What does a bookkeeper, secretary, and CEO have in common? They all have a designated area to work. Each of them have the tools they need to do their jobs. And, my writing friend, that is the first thing you need, too.
Author Virginia Woolf said it very well: A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.
May I take this a step further and say, An aspiring writer must have money and a room of his or her own if he or she is to have any success in writing. This prescription for success has two parts:
Money: I am not proposing that you must be independently wealthy before attempting a career in writing. What I propose here is that your basic needs are met: a roof over your head, food to eat, and clothing to wear. So, until you are able to support yourself with your writing, support yourself so you can write.
A Room of Your Own: Once you have wrapped your mind around the fact that you must effectively work two jobs in the beginning, the most crucial step for success is “a room of your own.” This does not necessarily mean four walls and a door. When I began to write, my ‘room’ was a small desk and computer in one corner of our family room. Over the years, it has progressed to an office where I can close the door. Door or no door, it is important you claim a space in your home as yours alone. A place where you can focus on your next great work without being conflicted when your child needs to do homework or your partner wants to get online—RIGHT NOW. When you do this, you are saying to everyone, “I take myself seriously as a writer. Please do the same.”
I have learned that putting these two ideas into practice sets the stage for successful writing. Maybe you have some other ideas that have helped you write successfully. If so, please share them. I’d love to talk about it.
In my next blog, I’ll talk about the environment I use to inspire my writing.
Until then, write on. It’s worth it!