ve always liked “everything is practice, until it isn’t.”
July 15, 2013 at 9:16+00:00Jul
Nigel Featherstone
Which means that everything is always practice! Especially writing.
July 15, 2013 at 9:16+00:00Jul
Nigel Featherstone
Hi again Cait,
That’s a brilliant list, and interesting how it may well apply to other forms of writing.
I like all three of your tips, but I particularly like the hope of the first. Perhaps another take on it is ‘if we read deeply, write deeply and live deeply, we’ll have something fresh and new and exciting to say, because we’re no one else but ourselves’.
Thanks for such a quick and gutsy response, and before you had your first coffee of the day.
Speaking of which, I’m off to the kitchen…
July 19, 2013 at 9:16+00:00Jul
Gabrielle Bryden
How did I miss this post (maybe because my email is stuffed)! A good list indeed 🙂 though I do think it is very hard not to compare oneself with others (a very human thing to do, I think) – just keep on keeping on is important.
July 19, 2013 at 9:16+00:00Jul
Nigel Featherstone
Hi Gabe, yes, interesting comment about how hard it is to NOT compare ourselves with others. But in terms of writing, perhaps it’s one of the most important? Actually, I once asked an eminent Australia poet (who better remain nameless) what she thought was the key attribute, and that’s what she said: ‘Don’t compare yourself to others.’ It’s a challenge, but a good challenge! As is simply keeping on, as you say. PS All the best with your stuffed email.
May 14, 2014 at 9:16+00:00May
Jean Paul Vincent
A good post even 10 months later 😉
May 14, 2014 at 9:16+00:00May
Nigel Featherstone
Thank you, Jean. All the best to you.