There’s No “Easy Button” for Writing: 5 Lessons I’ve Learned the Hard Way
I was on a Teams call with a colleague the other day and we were working on copy for a new web page. It’s going to be a great resource (if you’re in the healthcare provider world, it might even be for you!).
As we were chatting about the brand style, I mentioned that it irritates me to no end that our brand at work doesn’t use the Oxford comma. Also called the serial comma, it’s the one that separates lists. For instance, it makes me sad, annoyed, and huffy when I have to take them out of all the writing I’m editing. It’s that comma before the and.
Anyway, so we were talking about it and laughing about how many nuances there are, but also he thought it was a funny writer’s rant. After all, no one really cares that much about commas besides writers, right? It is kind of a funny thing to get annoyed about. The funnier thing is that I have this conversation a lot. Like, every time I write for a new client or edit someone’s work. IT’S A CLARITY THING.
Later that evening I was thinking about the conversation because even though I’ve been writing most of my life, there are still things that get me. For instance, I almost always spell the word “professor” wrong the first time, and “restaurant.”
You probably have some of those, too, don’t you?
It’s kind of assumed that the more skilled you become and the more you practice writing, it’ll just somehow get easier. Sure, some things do. Your voice feels more natural, and you can start self-correcting small errors or noticing patterns you don’t like faster. But the truth of it is that writing is actually pretty damn hard, even for those of us who love it and practice it all the time.
Because it’s hard, a lot of people are intimidated by it. Like, who wants to have an intentionally difficult hobby or set themselves up for a career where they literally won’t ever know everything about it?
There’s quite a bit of nuance in writing, though. It’s creative, ambitious, and completely wide open. On the same day you can write about healthcare eligibility and benefits AND cool things the practice of writing has taught you. I mean, that’s pretty neat, right?
All of this is to say that, if you’re looking for an “easy button” for your writing, it doesn’t exist. Part of writing is the process of doing it (sometimes badly), learning, and improving. (And no, ChatGPT does NOT count as an easy button because it’s not you doing the writing.)
When you approach it that way, it becomes a lot more palatable because learning about something you like is fun. Doing something you love, even if you’re not the best at it, is enjoyable and freeing.
If you’re on the fence about whether you want to start writing, here are a few lessons I’ve learned that will help. From one writer to another (even if you haven’t quite named yourself that yet), you can do whatever you want with your writing! But please, for the sake of everyone involved, use the Oxford comma. ;)
Writing is Different for Everyone
There are many writing conventions available to help guide the technical aspects of your writing. I’m sure there are a million videos on YouTube about how to write this or that, too. I’d caution you to be careful with the ones that say you’re going to write a full book in a weekend that will be publishable - that’s likely to end in disappointment.
No matter how you want the writing to look once it’s done, everyone has a different process and habits that work best for them. Some considerations to keep in mind to help you find your groove:
Do you want to write by hand or type on a computer/laptop/tablet?
Do you want to be alone when you’re writing? Or does a communal place like a coffee shop inspire you to get creative?
What kind of mindset do you need to have to feel good about your work? Do you want to accomplish a certain task or write a certain part of the story?
How often do you want to work on your project(s)?
Will you be sharing your writing? Or do you want to keep it private and enjoy the feeling it gives you to express yourself on the page?
By the way, there’s not a right or wrong answer to these questions! All are valid. You get to decide how you approach your writing.
There’s More Than One Reason to Write
When we’re in school, it feels like all we do is write essays and research what other people tell us to. Even if we pick a topic, there’s still an element of worry because someone will be grading it. Having been on both sides of the classroom, I can tell you it’s a little nerve-wracking on both sides! Teachers have to figure out how to give kind, but useful feedback on the writing no matter what’s there.
Writing out in the big wide adult world doesn’t have to feel like this at all. People write for any number of reasons, and most of them aren’t tied to school at all! For instance, people write:
Memos and emails to their colleagues
Articles that other people will read
Social media posts (+ videos! There’s quite a bit of wordsmithing done in those, even if you can’t see it in the finished product)
Poems & Short stories
Books - for fun and for business
Journals
Love notes
Lists of all kinds
No matter what kind of writing you want to do, there’s a place for it. And you know what? Your nightstand or desk drawer is a perfectly fine place if you want to write just for you. It’s not all about other people.
There’s Not a Right Way to Write
This might be a little contentious, but writing doesn’t always have to be “right” by Western English standards. First of all, that doesn’t take into consideration any regional dialects or accents. But also, people don’t actually sound like that when they talk, so why would all of our writing need to follow those rules?
Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely some places where following the rules is necessary. But if you’re just starting out or writing for fun, they’re not really that big of a deal. If it comes up when you’re finished drafting, you can always edit it.
Some fun rules to play around with in writing:
Dialogue - how people talk and how you can show the way they really speak with words (Alice Walker does an awesome job with this in The Color Purple)
Capitalization and form (if you want to know how that might look, check out e.e. cummings and bell hooks)
Ending sentences however you feel like it (not ending a sentence in a preposition isn’t a real rule anyhow)
My advice is to figure out how you want to sound and what sounds like you, then worry about rules that might apply - or not.
Writing is Hard
The act of writing itself is hard. It’s difficult to build worlds and express feelings and explain the world. There aren’t a whole lot of other activities that require so much of us as writing. Plus, a lot of times it’s lonely because we’re working on our own project or story.
Putting words on the page that literally didn’t exist before you put them there
Finding the “right” words
Saying what you want to say and having others understand it (i.e. “It sounded good in my head but not on paper)
Our words are powerful, so we have to be aware of that if we choose to share it
Words can be shared faster than you can blink and say, “Wait, what?”
You can’t control how others might interpret what you’re saying
Creating with your emotions can be draining
I think creatives, and especially writers, don’t give themselves enough credit for the amazing things they do. Not everyone is willing to give so much of their time and talents to bring new things into the world. We sometimes take it for granted that we’re drawn to writing as a habit, a lifestyle, or a calling even. Words and stories are what connects us all as people - to be able to figure out what that means and looks like in your own life is incredible.
Writing is a Skill, Not a Talent
This is one of the first things I tell any class or workshop I’m leading. Writing is a learnable skill. You’re not born with it (we’re not Maybelline over here), even if you discover you like it as a young person.
The people who are really good at writing practice…and practice…and practice again. A few other things that can help you grow your writing skills:
Reading and looking up words you see that you don’t know
Listening to/watching interviews with authors you admire
Talking through your ideas out loud either on a recording or with a friend
Do word puzzles/play word games
Work on how you think about writing
You can learn to write. If you want to be a “good” writer, you totally can. Or, if you just want to enjoy it without having to go through the annoying “why should I even bother, I’m no good at this” thought process.
Just because there’s no “easy button” for writing doesn’t mean you can’t have fun and enjoy it. I’m constantly surprised and delighted by what I learn through words and I’ve been at it for almost 30 years! Take a deep breath and give yourself a chance - who knows what you’ll be able to create.
If you find you’re stuck, this book for anxious writers might help. :)