Before I tried to be a writer, I was doing a fantastic job of being one. I wrote constantly in my spare time and recorded every idea I had when I thought of it. I would work on something at 2am and not think anything of it. Lunch breaks weren’t for lunch, but for fitting in some writing. My mind was always whirling around trying this language over that. I played with words, indulged myself in thought. I played. I was relaxed and the writing just flowed. Lately, I’ve just been coming up dry and I think it’s because I’ve been trying too hard.

Perhaps it’s a little like beginners luck – when you don’t know how to play the game, you win.

When I decided to do writing full time, I changed. I thought I had to follow a pattern, I had to be productive and measure that somehow. I thought there were rules to writing, structure to follow. I had read so many books that told me if you want to be a writer you have to do x,y, and z each day or you won’t be anything more than someone who just puts words together. I thought I had to become what other people thought a writer was.

I was wrong.

I have been reading the book The Right to Write by Brenda Ueland and I think it is one of the best books out there for people who want to write. In it, Brenda Ueland says that you can’t just pick a time and sit down to write and expect your brain to just start creating . You have to write when it strikes you.

It turns out, I’d been doing it right all along.

So instead of trying to follow all the guidelines and rules on writing, and instead of trying to force my brain to come up with ideas at precisely 10am each day, I instead went back to my chaotic way of writing, and it felt good. Ideas started to flow again and instead of hesitating I’d write them down straight away. I’d work when I could and I didn’t worry about if I was doing the correct “writer” ways.

I started to create momentum again and things began to happen. I came into contact with various artists who offered me guidance. I tweaked all those 2am ideas and contacted various magazines with some possibilities for freelancing.

When I opened up my mind and gave into writing, the universe responded back by giving me opportunity. And this time, I’m not going to let it slip by.

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