When you want to be a writer, write. Start writing and keep writing. Your writing makes you a writer. When our object is to write we don't have to be perfect, but it is good to be good.
So, write something. Consider taking ten minutes to write a paragraph. Write something about what you would like to write about.
I used to use a timer when I wrote and found it helpful in several ways. For example, I found myself stopping to make corrections or to rewrite so often that I lost my line of thought and wasted time. So, I set my timer to ring in five minutes and did not stop for anything until I heard that ring. Then, if I felt like it I made corrections or changes. I also found that it helped to have the nature of a pararagraph somewhere near the conscious level of my mind. Neither of these doings is completely necessary. Certain doings are more important as you begin to write. Having a table and chair handy may prove helful. Pencil and paper and your glasses at hand may be a good idea. Maybe a computer with a speech to print app at hand and warmed up could make your writing flow more easily.
For this writing do not stop to make corrections or to edit. Just keep writing. Do not go back to read or anything. Just write. This practice can help you to accomplish writing.
When we are note-taking or writing a first draft it is often best not to take time for editing, improving word choice, or executing excelent punctuation. You may write more efficiently when you complete such acts in your final draft or your penultimate one. It's OK to change your mind, but often best to express that which is on your mind at first. Which is often a more efficient way of writing. Later you can look over your writing and get a better idean of wht you were trying to get at. Seems that I have writen elsewhere recently that that we grow and develp as we write.
Well, did you write for five or ten minutes, relax for a while and then read what you have written. If so you can make additions and corrections as you like. Congratulations. Relax for a minute or five. You have written. You are a writer.
Now reread what you have written. Don't throw it away yet. You may get a surprisingly use idea from it which you can use right now or later.
If you still feel like writing, do it. You can make your corrections and additions. Maybe you made a wrong meaning in a wrong word. You can double check the meanings of the words you are not completely sure of. This could be a good learning experience for you and good the the meaning and clearity of your paragraph. It could even help your reader to get that which you want her to understand or feel.
One changes as one writes. One's writing changes as one changes. We grow and develop as we write and our writing grows and and develops as we do so.
Your most embarrasing paragraph or sentence can contain a gem or seed from great writing. Where you see the possibility for that gem or seed make a stab at bringing it out, clearifying it, or even making it shine and grow.
I am so old now that I am losing skill faster than I am learning. Even so, I am remember ing some past experience. After three or so of the writings were were just talkng about and if you have saved that which you have written, you'll have a pile of rubble. When you look over that rubble try not to over look seeds and gems. You are nearly sure to find words, phrases, and a sentence or two which seem important.
Use some careful thought and editorial discrimination to see what your words, pharses, and sentences add up to. Decide how much you believe them. Arrange them somehow so that the make sense. write some new and connecting parts if you wish.
We could call this your first real draft. We could also say that you have begun your career as a practiced writer. Congratulations!
When you feel like writing more you may find that when you keep alert to finding an "an emergent center of gravity" as you write, you may find one.
That emergent center may help you to more clearly see what you are writing about. Clarifying what you are writing about is often a big help. I am remembering now that at this point I sometimes found that which I thouht ought to be the beginning of a paper ought to end it and what I thought ought to end it was better as a beginning.
You can find the following as aids to finding and clearifying that center of gravity:
~ As you write you may honestly come to say, "Ah, now I see what I have been getting at." Pay attention.
~ Finish what you are writing about. Put it aside for a time. See useful implications as you look it over again.
~ See that your good idea is crap. Then see tat part of it is les crappy. Sort out the good parts from the bad. You don'thave to throw anything away. You may come to see that some of it is better than your favorite idea.
~ Your first writing may be good scaffolding fir your next writing.
~ You can find a powerful spark in a tiny digression of yours. You may keep the same elements of your work, but change the whole orientation for the better.
~ See your work improve as you improve. See yourself improve as your work improves.
~ As you progress in a piece of writing, be alert to an emerging focus or theme. Its OK to let your focus ortheme improve.
~ If notheing emerges in a piece you are writing, sum up thar which you have written, then sumit up again.
~ Push yourself a bit to keep getting some center of gravity or summing-up to occur.
~ Work gradually toward moderation from extreme positions. If you feel you must be immoderate in a given case, make sure that you are being extremely honest and realistic.
~ Its fair and good to explain your position and its source.
~ Keep writing.
It is possible to learn a lot by helpimg others to develop their craft. That could be done in a writing group or you may do it by your suggestions or examples in the "comments" section below. Share an experience, information, or understanding. Pass it on here. You can even ask a question. You can help me by proof reading this piece and making sugestions or correcting my spelling. This is a way to be a published writer!
Thank you for reading and thank you for writing.
rcs