For many, writing is a solitary act. One of the benefits of blogging and being part of a larger community is stumbling upon posts and discovering new voices — and realizing you’re not the only one who feels uncertainty or self-doubt when it comes to the craft. Using the Search page in the Reader, we dived into the stream of posts on writing. Here are three reads to enjoy.
On (no longer) writing in a diary
Amrita, the writer at Of Opinions, reflects on her decision to stop writing in a diary — an act that was truly for herself.
I don’t know why, maybe it’s age or depression, but I don’t feel the need for it anymore. I still have feelings, strong feelings and reflections from time to time, but there’s always Netflix to sort that pain. I’ve had the same diary since 2016, and I’ve barely reached September on it. It’s been lying under my pillow for two years, next to my small daily expenditure diary, which sees more inkage than it.
I am more interested in how much I spent on milk than how I felt about a life-changing situation.
For the writer who hasn’t been writing
At Live to Write — Write to Live, Jamie Lee Wallace muses on the parts of ourselves, like hopes and dreams, that can benefit from time in stasis.
Dormancy is a regular part of nature. At this time of year, we think of the world as “coming back to life,” but the innumerable seedlings and buds that finally emerge in spring have, in fact, been very much alive during the long, enchanted sleep of winter. They were never dead; they were just biding their time until the moment was right. . . .
Like a seed that must hold itself in limbo until there is enough space, sunshine, water, and nutrients to sustain it, sometimes our dreams have to wait until we have the right life experience, confidence, or motivation.
All writers start at the same place
At Novelty Revisions, Meg Dowell tells us not to worry — we all suck at writing at some point; terrible writing is a rite of passage.
Every once in a while, I pull up things I wrote 10, 15 years ago. I read them, or at least start to. I cringe so hard my face hurts. And then I go back to what I was writing before, feeling a lot less doubtful about my ability to do good work. . . .
So when you find yourself thinking, “I’ll never write anything as good as that,” remember that writer once thought that about the very thing you just read. And chances are, the first draft of what they wrote was a whole lot worse than what you see on that page.
Want to do more with your site? Register your very own domain name, remove ads on your site, and get access to email and live chat support with the WordPress.com Personal plan.
very interesting – i’am a starting blogger so seeing this really helps
LikeLiked by 19 people
I think I agree that you must write to live. Writing becomes a lifeline. You just can’t do without it.
LikeLiked by 14 people
Really inspiring 💯
LikeLiked by 11 people
This offers a totally new perspective!
LikeLiked by 10 people
This let’s me know its okay…thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 11 people
As Darwin is said to have said, writing is never natural for man. To stay on in the habit of writing, therefore, requires a lot of auto-encouragement from one’s inside. Monotony, lack of inspiration and procrastination-––all these are part of the game of writing. Talented writers bear in themselves the talent to overcome these forces of pulling back also.
LikeLiked by 10 people
Just wrote my first blog which was exactly about me feeling stuck and demotivated and dreaming to be as good as so many other authors. Then I go in the discovery section and find this. I am eternally grateful for this. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 12 people
This is just what I need. 😊
LikeLiked by 10 people
Writing often feels like shouting into a black hole. It’s comforting to find a community of people who feel the need to shout anyway.
LikeLiked by 13 people
yes i agree on this, I wrote some stuff on the same. I very new in writing and i just started my blog and I have been thinking of writing since long but could not do that. But now I am writing based on my experience.
LikeLiked by 9 people
I just opened a wordpress blog and inam very happy but sometimes I found it difficult to.express what I actually really want to write
LikeLiked by 9 people
Thanks for this inspiration writing is very comforting especially if you use it everyday. Many people like me find it hard to talk to people openly without sounding like a tape recorder,but I’m learning to put my thought into writing.
LikeLiked by 8 people
Beautifully written inspiration. I loved listening to the perspective of all who commented as well. So much to ponder.
LikeLiked by 9 people
I love the writing community, and how we’ve managed to extend across so many platforms! Really helps when you’re in a block -L
LikeLiked by 10 people
A good piece that has inspired me to get off the internet and get back to work.
LikeLiked by 10 people
I used to write my random thoughts and very vocal to what I was feeling at the moment years back. I guess it was a diary thing. The moment I stopped sharing about all my randomness was also the moment my interest in writing, blogging rather, was fading. I think that’s the truth that I just can’t face to myself for a long time.
LikeLiked by 8 people
I really enjoyed the Meg Dowell article. I am new to blogging and have been improving slowly in how I write. I to, like Meg, look back at what I wrote at the start and cringe a little. however, if the writing process has taught me anything, it is to keep going and move forward, no matter what. Thank you for this article, it makes me feel good. Lee.
LikeLiked by 10 people
I need to feel inspired or excited about something, or possibly annoyed about an injustice, before I can write. Mostly I am too busy or tired. When I do write I enjoy it immensly. I would like to write more often.
LikeLiked by 12 people
Writing = living. Simple as that. Great entry.
LikeLiked by 12 people
Thanks for the encouragement 😊 Always doubted my poems that I haven’t written in months😅
LikeLiked by 12 people
Great read. I fall into the category of being a writer at heart but haven’t been writing. Glad to know I’m prob not alone.
LikeLiked by 14 people
Thank you. I feel so inspired now 😀
LikeLiked by 14 people
My ability is just writing. I was thought that made a book is my biggest dream.
LikeLiked by 12 people
This is all great information, Cheri! Thank you! 🙂
LikeLiked by 12 people
totally relatable 🙂
LikeLiked by 11 people
I always feel writing help us to express what we cannot simply by speaking. For me it is also a way to discover myself and the capabilities I’ve. These three post, give us a broad insight about three different situations. We also learn about the perspective of the author. ❤️
LikeLiked by 15 people
Wonderful. Write to live. That’s how it is! Have a nice day
LikeLiked by 15 people
Can relate to this. I’m new to blogging and I find it hard everytime I start a blog
LikeLiked by 16 people
Like a seed that must hold itself in limbo until there is enough space, sunshine, water, and nutrients to sustain it, sometimes our dreams have to wait until we have the right life experience, confidence, or motivation-loved these lines
LikeLiked by 16 people
Writing makes me feel more connected to myself. It’s therapy 🙂
LikeLiked by 23 people