Which Way is Write?

There’s something I feel a lot of people forget what with all the advice flying around out there.

This is your dream. These stories are your stories.

Every single person approaches things differently. Each one of us has had experiences which shape the way we look at the elements that contribute to how and what we write.

So all of this: You should write every day. You should always plot. You should pants. You should only write when you feel like it.

None of those are absolutes. All of those pieces of advice are the sum of someone else’s experiences.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s a good idea to look at what has worked for people who’ve been through this whole thing before. But always remember – just because it worked for them, doesn’t mean it’ll work for you. Take the bits that do work for you, and mold them to your unique set of circumstances.

If you need to, pluck different parts from everywhere and make your own set of rules. Because ultimately, you have to figure out how you write best. And since no one else is you, no one can 100% definitively tell you how to write.

How to write? Sit down, and do so. But the when, the method – that you need to find out for yourself. Just like everything involved with writing, this takes time.

Remember it’s your dream – make sure you do it your way.

And in the end, it'll be worth it.